Numbers 13:32
New International Version
And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.

New Living Translation
So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge.

English Standard Version
So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

New King James Version
And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature.

New American Standard Bible
So they brought a bad report of the land which they had spied out to the sons of Israel, saying, “The land through which we have gone to spy out is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are people of great stature.

NASB 1995
So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size.

NASB 1977
So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size.

Legacy Standard Bible
So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land, which we have passed through to spy out on, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size.

Amplified Bible
So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we went, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants. And all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature.

Christian Standard Bible
So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: “The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: “The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size.

American Standard Version
And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had spied out unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature.

Contemporary English Version
Then they started spreading rumors and saying, "We won't be able to grow anything in that soil. And the people are like giants.

English Revised Version
And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had spied out unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So they began to spread lies among the Israelites about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored is one that devours those who live there. All the people we saw there are very tall.

Good News Translation
So they spread a false report among the Israelites about the land they had explored. They said, "That land doesn't even produce enough to feed the people who live there. Everyone we saw was very tall,

International Standard Version
So they put out this false report to the Israelis about the land that they had explored: "The land that we've explored is one that devours its inhabitants. All the people whom we observed were giants.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
Then they presented the Israelites with a discouraging report of the land they had investigated, saying, "The land that we passed through to investigate is a land that devours its inhabitants. All the people we saw there are of great stature.

New Heart English Bible
They brought up an evil report of the land which they had spied out to the children of Israel, saying, "The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that eats up its inhabitants; and all the people who we saw in it are men of great stature.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they brought an evil report of the land which they had searched to the children of Israel, saying, The land through which we have passed to search it, is a land that eateth up its inhabitants; and all the people that we saw in it, are men of a great stature.

World English Bible
They brought up an evil report of the land which they had spied out to the children of Israel, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that eats up its inhabitants; and all the people who we saw in it are men of great stature.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they bring out an evil account of the land which they have spied out to the sons of Israel, saying, “The land into which we passed over to spy it out is a land eating up its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in its midst [are] men of stature;

Young's Literal Translation
and they bring out an evil account of the land which they have spied unto the sons of Israel, saying, 'The land into which we passed over to spy it, is a land eating up its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in its midst are men of stature;

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will bring forth slander of the land which they searched it out to the sons of Israel, saying, The land which we passed through upon it, to search it out, is a land consuming those dwelling upon it: and all the people which we saw in the midst of it, men being long.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they spoke ill of the land, which they had viewed, before the children of Israel, saying: The land which we have viewed, devoureth its inhabitants: the people, that we beheld, are of a tall stature.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And before the sons of Israel they disparaged the land, which they had inspected, saying: “The land, which we viewed, devours its inhabitants. The people, upon whom we gazed, were of lofty stature.

New American Bible
They spread discouraging reports among the Israelites about the land they had reconnoitered, saying, “The land that we went through and reconnoitered is a land that consumes its inhabitants. And all the people we saw there are huge.

New Revised Standard Version
So they brought to the Israelites an unfavorable report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land that we have gone through as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people that we saw in it are of great size.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they brought up to the children of Israel an evil report of the land which they had spied out, saying, The land through which we have gone to spy out is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And those who spied out sent out the report of the land to the children of Israel and they said to them: “The land in which we passed through and spied out, the land consumes its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw within it are men of stature.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they spread an evil report of the land which they had spied out unto the children of Israel, saying: 'The land, through which we have passed to spy it out, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they brought a horror of that land which they surveyed upon the children of Israel, saying, The land which we passed by to survey it, is a land that eats up its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of extraordinary stature.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Reports of the Spies
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. 33We 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!”…

Cross References
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.’”

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.

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?”

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 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 1:26-27
But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. / You 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.

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 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 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.

Nehemiah 9:16-17
But they and our fathers became arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey Your commandments. / They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them.

1 Corinthians 10:10
And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.

Deuteronomy 1:34-36
When the LORD heard your words, He grew angry and swore an oath, saying, / “Not one of the men of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your fathers, / except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land on which he has set foot, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.”

Psalm 78:22
because they did not believe God or rely on His salvation.

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

Deuteronomy 1:19-21
And just as the LORD our God had commanded us, we set out from Horeb and went toward the hill country of the Amorites, through all the vast and terrifying wilderness you have seen. When we reached Kadesh-barnea, / I said: “You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us. / See, the LORD your God has placed the land before you. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”


Treasury of Scripture

And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched to the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eats up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

brought

Numbers 14:36,37
And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, …

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.

Matthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

a land

Numbers 13:28
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.

Ezekiel 36:13
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they say unto you, Thou land devourest up men, and hast bereaved thy nations;

Amos 2:9
Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.

men of a greater stature.

2 Samuel 21:20
And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.

1 Chronicles 20:6
And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant.

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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














So they gave the Israelites a bad report
The phrase "So they gave" indicates an action taken by the spies who were sent to explore the land of Canaan. The Hebrew root for "gave" is "natan," which means to give, put, or set. This action of giving a report is significant because it reflects the responsibility and influence the spies had over the people of Israel. In a broader scriptural context, this act of giving a report is not just a simple relay of information but a powerful moment that would shape the faith and future of the Israelites. The act of giving here is not neutral; it carries the weight of interpretation and perspective.

the Israelites
The term "the Israelites" refers to the descendants of Jacob, also known as Israel. This group is the chosen people of God, set apart to inherit the Promised Land. Historically, the Israelites were a people who had experienced the miraculous deliverance from Egypt and were on a journey to claim the land promised to their forefathers. The identity of the Israelites is deeply rooted in their covenant relationship with God, and their journey is a testament to God's faithfulness and their struggle with faith and obedience.

a bad report
The phrase "a bad report" is translated from the Hebrew word "dibbah," which can mean an evil or slanderous report. This is not merely a negative assessment but one that is harmful and misleading. The spies' report was not just unfavorable; it was a distortion of the truth that incited fear and rebellion among the people. In the historical context, this report was pivotal because it led to the Israelites' refusal to enter the Promised Land, resulting in their wandering in the wilderness for forty years. Theologically, this moment underscores the power of words and the importance of faith and trust in God's promises.

about the land they had explored
The phrase "about the land they had explored" refers to the land of Canaan, which the spies had been sent to scout. The Hebrew word for "explored" is "tur," meaning to seek out or investigate. This exploration was meant to be a reconnaissance mission to gather information about the land God had promised to give them. Archaeologically, Canaan was a land of great diversity and fertility, known for its fortified cities and established cultures. The exploration was supposed to affirm God's promise and encourage the Israelites, but instead, it became a source of doubt and fear due to the negative report.

saying, 'The land we explored devours its inhabitants'
The word "saying" introduces the content of the report, which is a direct quotation from the spies. The phrase "The land we explored devours its inhabitants" is a hyperbolic statement meant to instill fear. The Hebrew word for "devours" is "akal," which means to consume or eat. This imagery suggests a land that is hostile and dangerous, contrary to God's description of it as a land flowing with milk and honey. This statement reflects a lack of faith and a focus on the obstacles rather than the opportunities. It serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of fear and unbelief.

and all the people we saw there are of great stature
The phrase "and all the people we saw there are of great stature" emphasizes the physical presence and perceived threat of the inhabitants of Canaan. The Hebrew word for "stature" is "middah," which can refer to size or height. This observation highlights the spies' focus on the physical challenges rather than the spiritual assurance of God's promise. Historically, the Canaanites were known for their fortified cities and warriors, but the emphasis on their stature reveals the spies' intimidation and lack of trust in God's power to deliver them. This serves as a reminder of the importance of seeing challenges through the lens of faith rather than fear.

(32) A land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof.--Some understand by this phrase a land of scarcity, unable to support its inhabitants; others understand it as denoting an unhealthy land, in which sense it appears to be still used in the East. (See Roberts' Oriental Illustrations, p. 101, 8vo, 1844.) It seems more probable, however, that the allusion is to the strife and discord which prevailed amongst the various tribes who contended for its possession. (Comp. Leviticus 26:38.)

Men of great stature.--Literally, men of measures (comp. Isaiah 45:14), where the word middah, measure, occurs in the singular number, "men of stature." Such persons did undoubtedly exist in the land of Canaan, but there is no evidence that the inhabitants generally were of extraordinary size.

Verse 32. - A land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof. This cannot mean that the people died of starvation, pestilence, or other natural causes, which would have been contrary to facts and to their own report. It must mean that the population was continually changing through internecine wars, and the incursions of fresh tribes from the surrounding wastes. The history of Palestine from first to last testifies to the constant presence of this d anger. The remarkable variation in the lists of tribes inhabiting Canaan may be thus accounted for. All the people... are men of great stature, אֲגְשֵׁי מִדּות "men of measures. " Septuagint, ἄνδρες ὑπερμήκεις. The "all" is an exaggeration very natural to men who had to justify the counsels of cowardice.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So they gave
וַיּוֹצִ֜יאוּ (way·yō·w·ṣî·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

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

a bad report
דִּבַּ֤ת (dib·baṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1681: Whispering, defamation, evil report

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

they had spied out:
תָּר֣וּ (tā·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8446: To meander, about, for, trade, reconnoitring

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

we explored
עָבַ֨רְנוּ (‘ā·ḇar·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

devours
אֹכֶ֤לֶת (’ō·ḵe·leṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

its inhabitants,
יוֹשְׁבֶ֙יהָ֙ (yō·wō·šə·ḇe·hā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

and all
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

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

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

there
בְתוֹכָ֖הּ (ḇə·ṯō·w·ḵāh)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

are great in stature.
מִדּֽוֹת׃ (mid·dō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4060: Extension, height, breadth, a measure, a portion, a vestment, tribute


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OT Law: Numbers 13:32 They brought up an evil report (Nu Num.)
Numbers 13:31
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