Psalm 105 24

Psalm 105:24 kjv

And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.

Psalm 105:24 nkjv

He increased His people greatly, And made them stronger than their enemies.

Psalm 105:24 niv

The LORD made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes,

Psalm 105:24 esv

And the LORD made his people very fruitful and made them stronger than their foes.

Psalm 105:24 nlt

And the LORD multiplied the people of Israel
until they became too mighty for their enemies.

Psalm 105 verses

Psalm 105 24 Meaning

Psalm 105:24 declares God's faithful and powerful work in exponentially multiplying His people, Israel, during their sojourn in Egypt, and divinely endowing them with superior strength, surpassing the power of their adversaries. This verse highlights divine sovereignty over demographics and national might, emphasizing that the increase and empowerment of His covenant people are solely attributed to His will and action.

Psalm 105 24 Context

Psalm 105 is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, calling God's people to remember His wonderful works and His covenant faithfulness. The psalm recounts God's history with Israel, from His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (verses 8-15) through the sojourn in Egypt and the Exodus (verses 16-38), to the wilderness wanderings and entry into Canaan (verses 39-45). Verse 24 is situated within the narrative of Jacob and his family going down to Egypt (preceded by Joseph's story, verses 16-23). It specifically highlights God's preparatory work of multiplying and strengthening Israel before the severe oppression described in the very next verse (verse 25). This sequence demonstrates God's strategic providence: He makes His people numerous and formidable even under impending threat, laying the groundwork for their eventual mighty deliverance through the Exodus. Historically, this verse refers to the centuries-long growth of the seventy souls of Jacob's household into a multitude prior to the Israelite enslavement by Pharaoh.

Psalm 105 24 Word analysis

• And he increased: (Hebrew: וַיֶּפֶר - vayyefer, from the root פרר - parar, related to fruitful/to break forth, or possibly the Piel form of רבה - rabah, to multiply greatly. The latter is strongly supported by parallels like Ex 1:7.) This signifies divine agency. God is the active subject, emphasizing His direct, supernatural intervention in population growth. It suggests not merely natural increase but a divinely accelerated proliferation that exceeded typical demographic trends.
• his people: (Hebrew: עַמּוֹ - ammo, from עַם - am). This refers to Israel, His chosen nation. It underlines the covenant relationship—they are His people, implying His ownership, care, and commitment to them, setting them apart from all other peoples.
• greatly: This adverb amplifies the preceding verb. The increase was not slight or ordinary, but vast, abundant, and exceptional in magnitude. It emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the divine blessing and the miraculous expansion despite the constraints of a foreign land.
• and made them stronger: (Hebrew: וַיַּעֲצִימֵהוּ - vayya'atsimēhū, from עָצַם - atsam). This verb means "to be strong, mighty, powerful, numerous." It implies more than just numerical increase; it points to a growth in power, robustness, and collective influence, a strength that is both internal (resilience, unity) and external (capacity to contend). This strength is given by God, indicating divine empowerment.
• than their enemies: (Hebrew: מִצָּרֵיהֶם - mitsarehem, from צַר - tsar). This refers to adversaries or oppressors, particularly the Egyptians who would later enslave them. The comparison highlights that God not only multiplied and strengthened Israel but elevated them to a position of superior power relative to those who sought to harm or control them. This outcome, divinely orchestrated, demonstrates God's sovereignty over the nations and His protective hand over His chosen.

Words-group analysis:

• "And he increased his people greatly": This phrase highlights God's foundational work of ensuring the physical and numerical flourishing of Israel. It showcases the fulfillment of His covenant promise to Abraham of countless descendants, establishing the bedrock for the formation of a great nation. This divine act is primary and prerequisite to their later empowerment.
• "and made them stronger than their enemies": This phrase completes the picture of divine favor. It signifies that God not only provides quantity (many people) but also quality (strength and might), ensuring their survival and eventual triumph against hostile powers. It presents a divine polemic against the strength of oppressive regimes, asserting God's ultimate supremacy over human power structures. The strength derived not merely from numbers but from God's empowering presence.

Psalm 105 24 Bonus section

The historical increase and strength of Israel in Egypt, as detailed in Ps 105:24, serves as a significant foreshadowing of the spiritual multiplication and empowerment of God's new covenant people, the Church. Just as Israel grew under oppression in Egypt, the early Church grew explosively despite intense persecution and hostility (Acts 4:4, 6:7, 12:24). This divine pattern underscores God's ability to thrive and strengthen His people, numerically and spiritually, even in the most adverse conditions. Furthermore, this verse highlights the theme of God actively preparing His people for the trials ahead. Their great increase and strength prior to the intense enslavement demonstrated God's care and foresight, ensuring their survival and readiness for the ultimate deliverance. It contrasts sharply with the world's wisdom which might seek to diminish or control an 'alien' population; God's plan is always for His people's expansion and enablement.

Psalm 105 24 Commentary

Psalm 105:24 encapsulates God's unwavering faithfulness and strategic providence concerning His covenant people, Israel. In a land foreign to them, and preceding a period of harsh oppression, God actively intervened to defy natural and political limitations. He took a small family (Gen 46:27) and supernaturally multiplied them into a numerous multitude, setting the stage for His greater redemptive acts. More than just increasing their numbers, He imbued them with a collective strength and resilience that surpassed their potential adversaries, even those who held them in physical bondage. This strength was not self-generated but a direct outflow of God's power and favor upon them. The verse sets the stage for the Exodus, illustrating how God, through the seemingly powerless instrument of a large and strengthened population, prepared for their glorious liberation, turning what might seem like vulnerability into a strategic asset. It serves as a profound reminder that God's people are truly mighty when His hand is upon them, and no human scheme or power can thwart His divine plan for their prosperity and protection.