Context determines it: 'seed' can mean one person or many, just like the word 'sheep.'
The same word translated 'seed' can function for one or many, so the passage must show which meaning is intended. Paul expressly contrasts 'seed' (singular) with 'seeds' (plural) in Galatians 3:16 and identifies the singular seed as Christ, while Genesis 21:12 uses a singular context with Isaac.
Galatians 3:16 — Paul states that God did not say 'seeds' plural but 'seed' singular, and that seed is Christ — the clearest proof text.
Genesis 21:12 — God's words 'in Isaac shall thy seed be called' place one person, Isaac, in view.
Genesis 3:15 — The 'seed of the woman' is the promise of a singular Redeemer.
Galatians 3:16 provides the clearest biblical statement on the singular seed: 'Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.' Paul explicitly says the promise was not to 'seeds' (plural) but to one 'seed,' and he identifies that seed as Christ. The same singular usage appears in Genesis 3:15, where God says, 'And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.' Genesis 21:12 also uses the singular with Isaac in view: 'for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.' Romans 9:8 adds, 'the children of the promise are counted for the seed,' showing that the context determines who is meant.
Les teaches that the way to tell whether 'seed' is singular or plural is not to look for a different form of the word but to look at the context. He compares it to the English word 'sheep': one sheep is sheep and a flock of sheep is still sheep. 'So you have to determine from the text, is he speaking of many in the seed, or is he speaking of one?' (Clip 1). He also points to the article in the text as designating the singular seed (Clip 1). Les applies that rule consistently. In Genesis 21:12, because Isaac is on the scene, he says the seed is not plural but singular (Clip 2). He then connects that singular seed to the seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15, which is Christ (Clips 2, 4, 6). In Galatians 3:16, he shows that Paul deliberately contrasts 'seeds' (plural, as of many) with 'seed' (singular, as of one) — 'and to thy seed, which is Christ' (Clips 3, 4, 5). At the same time, Les recognizes that 'seed' can be collective. In some contexts, such as Paul's reference to Abraham's seed, the phrase can point to the whole line of men and women leading to the Messiah, not just to Christ himself (Clip 7). The decisive factor is always how the word is used in the passage.
Les Feldick repeatedly turns to Galatians 3:16 to show that the promise was not made to 'seeds' plural, as of many, but to 'seed' singular, which is Christ. He emphasizes that God said 'not, and to seeds, which is plural, as of many, but as of one, singular, and to thy seed, who is whom? Christ' (Clip 4). Because Paul explicitly makes this contrast and identifies the seed, the verse settles that the promised seed is one person.
Les notes that in Genesis 21, Isaac is already on the scene when God says, 'In Isaac shall thy seed be called.' He explains, 'not plural, but what, singular' and then connects that singular seed to the seed of the woman, Christ (Clip 2). The immediate context makes plain that one person, Isaac, is in view.
Les says the seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15 is unique and must be followed all the way through Scripture because it was looking forward to the coming of a Redeemer (Clip 3). He then quotes Galatians 3:16 and concludes, 'So according to the Bible, the seed of the woman is Christ' (Clip 4). In Romans 9, he also reads the singular seed as referring to the seed of the woman of Genesis 3:15 leading up to Christ (Clip 6).
Les uses the analogy of sheep to show that the word form does not tell you whether one or many are meant. You have to ask whether the text is speaking of many in the seed or of one (Clip 1). He also points out that in some settings, such as 'to Abraham and his seed,' the context can refer to the line of men and women who would bring the Messiah, not just to Christ himself (Clip 7).
Who is the Angel of the Lord? Genesis 16 Bible Study
H. Now it's interesting, and I don't get hung up too much on numbers in Scripture, although it is certainly an interesting subject, but the number 5 is the number of grace all through Scripture. The number 5 will keep coming up designating God's grace. And it is also then this letter H, the fifth letter of the Abraham's life, are in years that can be divided by 5.
Context Tells Singular or Plural
Les teaches that 'seed' behaves like 'sheep' — the same form can mean one or many — so you must determine from the text whether many in the seed or one is meant.
Isaac Is the Singular Seed
Les shows that Genesis 21:12 uses 'seed' in the singular because Isaac is the one in view, and he connects that singular seed to the seed of the woman, Christ.
Galatians 3:16 Qualifies the Seed
Les follows the seed of the woman through Scripture and uses Galatians 3:16 to identify the singular seed as Christ.
Seed of the Woman Is Christ
Les quotes Galatians 3:16 and concludes, 'So according to the Bible, the seed of the woman is Christ.'
Three Distinct Seeds
Les references Galatians 3:16 and lists the seed of the woman, the seed of Abraham, and Christ as the one who would crush Satan.
Singular Seed Points to Christ
Les explains that the singular 'seed' in Romans 9 refers back to the seed of the woman of Genesis 3:15 and on to Christ.
Seed as the Line Leading to Messiah
Les notes that in context 'to Abraham and his seed' can refer not only to Christ but to the line of men and women who would bring the Messiah.
Galatians 3:16: Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Paul contrasts plural 'seeds' with singular 'seed' and identifies the seed as Christ.
Genesis 21:12: 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.
God's promise to Abraham places Isaac, one person, in view as the seed.
Genesis 3:15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
This is the first promise of a singular seed of the woman, later identified as Christ.
Romans 9:8: That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Paul shows that context determines who is counted as the seed — the children of promise.
Yes. When the context speaks of many descendants, 'seed' can refer to more than one person. As Les explains, one sheep and a flock are both 'sheep,' so the word form does not tell you; you must see from the text whether the writer is speaking of many in the seed or of one.
Christ. The verse says, 'He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.' Les Feldick points to this as the Bible's own qualification that the promised seed is Christ.
Because the same word can mean one person or many people. Only by reading the whole passage can you tell whether 'seed' refers to a line of descendants or to the coming Christ. Les says, 'You have to determine from the text, is he speaking of many in the seed, or is he speaking of one?'
Watch the Teaching: Who is the Angel of the Lord? Genesis 16 Bible Study