Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.
The saying comes from Eliphaz in Job 4-7, where the book deals with providence, sin, and suffering. It stands among his assurances that God cares for, protects, and prospers those who trust Him and are corrected by Him. The assurance is that the one so corrected will know that his seed shall be great and his offspring numerous and flourishing, as abundant as the grass of the earth.
The friends often stated general truths but misapplied them to Job. Job was being disciplined through affliction, while his friends wrongly blamed his suffering on his sin, though suffering does not prove that a person is under God's displeasure. Eliphaz's teaching alone is not reliable as truth and does not establish doctrine; unless supported by inspired Scripture it does not prove that God's favor brings worldly prosperity and abundant offspring. The promise of many descendants is illustrated when four generations of a person's children are present together.
The saying comes from Eliphaz in Job 4-7, where the book deals with providence, sin, and suffering. It stands among his assurances that God cares for, protects, and prospers those who trust Him and are corrected by Him. The assurance is that the one so corrected will know that his seed shall be great and his offspring numerous and flourishing, as abundant as the grass of the earth.
The friends often stated general truths but misapplied them to Job. Job was being disciplined through affliction, while his friends wrongly blamed his suffering on his sin, though suffering does not prove that a person is under God's displeasure. Eliphaz's teaching alone is not reliable as truth and does not establish doctrine; unless supported by inspired Scripture it does not prove that God's favor brings worldly prosperity and abundant offspring. The promise of many descendants is illustrated when four generations of a person's children are present together.