New International Versionand said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.
New Living TranslationThey said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land!
English Standard Versionand said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land.
Berean Standard Bibleand said to the whole congregation of Israel, “The land we passed through and explored is an exceedingly good land.
King James BibleAnd they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
New King James Versionand they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.
New American Standard Bibleand they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.
NASB 1995and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.
NASB 1977and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.
Legacy Standard Bibleand they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.
Amplified Bibleand they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “The land through which we passed as spies is an exceedingly good land.
Christian Standard Bibleand said to the entire Israelite community, “The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land.
Holman Christian Standard Bibleand said to the entire Israelite community: “The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land.
American Standard Versionand they spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceeding good land.
Contemporary English Versionand said: We saw the land ourselves, and it's very good.
English Revised Versionand they spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceeding good land.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThey said to the whole community of Israel, "The land we explored is very good.
Good News Translationand said to the people, "The land we explored is an excellent land.
International Standard Versionand attempted to reason with the entire congregation of Israel. They told them, "The land that we went through and explored is very, very good.
NET BibleThey said to the whole community of the Israelites, "The land we passed through to investigate is an exceedingly good land.
New Heart English Bibleand they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, "The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceeding good land.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd they spoke to all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleand said to the whole congregation of Israel, “The land we passed through and explored is an exceedingly good land.
World English BibleThey spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand they speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “The land into which we have passed over to spy it out [is] a very, very good land;
Young's Literal Translation and they speak unto all the company of the sons of Israel, saying, 'The land into which we have passed over to spy it, is a very very good land;
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd they will speak to all the assembly of the sons of Israel, saying, The land which we passed over upon it to search it out, a good land exceedingly, exceedingly, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd said to all the multitude of the children of Israel: The land which we have gone round is very good:
Catholic Public Domain Versionand they said to the entire multitude of the sons of Israel: “The land that we circled through is very good.
New American Bibleand said to the whole community of the Israelites, “The land which we went through and reconnoitered is an exceedingly good land.
New Revised Standard Versionand said to all the congregation of the Israelites, “The land that we went through as spies is an exceedingly good land. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd they said to all the congregation of the children of Israel, The land through which we passed to spy it out is an exceedingly good land.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd they said to all of the assembly of the children Israel: “The land in which we went through to explore is very good land. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And they spoke unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: 'The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceeding good land.
Brenton Septuagint Translationand spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, The land which we surveyed is indeed extremely good.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The People Rebel… 6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7and saidtothe wholecongregationof Israel,“The landwe passed throughand exploredis an exceedinglygoodland.8If 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.…
Cross References Joshua 2:9-11and 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 1:25They took some of the fruit of the land in their hands, carried it down to us, and brought us word: “It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us.”
Joshua 14:7-8I 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 6:10-11And when the LORD your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that He would give you—a land with great and splendid cities that you did not build, / with houses full of every good thing with which you did not fill them, with wells that you did not dig, and with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant—and when you eat and are satisfied,
Hebrews 3:16-19For 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 8:7-9For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks and fountains and springs that flow through the valleys and hills; / a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey; / a land where you will eat food without scarcity, where you will lack nothing; a land whose rocks are iron and whose hills are ready to be mined for copper.
Joshua 5:6For the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness forty years, until all the nation’s men of war who had come out of Egypt had died, since they did not obey the LORD. So the LORD vowed never to let them see the land He had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Psalm 95:8-11do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, though they had seen My work. / For forty years I was angry with that generation, and I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known My ways.” ...
Hebrews 4:1-2Therefore, 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 11:10-12For the land that you are entering to possess is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated on foot, like a vegetable garden. / But the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks in the rain from heaven. / It is a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning to the end of the year.
1 Corinthians 10:5-11Nevertheless, 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 31:6-8Be 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.”
Hebrews 3:12-14See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. / But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. / We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.
Exodus 3:8I 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.
1 Corinthians 10:1-4I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. / They all ate the same spiritual food ...
Treasury of Scripture And they spoke to all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. an exceeding good land Numbers 13:27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and thisis the fruit of it. Deuteronomy 1:25 And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and broughtit down unto us, and brought us word again, and said,It is a good land which the LORD our God doth give us. Deuteronomy 6:10,11 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, … Jump to Previous AssemblyChildrenCompanyCongregationEntireExceedingExceedinglyExploredIsraelIsraelitePassedSearchSpyWholeJump to Next AssemblyChildrenCompanyCongregationEntireExceedingExceedinglyExploredIsraelIsraelitePassedSearchSpyWholeNumbers 14 1.The people murmur at the news6.Joshua and Caleb labor to still them11.God threatens them13.Moses intercedes with God, and obtains pardon26.The Murmurers are debarred from entering into the land36.The men who raised the evil report die by a plague40.The people that would invade the land against the will of God are smittenand said to the whole congregation of Israel,This phrase indicates that the message was delivered to the entire assembly of the Israelites. The context is the aftermath of the spies' return from Canaan, where they reported on the land. The congregation refers to the entire community of Israel, which was organized into tribes and camped around the Tabernacle. This setting underscores the communal nature of Israel's journey and decision-making process. Historically, this reflects the theocratic leadership structure where God communicated His will through appointed leaders like Moses, Aaron, and in this case, Joshua and Caleb. “The land we passed through and explored This refers to the reconnaissance mission undertaken by the twelve spies, as detailed earlier inNumbers 13. The land in question is Canaan, the Promised Land, which God had pledged to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:7). The exploration was a strategic move to assess the land's resources and the strength of its inhabitants. Geographically, Canaan was a fertile region, known for its agricultural potential, which is why it was often described as a land "flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8). is an exceedingly good land. This statement is a direct affirmation of the land's quality and potential, contrasting with the negative report given by the other ten spies. The phrase "exceedingly good" emphasizes the abundance and fertility of Canaan, aligning with God's promises of a prosperous land for His people. This echoes the biblical theme of God's provision and faithfulness. Theologically, it can be seen as a type of the eternal inheritance promised to believers, with Canaan symbolizing the blessings and rest found in Christ (Hebrews 4:8-10). The positive report by Joshua and Caleb highlights their faith and trust in God's promises, setting a precedent for reliance on divine assurance over human fear. Persons / Places / Events 1. Joshua and CalebThese two men were among the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan. Unlike the other ten spies, Joshua and Caleb trusted in God's promise and encouraged the Israelites to take possession of the land. 2. The Congregation of IsraelThe entire assembly of the Israelites who were journeying from Egypt to the Promised Land. At this point, they were camped in the wilderness of Paran. 3. The Land of CanaanThe Promised Land that God had assured to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was described as a land flowing with milk and honey, symbolizing abundance and prosperity. 4. The Wilderness of ParanThe desert region where the Israelites were encamped when the spies returned from exploring Canaan. 5. The Exploration of CanaanThe event where twelve spies were sent to scout the land of Canaan and report back on its conditions and inhabitants. Teaching Points Faith in God's PromisesJoshua and Caleb exemplify unwavering faith in God's promises. Despite the daunting circumstances, they trusted in God's word. Believers today are called to trust in God's promises, even when faced with challenges. The Consequences of UnbeliefThe majority of the Israelites doubted God's promise and faced severe consequences. This serves as a warning about the dangers of unbelief and the importance of trusting God. The Importance of a Positive ReportJoshua and Caleb's positive report contrasts with the negative report of the other spies. Believers are encouraged to focus on God's power and provision rather than obstacles. Encouragement in LeadershipJoshua and Caleb stood firm in their faith despite opposition. This teaches the importance of godly leadership and the courage to stand for truth. The Goodness of God's ProvisionThe description of the land as "exceedingly good" reminds us of the abundant life God offers to those who follow Him. Believers are encouraged to pursue the spiritual "Promised Land" through faith and obedience. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Numbers 14:7?
2.How can we trust God's promises like Caleb in Numbers 14:7?
3.What does "the land we passed through" symbolize in our spiritual journey?
4.How does Numbers 14:7 connect to God's faithfulness in Deuteronomy 1:21?
5.How can we apply Caleb's confidence in God's plan to our lives today?
6.What lessons from Numbers 14:7 can strengthen our faith during challenges?
7.What does Numbers 14:7 reveal about God's promise to the Israelites?
8.How does Numbers 14:7 challenge our understanding of faith and trust in God?
9.What historical evidence supports the events described in Numbers 14:7?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 14?
11.Who are the 144,000 mentioned in religious texts?
12.Who were the believers in the Old Testament?
13.Jeremiah 35:7 - How does the command never to build houses align with God's directive for Israel to settle in the land (Numbers 33:53)?
14.(2 Chronicles 7:14) If God promised healing for a repentant nation, why did later disasters still befall Israel and Judah despite reported periods of repentance?What Does Numbers 14:7 Mean And saidJoshua and Caleb open their report with decisive speech. Having just torn their garments in grief over Israel’s fear (Numbers 14:6), they now voice faith that counters the majority opinion. Their “said” is not a whisper; it is a public, courageous declaration that lines up with earlier faith statements (Numbers 13:30;Deuteronomy 1:29-33). Like Peter urging believers always to “give an answer” for their hope (1 Peter 3:15), these two men embody godly boldness. To the whole congregation of IsraelThe audience is every tribe, clan, and family—roughly two million people—standing at the edge of promise yet poised for retreat. Speaking to the entire assembly shows: • the seriousness of the moment (Exodus 12:3;Deuteronomy 5:1) • accountability before witnesses (1 Samuel 12:1-5) • an invitation for collective obedience (Acts 2:14, 41). Truth must often confront fear in community, not in private corners. The land we passed through and exploredJoshua and Caleb refer to the same ground the ten fearful spies had just described (Numbers 13:21-29). By repeating “passed through and explored,” they underline: • firsthand experience—no hearsay or exaggeration (Deuteronomy 1:24) • verification of God’s ancient promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:7; 13:15) • the reliability of factual evidence bolstering faith (Hebrews 11:9). Their eyes had seen fortified cities and giant Anakim, yet they emphasize the land’s potential rather than its problems. Is an exceedingly good landThe phrase stacks superlatives—literally “very very good”—to capture abundance. God had already labeled Canaan “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). Joshua and Caleb affirm: • physical fertility: rich soil, ample water, vast produce (Deuteronomy 8:7-10) • spiritual fulfillment: the setting for covenant worship (Psalm 132:13-14) • prophetic picture: life in Christ that is “life in all its fullness” (John 10:10) By believing the goodness, they declare God’s character trustworthy (Psalm 34:8). summaryNumbers 14:7 records Joshua and Caleb’s fearless testimony. Speaking to the entire nation, they affirm from personal observation that the promised land is lavishly good, exactly as God had said. Their words call God’s people to reject fear, trust His integrity, and step forward to receive blessings already prepared for them.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew and saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ(way·yō·mə·rū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559:To utter, saytoאֶל־(’el-)Preposition Strong's 413:Near, with, among, tothe wholeכָּל־(kāl-)Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everycongregationעֲדַ֥ת(‘ă·ḏaṯ)Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 5712:A stated assemblageof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל(yiś·rā·’êl)Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478:Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc“The landהָאָ֗רֶץ(hā·’ā·reṣ)Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776:Earth, landwe passed throughעָבַ֤רְנוּ(‘ā·ḇar·nū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural Strong's 5674:To pass over, through, or by, pass onand exploredלָת֣וּר(lā·ṯūr)Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 8446:To meander, about, for, trade, reconnoitring[is] an exceedinglyמְאֹ֥ד(mə·’ōḏ)Adverb Strong's 3966:Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedilygoodטוֹבָ֥ה(ṭō·w·ḇāh)Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 2896:Pleasant, agreeable, goodland.הָאָ֖רֶץ(hā·’ā·reṣ)Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776:Earth, land
Links Numbers 14:7 NIVNumbers 14:7 NLTNumbers 14:7 ESVNumbers 14:7 NASBNumbers 14:7 KJV
Numbers 14:7 BibleApps.comNumbers 14:7 Biblia ParalelaNumbers 14:7 Chinese BibleNumbers 14:7 French BibleNumbers 14:7 Catholic Bible
OT Law: Numbers 14:7 And they spoke to all the congregation (Nu Num.) |