Numbers 13:17-20 · Bible study
Numbers 13:17-20 Commentary: Moses' Commission of the Spies
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Moses' instructions to the twelve spies: the Negev route, the land assessment, and the call to courage. A study for pastors and students.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Moses commissions a reconnaissance of Canaan to assess the land and its inhabitants, encouraging courage and trust in God's promise.
- Key words: Negev (H5045), hill country (H2022), spy (H8446), first-ripe grapes (H1061), courageous (H2388).
- Main debate: Whether the mission reflects human initiative or divine command, both are present in the text (Numbers 13:1-2 and Deuteronomy 1:22).
- Theological theme: God's promises and human responsibility; faith and prudent action.
- Best use: A lesson in trust and preparation when facing God-given challenges.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
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?
20Is the soil fertile or unproductive? Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous, and bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)
WEB World English Bible 2000
17Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way by the South, and go up into the hill country.
18See the land, what it is; and the people who dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many;
19and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds;
20and what the land is, whether it is fertile or poor, whether there is wood therein, or not. Be courageous, and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the time of the first-ripe grapes.
KJV King James Version 1769
17And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:
18And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;
19And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;
20And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
17And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way by the South, and go up into the hill-country:
18and see the land, what it is; and the people that dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many;
19and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds;
20and what the land is, whether it is fat or lean, whether there is wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first-ripe grapes.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
17And Moses sendeth them to spy the land of Canaan, and saith unto them, `Go ye up this way into the south, and ye have gone up the mountain,
18and 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;
19and what the land is in which it is dwelling, whether it is good or bad; and what are the cities in which it is dwelling, whether in camps or in fortresses;
20And what the land is , whether it is fat or lean; whether there is wood in it or not; and ye have strengthened yourselves, and have taken of the fruit of the land;' and the days are days of the first-fruits of grapes.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
17And Moses sent them to search out the land of Canaan, and said to them, Go up this way by the south and go up into the hill-country,
18and ye shall see the land, what it is; and the people that dwell in it, whether they are strong or weak, few or many;
19and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds;
20and what the land is, whether it is fat or lean, whether there are trees in it, or not. And take courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first grapes.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
17These are the names of the men, whom Moses sent to view the land: and he called Osee the son of Nun, Josue.
18And Moses sent them to view the land of Chanaan, and said to them: Go you up by the south side. And when you shall come to the mountains,
19View 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:
20The land itself, whether it be good or bad: what manner of cities, walled or without walls:
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Numbers 13:17
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Moses' instructions serve a dual purpose: to assess the land's fertility and to evaluate the strength of its inhabitants. Adam Clarke notes that Moses wanted to know 'what sort of a country it is' and whether the people were 'healthy, robust, hardy men.' John Calvin argues that the main point was to let the land's pleasantness and fertility 'allure them to take possession of it,' but also to forewarn them of strong enemies so they would not be discouraged. Albert Barnes provides geographical precision: the Negeb (south country) and the hill country formed the two main regions of southern Canaan. The timing, 'the time of the first-ripe grapes' (July or August), is widely understood as strategic, allowing the spies to see the land at its most fruitful (Barnes, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). The command to 'be courageous' and bring fruit underscores that this was not merely a military reconnaissance but an invitation to trust God's provision and take hold of what He had promised.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Moses sent the spies with specific instructions to evaluate the land and its people, to bring back fruit, and to act with courage — at the season of first grapes.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose of the spy mission | The spies were sent to gather information about the land and its inhabitants. | Some commentators see the primary intent as military intelligence (Clarke); others see it as inspiring the people to trust God's promise (Calvin). Both purposes appear in the text. |
| The route via the Negev | The Negev was the southern, less fertile region; the hill country was central. | Whether the Negev route was chosen for concealment (Wesley) or as the natural entrance to the land (Barnes). |
| Timing of the first-ripe grapes | It was late July or early August, the season of grape harvest. | Whether this timing emphasizes the land's fertility (Barnes) or serves primarily as a chronological marker (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). |
| The command 'be courageous' | It calls for boldness and resolve in the face of unknown danger. | Whether it refers to physical bravery or spiritual faith in God's promise, most see both. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Israel was encamped at Kadesh-barnea, on the southern border of the promised land. The Negev (Hebrew negev, meaning 'dry' or 'parched') was the arid southern region, the least fertile part of Canaan (Barnes, Cambridge). Wesley notes it was 'dry and desert, and therefore fit for them to enter and pass through with less observation.' From there, the spies were to ascend into the hill country (har), the central highlands stretching from Hebron northward through Judah and Ephraim (Barnes). This route, up through the Negev into the mountains, covered the land's two major topographical zones, from the marginal south to the productive interior.
The phrase 'camps or strongholds' (v.19) distinguished unwalled villages, like the Bedouin tents of the Negev, from fortified cities with walls (Gill, Cambridge). The biblical text uses machaneh (camp) and mivtzar (fortress), terms that would later appear in accounts of Israel's settlement (see Numbers 14:40, Deuteronomy 1:44).
The season of 'first-ripe grapes' placed the mission in late July or early August, when the earliest clusters of grapes were harvested (Barnes, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). Edersheim describes this as 'about the end of July.' This timing allowed the spies to witness the land's bounty at its peak, a tangible demonstration of why God called it 'a land flowing with milk and honey.' The fruit they would bring back, especially the cluster from Eshcol (vv.23-24), became a visible sign of the promise.
Literarily, this passage sits within the larger spy narrative (Numbers 13-14). The people had requested spies (as remembered in Deuteronomy 1:22), and God permitted it. Moses' specific instructions thus bridged divine promise and human prudence, a pattern that resonates throughout Scripture.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Numbers 13:17-20. The Hebrew text is consistent across major manuscripts.
Reception History
These verses have been read in Jewish and Christian traditions as part of the larger spy narrative, a turning point of faith and failure. Early interpreters like Josephus highlighted the spies' mission as strategic reconnaissance. Later Christian commentators, including Calvin and Matthew Henry, saw Moses' instructions as a model of faithful leadership: thorough in preparation yet ultimately dependent on God. The command to bring fruit has been understood as a tangible foretaste of the promised land, prefiguring how believers receive 'firstfruits' of God's promises. The passage appears in discussions of the relationship between divine sovereignty and human action, and in sermons on courage and the testing of faith.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Commission (v.17): Moses sends the spies with a specific route, through the Negev and into the hill country. The direction is not random; it follows the natural entry point and covers the land from south to north.
- The Assessment (vv.18-20a): Four evaluation levels: the people (strong or weak, few or many), the land (good or bad), the cities (camps or strongholds), the soil (fertile or poor, wooded or not). Every detail matters.
- The Call (v.20b): 'Be courageous, and bring some of the fruit of the land.' Courage is commanded before the mission begins. The fruit is the evidence that the land is worth the risk.
Five-point outline
- Route: Enter through the Negev, ascend the hill country
- People: Assess their strength and numbers
- Land: Judge its quality and resources
- Cities: Note whether they are fortified or exposed
- Response: Be courageous and bring the fruit
Illustration hooks
- Home inspection: Before buying a house, you hire an inspector to check the roof, foundation, plumbing. Moses sends spies to inspect the promised land, not to find reasons to back out, but to know what they're walking into and trust the Giver.
- Scout troop: A troop leader sends scouts ahead to survey a hiking route, terrain, water sources, hazards. They return with a map and a sample of berries to show the trail's promise.
- Farmer's field check: A farmer walks his fields before harvest, testing the soil and examining the fruit. The spies' mission is a kind of field check on God's promise.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If God had already promised the land, why did the spies need to go? Was this a lack of faith?
- How do we balance trusting God's promises with doing our own careful planning?
- What could have gone differently, what made the spies' later report so different from these instructions?
Leading a Discussion
Moses gives detailed instructions to the twelve spies. The passage shows that faith in God's promise does not mean ignoring reality. Instead, it means facing reality with courage, because the promise is greater than any obstacle.
Discussion questions
- What specific things did Moses tell the spies to look for? Make a list from verses 18-20.
- Why does Moses include both the quality of the land and the strength of the people? What does this reveal about his leadership?
- The phrase 'the time of the first-ripe grapes' sets the scene. How might this timing have shaped what the spies saw? What does it say about God's provision?
- Moses commands the spies to 'be courageous' before they leave. Why is courage commanded, not just suggested? What does this imply about the challenges they would face?
- Later, the spies brought back a report that acknowledged the land's fruitfulness but focused on the obstacles (v.27-28). Where did their perspective shift from Moses' instructions? What changed?
- How does this passage help us think about the relationship between God's promises and human action? Can faith and wise planning coexist?
- Think of a promise from God you are trusting for. What aspect of 'seeing the land' might you need to do with courageous faith?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 12:9 | Abram traveled, still going on toward the South. |
| Genesis 13:1 | Abram went up out of Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the South. |
| Genesis 14:10 | Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and some fell there. Those who remained fled to the hills. |
| Numbers 13:21 | So they went up, and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, to the entrance of Hamath. |
| Numbers 13:22 | They went up by the South, and came to Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) |
| Numbers 13:29 | Amalek dwells in the land of the South. The Hittite, the Jebusite, and the Amorite dwell in the hill country. The Canaanite dwells by the sea, and along the side of the Jordan.” |
| Numbers 14:40 | They rose up early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, “Behold, we are here, and will go up to the place which Yahweh has promised; for we have sinned.” |
| Deuteronomy 1:44 | The Amorites, who lived in that hill country, came out against you and chased you as bees do, and beat you down in Seir, even to Hormah. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke focuses on the spies' practical, physical assessment of Canaan. They were to judge the land's natural advantages and the people's strength or weakness, and determine soil quality by its trees and fruits, bringing actual samples back as evidence.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes identifies the Negeb as a specific southern territory of Canaan, the "mountain" as the central hill-country of Judah and Ephraim, and "tents" as unwalled villages. He then calculates from the narrative that the spies were sent in July or August, when the first grapes ripen.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that Moses' primary aim in sending spies was to reveal the land's fertility, so its appeal would entice the Israelites to take possession. The warning about strong enemies was secondary, intended only to prevent them from being suddenly discouraged later.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that the name Negeb originally meant 'dry' or 'parched,' referring to the barren southern border of Palestine. After Israel settled in Canaan, the term gained the secondary sense of 'the south,' just as 'the Sea' came to mean 'the west.' This geographical observation clarifies the area the spies traversed.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva notes highlight that Moses renamed Oshea to Jehoshua, meaning "Jehovah saves," marking Joshua as a type of Christ through his name. The instructions to the spies are recorded, but the commentary’s focus is on the significance of the name change itself.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Moses sent the spies through the southern part of Canaan first, a dry and mountainous region. He compares this to merchants who show their worst goods before the best. The timing, during the first ripe grapes, allowed the spies to judge the land’s fruitfulness directly.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that the spies were sent in August, when the first grapes are gathered. Their forty-day absence means the cluster they brought from Eshcol came from the second grape harvest in September, not the first.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees the spies' exaggerated report as a pattern of lying fear. Their self-description as grasshoppers before giants is not just cowardice but an enduring type of worldly-mindedness that makes the difficult approach to God's kingdom seem impossible.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that God himself commanded the mission to spy out Canaan; it was not merely Moses' idea or a response to the people's fear. The men sent were princes, one from each tribe, showing the endeavor's importance and that it was done by divine direction.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the spies were to enter Canaan from the south, the nearest and poorest part, so they could travel with less attention. He sees a deliberate survey: first the mountain country, then the valleys. He also distinguishes between the exposed, tent-like villages and the land's richness.