Exodus 32:13
Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.
Original Language Analysis
זְכֹ֡ר
Remember
H2142
זְכֹ֡ר
Remember
Strong's:
H2142
Word #:
1 of 25
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל
and Israel
H3478
וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל
and Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
4 of 25
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 25
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתָּ
to whom thou swarest
H7650
נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתָּ
to whom thou swarest
Strong's:
H7650
Word #:
7 of 25
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר
by thine own self and saidst
H1696
וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר
by thine own self and saidst
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
10 of 25
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
אַרְבֶּה֙
unto them I will multiply
H7235
אַרְבֶּה֙
unto them I will multiply
Strong's:
H7235
Word #:
12 of 25
to increase (in whatever respect)
אֶֽת
H853
אֶֽת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
13 of 25
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
לְזַרְעֲכֶ֔ם
unto your seed
H2233
לְזַרְעֲכֶ֔ם
unto your seed
Strong's:
H2233
Word #:
14 of 25
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
כְּכֽוֹכְבֵ֖י
as the stars
H3556
כְּכֽוֹכְבֵ֖י
as the stars
Strong's:
H3556
Word #:
15 of 25
a star (as round or as shining); figuratively, a prince
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם
of heaven
H8064
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם
of heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
16 of 25
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
17 of 25
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָאָ֨רֶץ
and all this land
H776
הָאָ֨רֶץ
and all this land
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
18 of 25
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
20 of 25
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
אֶתֵּן֙
of will I give
H5414
אֶתֵּן֙
of will I give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
22 of 25
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לְזַרְעֲכֶ֔ם
unto your seed
H2233
לְזַרְעֲכֶ֔ם
unto your seed
Strong's:
H2233
Word #:
23 of 25
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
Cross References
Hebrews 6:13For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,Genesis 12:7And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.Genesis 22:16And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:Genesis 15:18In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:Genesis 15:5And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.Genesis 48:16The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.Genesis 15:7And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.Deuteronomy 9:27Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin:Deuteronomy 7:8But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.Leviticus 26:42Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.
Historical Context
The Abrahamic covenant (Gen 12, 15, 17) was unconditional, depending solely on God's faithfulness. Moses wisely grounds his plea not in Israel's merit but in God's immutable promises.
Questions for Reflection
- How does understanding covenant faithfulness strengthen your assurance of salvation?
- What promises of God can you 'remember' to Him in prayer during crisis?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Moses' second appeal is to זְכֹר (zechor, remember)—covenant faithfulness to the patriarchs אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיִשְׂרָאֵל (Avraham Yitzchak v'Yisra'el, Abraham, Isaac, and Israel). He specifically mentions they were עֲבָדֶיךָ (avadecha, Your servants), emphasizing their faithful relationship. Moses quotes God's own promise regarding seed multiplication (like stars) and land inheritance לְעוֹלָם (le'olam, forever). By appealing to covenant oath נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לָהֶם (nishba'ta lahem, You swore to them) בָּךְ (bach, by Yourself), Moses invokes God's unbreakable commitment—God cannot deny Himself (2 Tim 2:13).