How do you know whether 'seed' in the Bible means many descendants or one person?
The Hebrew word for seed is like English sheep: the same form can denote one or many. So the surrounding context must show whether a passage means a multitude of descendants, such as Israel's tribes, or the singular seed, Christ. Genesis 21:12 uses the singular, not the millions from the twelve tribes.
Les teaches that the Hebrew word for seed, Zerah, is like the English word sheep: the form does not change whether you have one or many. If you have one seed or a multitude of seeds, it is still the same word. Therefore, the text and context must determine the meaning. If it speaks of the many, it refers to the offspring of Israel, the tribes, and multitudes of people. If it speaks of the singular, it refers to the seed, Christ. In Genesis 21:12, Les says this is the singular, because God is not speaking about the offspring of the millions from the twelve tribes.
And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Does 'in Isaac shall thy seed be called' refer to Israel's millions or to Christ?
In Genesis 21:12, 'in Isaac shall thy seed be called' points to the singular seed, not Israel's millions. The Hebrew word for seed can mean one or many depending on context, and here the context is singular. Therefore it refers to Christ, not the multitudes from the twelve tribes.
In Genesis 21:12, does 'thy seed' refer to Jesus or to the many descendants of Israel?
In Genesis 21:12 the phrase 'thy seed' is singular and refers to Christ, not to the multitude of Israel's descendants. The context contrasts the singular seed with the many offspring from the twelve tribes, and this passage is identified as speaking of the singular seed, which was Christ.
More Questions
Does Genesis 21:12 use 'seed' as singular to refer to one person, Isaac?
In Genesis 21:12, 'thy seed' is singular and refers to one person, with Isaac now on the scene, so the singular seed is called through Isaac.