Deuteronomy 1:28
New International Version
Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt in fear. They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.’”

New Living Translation
Where can we go? Our brothers have demoralized us with their report. They tell us, “The people of the land are taller and more powerful than we are, and their towns are large, with walls rising high into the sky! We even saw giants there—the descendants of Anak!”’

English Standard Version
Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.”’

Berean Standard Bible
Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’”

King James Bible
Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

New King James Version
Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.” ’

New American Standard Bible
Where can we go up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, by saying, “The people are bigger and taller than we; the cities are large and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we saw the sons of the Anakim there.”’

NASB 1995
‘Where can we go up? Our brethren have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are bigger and taller than we; the cities are large and fortified to heaven. And besides, we saw the sons of the Anakim there."’

NASB 1977
‘Where can we go up? Our brethren have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are bigger and taller than we; the cities are large and fortified to heaven. And besides, we saw the sons of the Anakim there.”’

Legacy Standard Bible
Where can we go up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are bigger and taller than we; the cities are large and fortified to heaven. And moreover, we saw the sons of the Anakim there.”’

Amplified Bible
Where can we go up? Our brothers (spies) have made our hearts melt [in fear] and demoralized us by saying, “The people are bigger and taller than we; the cities are large, and fortified [all the way up] to heaven. And besides, we saw the [giant-like] sons of the Anakim there.”’

Christian Standard Bible
Where can we go? Our brothers have made us lose heart, saying: The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, fortified to the heavens. We also saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Where can we go? Our brothers have discouraged us, saying: The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, fortified to the heavens. We also saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’”

American Standard Version
Whither are we going up? our brethren have made our heart to melt, saying, The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.

Contemporary English Version
We are afraid, because the men who explored the land told us that the cities are large, with walls that reach to the sky. The people who live there are taller and stronger than we are, and some of them are Anakim. We have nowhere to go."

English Revised Version
Whither are we going up? our brethren have made our heart to melt, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fenced up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Where are we going anyway? Our own men have discouraged us by saying, 'The people there are taller and stronger than we are. The cities are big with sky-high walls! We even saw the people of Anak there.'"

Good News Translation
Why should we go there? We are afraid. The men we sent tell us that the people there are stronger and taller than we are, and that they live in cities with walls that reach the sky. They saw giants there!'

International Standard Version
Where can we go? Our brothers discouraged us when they said that the people are bigger and taller than we are. Their cities are tall and fortified to the sky, and we also saw the Anakim there.'

Majority Standard Bible
Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’”

NET Bible
What is going to happen to us? Our brothers have drained away our courage by describing people who are more numerous and taller than we are, and great cities whose defenses appear to be as high as heaven itself! Moreover, they said they saw Anakites there."

New Heart English Bible
Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our heart to melt, saying, 'The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to the sky; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover, we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

World English Bible
Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our heart melt, saying, ‘The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to the sky. Moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there!’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
to where are we going up? Our brothers have melted our heart, saying, [The] people [are] greater and taller than we; [the] cities [are] great and fortified up to the heavens, and we have also seen sons of Anakim there.

Young's Literal Translation
whither are we going up? our brethren have melted our heart, saying, A people greater and taller than we, cities great and fenced to heaven, and also sons of Anakim -- we have seen there.

Smith's Literal Translation
Whither are we going up? our brethren melted our heart, saying, A people great and high above us; cities great and fortified to the heavens; and also, the sons of the Anakims, we saw there.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Whither shall we go up? the messengers have terrified our hearts, saying: The multitude is very great, and taller than we: the cities are great, and walled up td the sky, we have seen the sons of the Enacims there.

Catholic Public Domain Version
To where should we ascend? The messengers have terrified our heart by saying: “The multitude is very great, and taller than us. And the cities are great, and the walls extend even to the sky. We have seen the sons of the Anakim there.” ’

New American Bible
What shall we meet with up there? Our men have made our hearts melt by saying, ‘The people are bigger and taller than we, and their cities are large and fortified to the sky; besides, we saw the Anakim there.’ ”

New Revised Standard Version
Where are we headed? Our kindred have made our hearts melt by reporting, ‘The people are stronger and taller than we; the cities are large and fortified up to heaven! We actually saw there the offspring of the Anakim!’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Whither shall we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our heart, tying, The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of giants there.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Where are we going up? Our brethren have broken our heart and they said to us, ‘The people are greater and taller and stronger than we, and the cities are great and walled up unto Heaven, also we saw there the sons of the giants.’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Whither are we going up? our brethren have made our heart to melt, saying: The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Whither do we go up? and your brethren drew away your heart, saying, It is a great nation and populous, and mightier than we; and there are cities great and walled up to heaven: moreover we saw there the sons of the giants.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel's Rebellion
27You grumbled in your tents and said, “Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be annihilated. 28Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’” 29So I said to you: “Do not be terrified or afraid of them!…

Cross References
Numbers 13:31-33
But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!” / So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land that they had spied out: “The land we explored devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw there are great in stature. / We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”

Numbers 14:1-4
Then the whole congregation lifted up their voices and cried out, and that night the people wept. / All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! / Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” ...

Joshua 14:8
Although my brothers who went with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear, I remained loyal to the LORD my God.

Numbers 13:27-29
And they gave this account to Moses: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and indeed, it is flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of its fruit! / Nevertheless, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We even saw the descendants of Anak there. / The Amalekites live in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”

Numbers 14:6-9
Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes / and said to the whole congregation of Israel, “The land we passed through and explored is an exceedingly good land. / If the LORD delights in us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and He will give it to us. ...

Joshua 2:9-11
and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you. / For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, whom you devoted to destruction. / When we heard this, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below.

Deuteronomy 9:1-2
Hear, O Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities fortified to the heavens. / The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them, and you have heard it said, “Who can stand up to the sons of Anak?”

Deuteronomy 7:1
When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you—

Deuteronomy 20:1
When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.

1 Samuel 17:11
On hearing the words of the Philistine, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and greatly afraid.

1 Samuel 17:24
When all the men of Israel saw Goliath, they fled from him in great fear.

Isaiah 51:12-13
“I, even I, am He who comforts you. Why should you be afraid of mortal man, of a son of man who withers like grass? / But you have forgotten the LORD, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth. You live in terror all day long because of the fury of the oppressor who is bent on destruction. But where is the fury of the oppressor?

Hebrews 3:16-19
For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? / And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? ...

Hebrews 4:1-2
Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it. / For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.

Hebrews 3:12
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.


Treasury of Scripture

Where shall we go up? our brothers have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

discouraged [heb] melted

Deuteronomy 20:8
And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.

Exodus 15:15
Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.

Joshua 2:9,11,24
And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you…

The people

Deuteronomy 9:1,2
Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven, …

Numbers 13:28-33
Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there…

we have seen

Deuteronomy 9:2
A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak!

Joshua 11:22
There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.

Joshua 15:14
And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

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Anakim Anakims Bigger Cities Discouraged Heart Hearts Heaven Large Melt Moreover Sky Taller Walled Whither
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Deuteronomy 1
1. Moses' speech in the end of the fortieth year
6. briefly rehearsing the history of God's sending them from Horeb
14. of giving them officers
19. of sending the spies to search the land
34. of his anger for their incredulity
41. and disobedience














Where can we go?
This phrase captures the despair and confusion of the Israelites as they faced the daunting task of entering the Promised Land. The Hebrew root for "go" (יָלַךְ, yalak) often implies movement or journeying, suggesting a sense of direction or purpose. Here, it reflects a crisis of faith and direction, as the Israelites question their ability to proceed. Historically, this moment is pivotal, as it reveals the Israelites' struggle to trust in God's promises despite His past faithfulness.

Our brothers have made our hearts melt
The phrase "made our hearts melt" uses the Hebrew verb מָסַס (masas), which conveys the idea of dissolving or losing courage. This expression highlights the power of negative reports and fear to undermine faith and resolve. The "brothers" refer to the spies who returned with a discouraging report, emphasizing the communal impact of their words. In a broader scriptural context, this serves as a warning against the spread of fear and doubt within a community of believers.

saying ‘The people are stronger and taller than we are
This part of the verse reflects the Israelites' perception of their enemies, focusing on physical strength and stature. The Hebrew word for "stronger" (חָזָק, chazaq) implies might and firmness, while "taller" (גָּבֹהַּ, gavoah) suggests an intimidating physical presence. Historically, the Canaanites were known for their fortified cities and warrior culture, which contributed to the Israelites' fear. This highlights a common biblical theme: the tendency to focus on human limitations rather than divine power.

the cities are large, with walls up to the sky
The description of the cities as "large, with walls up to the sky" uses hyperbolic language to convey their formidable nature. The Hebrew word for "large" (גָּדוֹל, gadol) denotes greatness or magnitude, while the imagery of walls "up to the sky" (שָׁמַיִם, shamayim) emphasizes their perceived invincibility. Archaeologically, ancient Canaanite cities were indeed well-fortified, but this exaggeration reflects the Israelites' overwhelming fear. This serves as a reminder of the human tendency to magnify obstacles when faith is lacking.

We even saw the Anakites there
The mention of the "Anakites" (עֲנָקִים, Anakim) refers to a race of giants known for their size and strength, often associated with fearsome warriors. The Anakites were descendants of Anak, and their presence in the land added to the Israelites' dread. Historically, the Anakites were a real people group, and their reputation contributed to the Israelites' reluctance to enter the land. This highlights the biblical theme of facing giants, both literal and metaphorical, with faith in God's promises.

(28) Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart.--So Caleb says in Joshua 14:8, "My brethren made the heart of the people melt." For the rest of the verse see Numbers 13:28.

Verse 28. - Our brethren have discouraged our heart; literally, hate melted or made to flow down our heart (הֵמַסּוּ, Hiph. cf מָסַס, to flow down or melt), have made us fainthearted. The cities are great and walled up to heaven; literally, are great and fortified in the heavens. To their excited imagination, the walls and towers of the cities seemed as if they reached the very sky; so when men cease to have faith in God, difficulties appear insurmountable, and the power of the adversary is exaggerated until courage is paralyzed and despair banishes hope. Sons of the Anakims; elsewhere (Numbers 13:22; Joshua 15:14; Judges 1:20) children or sons of the 'Anak. 'Anak may originally have been the proper name of an individual, but it appears m the Bible rather as the designation of the tribe. It is the word for neck, and this race, which were strong and powerful men, or their progenitor, may have been remarkable for thickness of neck; this, at least, is more probable than that it was from length of neck (Gesenius) that they got the name, for a long neck is usually associated with weakness rather than strength. Some have supposed the Anakim to have been originally Cushites; but the origin of the tribe is involved in obscurity.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Where
אָנָ֣ה ׀ (’ā·nāh)
Interrogative
Strong's 575: Where?, whither?, when?, hither and thither

can we
אֲנַ֣חְנוּ (’ă·naḥ·nū)
Pronoun - first person common plural
Strong's 587: We

go?
עֹלִ֗ים (‘ō·lîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

Our brothers
אַחֵינוּ֩ (’a·ḥê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 251: A brother, )

have made our hearts melt,
הֵמַ֨סּוּ (hê·mas·sū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 4549: To liquefy, to waste, to faint

saying:
לֵאמֹ֗ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘The people
עַ֣ם (‘am)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

are larger
גָּד֤וֹל (gā·ḏō·wl)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

and taller
וָרָם֙ (wā·rām)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7311: To be high actively, to rise, raise

than we are;
מִמֶּ֔נּוּ (mim·men·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the cities
עָרִ֛ים (‘ā·rîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement

are large,
גְּדֹלֹ֥ת (gə·ḏō·lōṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

with walls up
וּבְצוּרֹ֖ת (ū·ḇə·ṣū·rōṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 1219: To cut off, make inaccessible, enclose

to the heavens.
בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם (baš·šā·mā·yim)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

We even
וְגַם־ (wə·ḡam-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

saw
רָאִ֥ינוּ (rā·’î·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 7200: To see

the descendants
בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of the Anakim
עֲנָקִ֖ים (‘ă·nā·qîm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6062: Anakim -- 'neck', a giant people around Hebron and in Philistia

there.’”
שָֽׁם׃ (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 1:28 Where are we going up? Our brothers (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 1:27
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