Numbers 13:1
New International Version
The LORD said to Moses,

New Living Translation
The LORD now said to Moses,

English Standard Version
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Berean Standard Bible
And the LORD said to Moses,

King James Bible
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

New King James Version
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

New American Standard Bible
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

NASB 1995
Then the LORD spoke to Moses saying,

NASB 1977
Then the LORD spoke to Moses saying,

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses saying,

Amplified Bible
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses: “

American Standard Version
And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said to Moses,

English Revised Version
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD said to Moses,

Good News Translation
The LORD said to Moses,

International Standard Version
Later, the LORD told Moses,

NET Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses:

New Heart English Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
And the LORD said to Moses,

World English Bible
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH speaks to Moses, saying,

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will speak to Moses, saying,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And there the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And there, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

New American Bible
The LORD said to Moses:

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD said to Moses,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
THE LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH spoke with Moshe and said to him:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Spies Explore Canaan
1And the LORD said to Moses, 2“Send out for yourself men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each of their fathers’ tribes send one man who is a leader among them.”…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 1:22-23
Then all of you approached me and said, “Let us send men ahead of us to search out the land and bring us word of what route to follow and which cities to enter.” / The plan seemed good to me, so I selected twelve men from among you, one from each tribe.

Joshua 2:1
Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

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? ...

Deuteronomy 9:23
And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh-barnea, He said, “Go up and possess the land that I have given you.” But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You neither believed Him nor obeyed Him.

Joshua 14:7-8
I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back to him an honest report. / Although my brothers who went with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear, I remained loyal to the LORD my God.

Psalm 106:24-25
They despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise. / They grumbled in their tents and did not listen to the voice of the LORD.

Nehemiah 9:13-15
You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them just ordinances, true laws, and good statutes and commandments. / You revealed to them Your holy Sabbath and gave them commandments and statutes and laws through Your servant Moses. / In their hunger You gave them bread from heaven; in their thirst You brought them water from the rock. You told them to go in and possess the land that You had sworn to give them.

1 Corinthians 10:5-10
Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness. / These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did. / Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” ...

Deuteronomy 1:8
See, I have placed the land before you. Enter and possess the land that the LORD swore He would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants after them.”

Exodus 3:8
I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

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—

Acts 7:45
And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David,

Deuteronomy 31:7-8
Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. / The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

Joshua 1:2-3
“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all these people, and cross over the Jordan into the land that I am giving to the children of Israel. / I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will tread, just as I promised to Moses.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

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Numbers 13
1. The names of the men who were sent to search the land
17. Their instructions
21. Their acts
26. Their relation














And the LORD said to Moses,
This phrase indicates direct communication from God to Moses, a common occurrence in the Pentateuch, highlighting Moses' unique role as a prophet and leader of Israel. The LORD, or Yahweh, is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness and relationship with Israel. This communication underscores the theocratic nature of Israel's leadership, where God directly guides His people through chosen leaders. Moses, as the mediator of the covenant, is a type of Christ, who is the ultimate mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). This divine instruction sets the stage for the reconnaissance of Canaan, a pivotal moment in Israel's journey to the Promised Land. The context here is crucial, as it follows the Israelites' journey from Egypt and their experiences at Sinai, where they received the Law. This moment is part of the broader narrative of God's promise to Abraham regarding the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:7), and it foreshadows the challenges and faith required to possess the land.
Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who speaks directly to Moses, guiding the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land.

2. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to deliver His people from Egypt and lead them through the wilderness. He acts as an intermediary between God and the people.

3. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who are on a journey from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land, Canaan.

4. The Promised Land (Canaan)
The land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey, representing God's faithfulness and provision.

5. The Event of Sending Spies
This verse introduces the event where God instructs Moses to send spies to explore the land of Canaan, setting the stage for the subsequent report and its consequences.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty and Guidance
God initiates the exploration of the land, demonstrating His sovereign plan and guidance for His people. Believers are reminded to seek God's direction in their own lives.

Leadership and Obedience
Moses' role as a leader highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands. Christian leaders are called to listen to God and lead others according to His will.

Faith in God's Promises
The sending of the spies is a test of faith for the Israelites. Believers today are encouraged to trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem challenging.

Preparation for Challenges
God prepares His people for the challenges ahead by instructing them to explore the land. Christians are called to prepare spiritually and practically for the challenges they face.

Community and Accountability
The communal aspect of sending representatives from each tribe emphasizes the importance of community and accountability in the faith journey.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Numbers 13:1?

2. How does God's command in Numbers 13:1 demonstrate His sovereignty and authority?

3. What can we learn about obedience from God's instruction to Moses in Numbers 13:1?

4. How does Numbers 13:1 connect to God's promises to Abraham in Genesis?

5. How can we apply the principle of divine guidance in Numbers 13:1 today?

6. What role does faith play when God directs us, as seen in Numbers 13:1?

7. Why did God command Moses to send spies into Canaan in Numbers 13:1?

8. How does Numbers 13:1 reflect God's sovereignty and human responsibility?

9. What is the significance of God choosing specific leaders in Numbers 13:1?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 13?

11. What did the twelve spies report about Canaan?

12. What defines being devout?

13. How is it scientifically plausible for grapes to grow large enough to require two men to carry a single cluster (Numbers 13:23)?

14. What is the biblical significance of Kadesh Barnea?
What Does Numbers 13:1 Mean
And

• This single word links what is about to happen with everything that has come before. Numbers 12 closed with Miriam’s discipline and Israel’s continued march; “And” shows God is not done speaking into their journey.

• Scripture often uses “and” to stitch together God’s unfolding plan—see “And God said” all through Genesis 1 or the seamless narrative in Exodus 17:1–7 where each scene builds on the last.

• The connective reminds us that every event in redemptive history is part of one continuous story, just as Hebrews 3:16–19 reflects on Israel’s past to warn and encourage believers today.


the LORD

• “The LORD” (all capitals) points to the covenant God who revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush: “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). His unchanging character undergirds every promise.

• Cross references:

Exodus 6:2–8: God reaffirms His covenant name and pledges deliverance.

Psalm 100:3: “Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His.”

Malachi 3:6: “For I, the LORD, do not change,” assuring Israel—and us—of His steadfastness.

• Because the LORD speaks here, the command that follows carries absolute authority; obedience is not optional.


said

• God is a speaking God. His words create, direct, and bless (Genesis 1:3; Isaiah 55:11).

• In Hebrews 1:1–2 we learn that “God spoke to our fathers through the prophets,” underscoring that revelation is central to faith.

• By recording that the LORD “said,” the text affirms verbal, propositional revelation: what follows is not human guesswork but divine instruction.

• Jesus echoes this pattern, declaring, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63).


to Moses,

• God addresses Moses personally, highlighting the unique prophetic role noted in Numbers 12:6–8: “With him I speak face to face.”

• Leadership in Israel is never autonomous; it rests on receiving and relaying God’s word (Deuteronomy 34:10; Acts 7:35–38).

• Moses serves as mediator, foreshadowing the greater Mediator, Christ Jesus (Hebrews 3:1–6). The people’s next steps into the Promised Land hinge on Moses faithfully transmitting what he hears here.


summary

Numbers 13:1 opens the spies narrative with a simple yet loaded statement: the covenant LORD, ever faithful and ever speaking, continues His agenda by addressing His chosen leader. The conjunction “And” ties this moment to the ongoing story; “the LORD” grounds the command in divine authority; “said” underscores the reliability of verbal revelation; and “to Moses” spotlights God’s chosen mediator. Every word invites trust and obedience as Israel—and today’s believers—listen for the next step in God’s unbroken, life-giving plan.

XIII.

(1) And the Lord spake unto Moses . . . --There is no inconsistency between this statement and that which is contained in Deuteronomy 1:22, where the sending of the spies is represented as having originated with the people. It is there said that the saying pleased Moses well; but it would be wholly inconsistent with the character and conduct of Moses to suppose that in a matter of such importance he should have acted in a accordance with the suggestion of the people, or upon his own judgment, without seeking direction from God. The command which was given to Moses must not be regarded as implying of necessity that the expedition of the spies was, in the first instance, ordained by God, any more than the command which was afterwards given to Balaam to accompany the messengers of Balak was any indication that God originally commanded, or approved of his journey.

THE REBELLION AT KADESH (chapters 13, 14).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

said
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (way·ḏab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Moses,
מֹשֶׁ֥ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver


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OT Law: Numbers 13:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses saying (Nu Num.)
Numbers 12:16
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