King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and [they brought] of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
Complete Jewish Bible:
They came to the Eshkol Valley; and there they cut off a branch bearing one cluster of grapes, which they carried on a pole between two of them; they also took pomegranates and figs.
Berean Standard Bible:
When they came to the Valley of Eshcol, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes, which they carried on a pole between two men. They also took some pomegranates and figs.
American Standard Version:
And they came unto the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it upon a staff between two; they brought also of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And they came{H935} unto the brook{H5158} of Eshcol{H812}, and cut down{H3772} from thence a branch{H2156} with one{H259} cluster{H811} of grapes{H6025}, and they bare{H5375} it between two{H8147} upon a staff{H4132}; and they brought of the pomegranates{H7416}, and of the figs{H8384}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 13:24
- The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.
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 1:24
- And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out.
Deuteronomy 1:25
- And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought [it] down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, [It is] a good land which the LORD our God doth give us.
Judges 16:4
- ¶ And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name [was] Delilah.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 13:23
**Themes:**
- **Faith and Doubt:** The episode reflects the tension between faith in God's promises and doubt fueled by human fear and skepticism.
- **God's Promises:** It highlights the theme of God's faithfulness to His promises, specifically the promise of the land of Canaan to the Israelites.
- **Provision and Bounty:** The large cluster of grapes symbolizes the fertility and abundance of the Promised Land, emphasizing God's provision for His people.
- **Testing and Obedience:** The story underscores the importance of trusting and obeying God despite apparent challenges, as the spies' report will influence the people's willingness to enter and possess the land.
**Historical Context:**
- **Exodus and Wilderness Wanderings:** The Israelites, having been delivered from slavery in Egypt, are in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. According to God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, this land (Canaan) was to be inherited by their descendants.
- **The Spies' Mission:** In Numbers 13, Moses sends out twelve spies, one from each tribe, to explore the land of Canaan and assess its inhabitants, cities, and agricultural potential.
- **Time Period:** This event occurs approximately in the 15th century BCE, during the latter part of the Israelites' 40-year journey through the wilderness, before their eventual entry into Canaan.
- **The Return of the Spies:** The verse describes the return of the spies after 40 days, bringing back evidence of the land's fertility, including a single cluster of grapes so large it must be carried on a pole by two men. This serves as a tangible sign of the land's productivity, which contrasts sharply with the spies' subsequent report expressing doubt about their ability to conquer the land.
In summary, Numbers 13:23 captures a moment of anticipation and decision, where the physical abundance of the Promised Land is displayed, yet the spiritual state of the Israelites, wavering between belief and disbelief, will determine their next steps as a nation. The verse is a prelude to a pivotal moment in Israel's history, where the majority's lack of faith leads to prolonged wandering and the loss of a generation.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H5158
There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נַחַל
Transliteration: nachal
Pronunciation: nakh'-al
Description: or (feminine) נַחְלָה; (Psalm 124:4), or נַחֲלָה; (Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28), from נָחַל in its original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine); brook, flood, river, stream, valley. - Strong's Number: H812
There are 230 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶשְׁכֹּל
Transliteration: ʼEshkôl
Pronunciation: esh-kole'
Description: the same as אֶשְׁכּוֹל; Eshcol, the name of an Amorite, also of a valley in Palestine; Eshcol. - Strong's Number: H3772
There are 280 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּרַת
Transliteration: kârath
Pronunciation: kaw-rath'
Description: a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces); be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want. - Strong's Number: H2156
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זְמוֹרָה
Transliteration: zᵉmôwrâh
Pronunciation: zem-o-raw'
Description: or זְמֹרָה (feminine); and זְמֹר (masculine); from זָמַר; a twig (as pruned); vine, branch, slip. - Strong's Number: H259
There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶחָד
Transliteration: ʼechâd
Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, - Strong's Number: H811
There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶשְׁכּוֹל
Transliteration: ʼeshkôwl
Pronunciation: esh-kole'
Description: or אֶשְׁכֹּל; probably prolonged from אֶשֶׁךְ; a bunch of grapes or other fruit; cluster (of grapes). - Strong's Number: H6025
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵנָב
Transliteration: ʻênâb
Pronunciation: ay-nawb'
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to bear fruit; a grape; (ripe) grape, wine. - Strong's Number: H5375
There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָשָׂא
Transliteration: nâsâʼ
Pronunciation: naw-saw'
Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield. - Strong's Number: H8147
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
Transliteration: shᵉnayim
Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. - Strong's Number: H4132
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוֹט
Transliteration: môwṭ
Pronunciation: mote
Description: from מוֹט; a wavering, i.e. fall; by implication, a pole (as shaking); hence, a yoke (as essentially a bent pole); bar, be moved, staff, yoke. - Strong's Number: H7416
There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רִמּוֹן
Transliteration: rimmôwn
Pronunciation: rim-mone'
Description: or רִמֹּן; from רָמַם; a pomegranate, the tree (from its upright growth) or the fruit (also an artificial ornament); pomegranate. - Strong's Number: H8384
There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תְּאֵן
Transliteration: tᵉʼên
Pronunciation: teh-ane'
Description: or (in the singular, feminine) תְּאֵנָה; perhaps of foreign derivation; the fig (tree or fruit); fig (tree).