The Meaning of Psalms 105:12 Explained

Psalms 105:12

KJV: When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.

YLT: In their being few in number, But a few, and sojourners in it.

Darby: When they were a few men in number, of small account, and strangers in it.

ASV: When they were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When they were [but] a few men  in number;  yea, very few,  and strangers  in it. 

What does Psalms 105:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 105:1-15 - The Lord's Covenant With Israel
This psalm and the next are a pair, probably composed during the Exile in Babylon. They are evidently derived in part from the old Tabernacle service, in which is found the beginning of this psalm and the end of the next, 1 Chronicles 16:1-43. Here we have the story of Jehovah's faithfulness to his Covenant and of Israel's ingratitude.
It is right to make known God's doings. Nothing touches men more quickly, or excites faith and hope more certainly, than to hear what others have experienced of God's saving health. Let us talk more often of His marvelous works. If God has forgiven you, even to ten thousand talents, confess it. If you have learned more of Christ's patience in His bearing with your sins and failures, tell it out. The salient points which stand out in our record of the past may be summarized under the same general headings as those of the psalmist. God has been mindful of His Covenant, ratified by the blood of his Son. He has shown his independence of human standards in choosing us, though we are absolutely unworthy to inherit His Kingdom. How often He has interposed in our behalf even when we have deserved the worst, saying, Touch not mine anointed! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 105

1  An exhortation to praise God, and to seek out his works
7  The story of God's providence over Abraham
16  Over Joseph
23  Over Jacob in Egypt
26  Over Moses delivering the Israelites
37  Over the Israelites brought out of Egypt, fed in the desert, and planted in Canaan

What do the individual words in Psalms 105:12 mean?

when they were few in number indeed very [few] and strangers in it
בִּֽ֭הְיוֹתָם מְתֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֑ר כִּ֝מְעַ֗ט וְגָרִ֥ים בָּֽהּ

בִּֽ֭הְיוֹתָם  when  they  were 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מְתֵ֣י  few  in 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֹת 
Sense: male, man.
מִסְפָּ֑ר  number 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִסְפָּר  
Sense: number, tale.
כִּ֝מְעַ֗ט  indeed  very  [few] 
Parse: Preposition-k, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: מְעַט  
Sense: littleness, few, a little, fewness.
וְגָרִ֥ים  and  strangers 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: גּוּר 
Sense: to sojourn, abide, dwell in, dwell with, remain, inhabit, be a stranger, be continuing, surely.
בָּֽהּ  in  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular