Numbers 13:31
New International Version
But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”

New Living Translation
But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!”

English Standard Version
Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.”

Berean Standard Bible
But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!”

Berean Literal Bible
And the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people; for it is stronger than we.”

King James Bible
But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

New King James Version
But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.”

New American Standard Bible
But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, because they are too strong for us.”

NASB 1995
But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.”

NASB 1977
But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.”

Amplified Bible
But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are too strong for us.”

Berean Annotated Bible
But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!

Christian Standard Bible
But the men who had gone up with him responded, “We can’t attack the people because they are stronger than we are! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But the men who had gone up with him responded, “We can’t go up against the people because they are stronger than we are!”

American Standard Version
But the men that went up with him said, We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

Contemporary English Version
But the other men replied, "Those people are much too strong for us."

English Revised Version
But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But the men who had gone with him said, "We can't attack those people! They're too strong for us!"

Good News Translation
But the men who had gone with Caleb said, "No, we are not strong enough to attack them; the people there are more powerful than we are."

International Standard Version
"We can't attack those people," the men who were with him said, "because they're too strong compared to us."

NET Bible
But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against these people, because they are stronger than we are!"

New Heart English Bible
But the men who went up with him said, "We aren't able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we."

Webster's Bible Translation
But the men that went up with him said, We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!”

World English Bible
But the men who went up with him said, “We aren’t able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the men who have gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for it [is] stronger than we”;

Berean Literal Bible
And the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people; for it is stronger than we.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the men who have gone up with him said, 'We are not able to go up against the people, for it is stronger than we;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the men who went with him said, We shall not be able to go up against the people, for they are strong above us.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the others, that had been with him, said: No, we are not able to go up to this people, because they are stronger than we.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Yet truly, the others, who had been with him, were saying, “By no means are we able to ascend to this people, because they are stronger than we are.”

New American Bible
But the men who had gone up with him said, “We cannot attack these people; they are too strong for us.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against this people, for they are stronger than we.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But the men who went up with him said, We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the men who went up with him were saying, “We cannot go up against the people because it is stronger than we.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But the men that went up with him said: 'We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But the men that went up together with him said, We will not go up, for we shall not by any means be able to go up against the nation, for it is much stronger than we.

Additional Translations ...



Context
The Reports of the Spies
30Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly conquer it!” 31But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!” 32So 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.…

Cross References
But the men who had gone up with him replied,

Numbers 14:36-37
So the men Moses had sent to spy out the land, who had returned and made the whole congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report about the land— / those men who had brought out the bad report about the land—were struck down by a plague before the LORD.

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.
“We cannot go up against the people,

Deuteronomy 1:28
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.’”

1 Samuel 17:33
But Saul replied, “You cannot go out against this Philistine to fight him. You are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

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.
for they are stronger than we are!”

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 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?”

2 Chronicles 20:15
And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God.
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.

Hebrews 3:19
So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter.

Deuteronomy 7:17-19
You may say in your heart, “These nations are greater than we are; how can we drive them out?” / But do not be afraid of them. Be sure to remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt: / the great trials that you saw, the signs and wonders, and the mighty hand and outstretched arm by which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.

Joshua 11:21-22
At that time Joshua proceeded to eliminate the Anakim from the hill country of Hebron, Debir, and Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah and of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction, along with their cities. / No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites; only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did any survive.

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.

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.

Deuteronomy 31:6-8
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” / 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 15:14
And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak—the descendants of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.


Treasury of Scripture

But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

Numbers 32:9
For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them.

Deuteronomy 1:28
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.

Joshua 14:8
Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

Jump to Previous
Able Attack Strong Stronger
Jump to Next
Able Attack Strong Stronger
Numbers 13
1. The names of the men who were sent to search the land
17. Their instructions
21. Their acts
26. Their relation












But the men who had gone up with him replied,

The ten spies who explored Canaan with Caleb and Joshua rejected Caleb’s confidence that Israel could take the land. Though they had witnessed the same land and received the same promise from God, they interpreted its dangers differently.

Num 14:36-37 So the men Moses had sent to spy out the land,…
Jos 14:8 Although my brothers who went with me…

“We cannot go up against the people,

The fortified cities, established populations, and trained warriors of Canaan convinced them that Israel’s military strength was insufficient. Their conclusion ignored the Lord’s purpose in bringing Israel out of Egypt and leading them to this land.

Deu 1:28 Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt,…
1Sa 17:33 But Saul replied, “You cannot go out against…
Deu 20:1 When you go out to war against your enemies…

for they are stronger than we are!”

The Canaanites, including the Anakim, were formidable opponents by ordinary human standards. Yet the spies measured the situation only by Israel’s visible weakness rather than by the power of the God who had already delivered them from Egypt.

Deu 7:1 When the LORD your God brings you into the land…
Deu 9:1-2 Hear, O Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan…
2Ch 20:15 And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem!…

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Spies
Twelve men, one from each tribe of Israel, were sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan. They were tasked with assessing the land and its inhabitants.

2. Caleb
One of the twelve spies, Caleb was from the tribe of Judah. He was one of the two spies who believed that Israel could conquer the land with God's help.

3. The People of Canaan
The inhabitants of the land that God promised to the Israelites. They were perceived as strong and formidable by the majority of the spies.

4. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who were on the brink of entering the Promised Land after their exodus from Egypt.

5. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, who sent the spies into Canaan to bring back a report on the land and its people.
Teaching Points
Faith vs. Fear
The report of the ten spies highlights the struggle between faith in God's promises and fear of earthly challenges. Believers are called to trust in God's power rather than be overwhelmed by obstacles.

The Power of Influence
The negative report of the ten spies influenced the entire community, leading to widespread fear and rebellion. This teaches the importance of surrounding ourselves with faith-filled individuals and being mindful of the influence we have on others.

God's Promises Require Action
While God promised the land to the Israelites, they were required to take action in faith. Similarly, believers must act on God's promises, trusting in His strength rather than their own.

Consequences of Unbelief
The Israelites' lack of faith led to a prolonged journey in the wilderness. This serves as a warning about the spiritual consequences of unbelief and disobedience.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Numbers 13:31?

2. Why did the spies doubt their ability to conquer the land in Numbers 13:31?

3. How can we avoid a "we cannot attack" mindset in our faith journey?

4. What other Bible stories show fear hindering God's promises?

5. How does trusting God help us overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges today?

6. What steps can we take to strengthen our faith against doubt and fear?

7. Why did the Israelites doubt God's promise despite witnessing miracles?

8. How does fear influence faith according to Numbers 13:31?

9. What does Numbers 13:31 reveal about human nature and trust in God?

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


Verse 31. - For they are stronger than we. In point of numbers the enormous superiority of the Israelites over any combination likely to oppose them must have been evident to the most cowardly. But the existence of numerous walled and fortified towns was (apart from Divine aid) an almost insuperable obstacle to a people wholly ignorant of artillery or of siege operations; and the presence of giants was exceedingly terrifying in an age when battles were a series of personal encounters (cf. 1 Samuel 17:11, 24).

Numbers 13:31 captures the pivot from faith to fear. Ten leaders erase God’s promise with a single sentence: “We cannot… they are stronger.” Their outlook ignores God’s past deeds, disregards His explicit word, and infects the camp with despair. The verse warns that unbelief speaks loudly, spreads quickly, and calculates without God. Faith looks at the same facts and says, “Let us go up at once” (Numbers 13:30); fear looks and says, “We cannot.” The choice between those two voices still defines every step of obedient living today.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But the men
וְהָ֨אֲנָשִׁ֜ים (wə·hā·’ă·nā·šîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

who
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

had gone up
עָל֤וּ (‘ā·lū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

with him
עִמּוֹ֙ (‘im·mōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

replied,
אָֽמְר֔וּ (’ā·mə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“We cannot
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

go up
לַעֲל֣וֹת (la·‘ă·lō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

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

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

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they
ה֖וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

are stronger
חָזָ֥ק (ḥā·zāq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2389: Strong, stout, mighty

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


Additonal Resources
Numbers 13:31 Blue Letter Bible
Numbers 13:31 Bible Gateway
Numbers 13:31 Bible.com

Numbers 13:31 NIV
Numbers 13:31 NLT
Numbers 13:31 ESV
Numbers 13:31 NASB
Numbers 13:31 KJV

Numbers 13:31 Study Bible
Numbers 13:31 Biblia Paralela
Numbers 13:31 Chinese Bible
Numbers 13:31 French Bible
Numbers 13:31 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Numbers 13:31 But the men who went up (Nu Num.)

Numbers 13:30
Top of Page
Top of Page