Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Who against hope (when no ground for hope appeared) believed in hope - cherished the believing expectation х par' (G3844) elpida (G1680) ep' (G1909) elpidi (G1680). Para (G3844), with the accusative, 'to beside;' hence, proeter: epi (G1909) with the dative, denotes actual 'superposition;' hence, the actual 'basis,' ethical 'occasion,' or 'moving principle'],
That he might become the father of many nations, х eis (G1519) to (G3588) genesthai (G1096), not as the matter or immediate object of his faith-for Paul never uses the verb pisteuein (G4100) with eis (G1519) followed by an infinitive for the object of faith-but either 'in order to his becoming,' or, better, 'with the result of his becoming,' the father of many nations].
According to that which was spoken, So (that is, 'Such as the stars of heaven,' Genesis 15:5) "shall thy seed be."