Numbers 13:18
New International Version
See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many.

New Living Translation
See what the land is like, and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many.

English Standard Version
and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many,

Berean Standard Bible
See what the land is like and whether its people are strong or weak, few or many.

King James Bible
And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;

New King James Version
and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many;

New American Standard Bible
See what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many.

NASB 1995
“See what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many.

NASB 1977
“And see what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many.

Legacy Standard Bible
And see what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many.

Amplified Bible
See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many,

Christian Standard Bible
See what the land is like, and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
See what the land is like, and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many.

American Standard Version
and see the land, what it is; and the people that dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many;

Contemporary English Version
and find out what those regions are like. Be sure to remember how many people live there, how strong they are,

English Revised Version
and see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, whether they be few or many;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
See what the land is like and whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many.

Good News Translation
Find out what kind of country it is, how many people live there, and how strong they are.

International Standard Version
See what the land is like. Observe whether the people who live there are strong or weak, or whether they're few or numerous.

Majority Standard Bible
See what the land is like and whether its people are strong or weak, few or many.

NET Bible
and see what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, few or many,

New Heart English Bible
and see the land, what it is; and the people who dwell in it, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many;

Webster's Bible Translation
And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, few or many;

World English Bible
See the land, what it is; and the people who dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and have seen the land, what it [is], and the people which is dwelling on it, whether it [is] strong or feeble, [and] whether it [is] few or many;

Young's Literal Translation
and have seen the land what it is, and the people which is dwelling on it, whether it is strong or feeble; whether it is few or many;

Smith's Literal Translation
And see the land what it is, and the people dwelling upon it, whether it is strong or relaxed, whether it is few or many;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
View the land, of what sort it is: and the people that are the inhabitants thereof, whether they be strong or weak: few in number or many:

Catholic Public Domain Version
consider the land, as to what kind it may be, and the people, who are its inhabitants, whether they may be strong or weak, whether they may be few in number or many,

New American Bible
and see what kind of land it is and whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many.

New Revised Standard Version
and see what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And see what the land is, and the people who dwell in it, whether they are strong or weak, few or many;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And see the land, what it is, and the people dwelling in it, if it is strong or weak, or it is few or many.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and ye shall see the land, what it is, and the people that dwells on it, whether it is strong or weak, or whether they are few or many.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Spies Explore Canaan
17When Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, he told them, “Go up through the Negev and into the hill country. 18See what the land is like and whether its people are strong or weak, few or many. 19Is the land where they live good or bad? Are the cities where they dwell open camps or fortifications?…

Cross References
Joshua 2:1-24
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. / And it was reported to the king of Jericho: “Behold, some men of Israel have come here tonight to spy out the land.” / So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.” ...

Deuteronomy 1:22-25
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. / They left and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and spied out the land. ...

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.

Hebrews 11:1-2
Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. / This is why the ancients were commended.

Deuteronomy 9:1-3
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?” / But understand that today the LORD your God goes across ahead of you as a consuming fire; He will destroy them and subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them swiftly, as the LORD has promised you.

Joshua 6:22-25
Meanwhile, Joshua told the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the house of the prostitute and bring out the woman and all who are with her, just as you promised her.” / So the young spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother and brothers, and all who belonged to her. They brought out her whole family and settled them outside the camp of Israel. / Then the Israelites burned up the city and everything in it. However, they put the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD’s house. ...

Judges 18:2-10
So the Danites sent out five men from their clans, men of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and explore it. “Go and explore the land,” they told them. The men entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night. / And while they were near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they went over and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?” / “Micah has done this and that for me,” he replied, “and he has hired me to be his priest.” ...

1 Samuel 26:4
David sent out spies to verify that Saul had arrived.

2 Samuel 10:3
the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?”

2 Kings 6:13-14
So the king said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send men to capture him.” On receiving the report, “Elisha is in Dothan,” / the king of Aram sent horses, chariots, and a great army. They went there by night and surrounded the city.

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Luke 10:3
Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

John 7:24
Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”

Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.

1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.


Treasury of Scripture

And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwells therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;

Exodus 3:8
And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Ezekiel 34:14
I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.

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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














See what the land is like
The Hebrew word for "see" is "רָאָה" (ra'ah), which means to look at, inspect, perceive, or consider. This command to "see" is not merely about physical sight but involves a deeper understanding and discernment. The land of Canaan, promised to the Israelites, was to be evaluated not just for its physical attributes but for its potential to fulfill God's promises. This phrase invites the spies to engage in a comprehensive assessment, reflecting the importance of wisdom and discernment in spiritual journeys.

and whether its people are strong or weak
The Hebrew words for "strong" (חָזָק, chazaq) and "weak" (רָפֶה, raphah) provide a contrast between might and frailty. This assessment of the inhabitants' strength is crucial for the Israelites, who are about to enter a land occupied by established nations. Historically, the Canaanites were known for their fortified cities and warrior culture. The evaluation of strength versus weakness is not just a military concern but also a spiritual metaphor for the challenges believers face when confronting worldly powers. It underscores the need for reliance on God's strength rather than human might.

few or many
The Hebrew words "מְעַט" (me'at) for "few" and "רַב" (rav) for "many" highlight the numerical aspect of the Canaanite population. This consideration of population size is significant in the context of ancient warfare and settlement. A larger population could imply greater resistance, while a smaller one might suggest easier conquest. However, from a scriptural perspective, the emphasis is on God's ability to deliver victory regardless of human odds. This phrase encourages believers to trust in divine providence rather than be swayed by numerical strength, echoing the biblical theme that God often uses the few to overcome the many.

(18) And see the land.--Or, inspect the land. The same word is used of the inspection of the leper by the priest in Leviticus 13:3; Leviticus 13:5-6; Leviticus 13:10; Leviticus 13:13, &c.

Verse 18. - Whether they be strong or weak, few or many. It would appear that Moses was guilty of some indiscretion at least in giving these directions. Whether the people were strong or weak, many or few, should have been nothing to the Israelites. It was God that gave them the land; they had only to take possession boldly.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
See
וּרְאִיתֶ֥ם (ū·rə·’î·ṯem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see

what
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

the land
הָאָ֖רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

is like
הִ֑וא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

and
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

whether its people
הָעָם֙ (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

are strong
הֶחָזָ֥ק (he·ḥā·zāq)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2389: Strong, stout, mighty

or weak,
הֲרָפֶ֔ה (hă·rā·p̄eh)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7504: An Israelite in the line of Saul

few
הַמְעַ֥ט (ham·‘aṭ)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 4592: A little, fewness, a few

or
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

many.
רָֽב׃ (rāḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great


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OT Law: Numbers 13:18 And see the land what it is (Nu Num.)
Numbers 13:17
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