Numbers 13:17-20 Meaning: Seeing God's Gift with Open Eyes
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Meaning in one sentence
Moses sends spies into Canaan with detailed instructions. What does this teach about facing God's promises with faith and courage?
Context
Israel stands at Kadesh-barnea, on the threshold of the land God promised. The people had asked for spies to be sent, and God told Moses to choose one leader from each tribe (Deuteronomy 1:22-23). Now Moses gives them their orders. He names the route: through the Negev, the dry southern desert, then up into the hill country of central Canaan. He lists what they are to look for: the land itself, whether the soil is rich or poor; the people, whether strong or weak; the cities, whether open camps or walled fortresses. And he tells them to bring back fruit from the land. This is a reconnaissance mission, but it is also a moment of testing. Will the people trust the God who brought them out of Egypt to bring them into a good land? The timing is significant: the first-ripe grapes of late July fill the valleys with promise.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this passage. The verb for 'spy out' is tur (H8446). It means to explore, to search out, to go about as a merchant does when looking for goods. This is not a quick glance. Moses wants them to know the land intimately, to discover what it holds. The word Negev (H5045) means 'dry' or 'parched.' It names the southern region of Canaan, the dusty approach to the promised land. That they must enter through a dry place is itself a reminder: God's gifts often come by way of seasons that feel barren. And then there is the command Moses gives: hitchazzaktem (H2388), a reflexive form of the verb 'to be strong.' He does not just say 'be courageous.' He says 'strengthen yourselves.' Take courage as an act of will, not a feeling that descends on you. The fruit they are to bring, the first-ripe grapes, the bikkurei (H1061), is a taste of what is to come. The land is already yielding its abundance. Seeing clearly and choosing courage go together when the promise is real.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this passage in different ways. Some, like Matthew Henry, see the spies' mission as a reasonable step of preparation, commanded by God. Others focus on what follows: the majority report that struck fear into the people. From this angle, the detailed instructions highlight how much evidence the people had for God's goodness, and how quickly fear made them blind to it. Many traditions note that the spies' journey itself was a test. God did not need the information, but the people needed to see the land with their own eyes. Later, in the New Testament, the writer of Hebrews holds up Caleb's trust as a model (Hebrews 3:18-19). Across traditions, Christians agree that seeing clearly what God has promised, and choosing to trust Him anyway, is the heart of this story.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think Moses sent the spies because he doubted God's promise. But God Himself commanded the mission (Deuteronomy 1:22-23). The mistake is to see the reconnaissance as a lack of faith. In fact, it was a practical step of trusting God with eyes open. The failure came later, when the spies let fear of what they saw outweigh their confidence in the God who had already shown His power.
Living This Out
This week, you may face something that looks like a promise from God but also looks intimidating. A new job, a hard conversation, a step of obedience that feels risky. Moses' words to the spies are for you too. Look at it carefully. Ask honest questions about what you will need. But then do not let what you see stop you. Instead, strengthen yourself. That is a choice you can make. And bring back a taste of the fruit, notice one sign of God's goodness even in the middle of the uncertainty. The land was good before they ever set foot in it. The same is true of what He has for you.
Main takeaway: God's gifts often require us to see them clearly and step forward with courage, trusting Him who promised.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Moses sent men to look at the land God promised. He told them to see if the soil was good and if the cities were strong. And he said, 'Be brave.' God wanted them to know what was ahead and still trust Him.
For ages 9, 12
When God gives us something big to do, He does not want us to close our eyes and pretend there are no problems. He wants us to look carefully and then choose to trust Him anyway. The spies were supposed to see the giant people and the high walls and still remember that God was bigger. That is real courage: seeing the hard thing and going forward because the One who promised is faithful.
Questions People Ask
Why did Moses send spies if God already promised the land?
God Himself told Moses to send the spies (Deuteronomy 1:22-23). The mission was not about God needing information. It was a way for the people to see the land with their own eyes and learn to trust God as they faced real challenges. Faith does not mean ignoring what is true; it means seeing clearly and still relying on God.
What is the Negev, and why does Moses mention it?
The Negev is the dry, southern desert region of Canaan. Moses tells the spies to enter through it because that was the most direct route from where Israel was camped. It also reminds us that God's promises often come through seasons that feel barren. The journey through the Negev tested their willingness to follow God's lead even through a dry place.
What does 'be courageous' mean in the original language?
The Hebrew word is 'hitchazzaktem,' a reflexive verb that means 'strengthen yourselves.' Moses does not just wish them courage; he commands them to take courage as an active choice. It is something they must do, not something they wait to feel. This is a pattern throughout Scripture: courage is often a decision before it is a feeling.
Why does the passage mention the first-ripe grapes?
The first-ripe grapes (Hebrew 'bikkurei') mark the time of year, late July or early August. It also shows that the land was already producing abundant fruit. The spies could see and taste evidence of God's goodness before they ever possessed the land. The grapes were a foretaste of the promise.
What can we learn from the spies' specific instructions?
The instructions show that God is not opposed to careful preparation. Moses tells them to assess the land, the people, the cities, and the soil. Faith does not mean recklessness. We can thoughtfully evaluate a situation and still trust God completely. The problem later was not that they assessed; it was that they let fear outweigh their trust in God.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study