King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, [even] forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, [even] forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
Complete Jewish Bible:
It will be a year for every day you spent reconnoitering the land that you will bear the consequences of your offenses - forty days, forty years. Then you will know what it means to oppose me!
Berean Standard Bible:
In keeping with the forty days you spied out the land, you shall bear your guilt forty years—a year for each day—and you will experience My alienation.
American Standard Version:
After the number of the days in which ye spied out the land, even forty days, for every day a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my alienation.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
After the number{H4557} of the days{H3117} in which ye searched{H8446} the land{H776}, even forty{H705} days{H3117}, each day{H3117} for a year{H8141}{H3117}{H8141}, shall ye bear{H5375} your iniquities{H5771}, even forty{H705} years{H8141}, and ye shall know{H3045} my breach of promise{H8569}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Ezekiel 4:6
- And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.
Numbers 13:25
- And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
Jeremiah 18:9
- And [at what] instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant [it];
Jeremiah 18:10
- If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
Daniel 9:24
- Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Psalms 95:10
- Forty years long was I grieved with [this] generation, and said, It [is] a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
2 Chronicles 36:21
- To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: [for] as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
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Commentary for Numbers 14:34
Numbers 14:34 is a verse that captures a pivotal moment in the history of the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness following their exodus from Egypt. The historical context is the Israelites' arrival at the borders of the Promised Land, Canaan, which God had promised to their ancestor Abraham. Moses sent twelve spies to scout the land, but upon their return, ten of the spies brought back a negative report, filled with fear of the inhabitants, despite the land's fruitfulness.
The verse specifically addresses the consequences of the people's lack of faith and their refusal to enter the land as a result of the discouraging report. Because the Israelites chose to believe the majority opinion of the spies rather than trust in God's promise, they were punished. The theme of punishment is directly tied to the duration of the spies' reconnaissance mission—forty days. God decreed that the Israelites would wander in the wilderness for forty years, one year for each day of the spies' mission, symbolizing a time of bearing their iniquity.
The phrase "and ye shall know my breach of promise" reflects the conditionality of God's covenant with Israel. While God had promised the land to the descendants of Abraham, the fulfillment of that promise was contingent upon the people's obedience and trust in God. Their disbelief and disobedience led to what seemed like a breach of promise, but in reality, it was a fulfillment of the conditional nature of the covenant. This verse underscores the themes of divine justice, the consequences of disobedience, and the importance of faith in God's promises, despite apparent challenges. It serves as a sobering reminder to the Israelites and to readers of the Bible of the critical role that faith and obedience play in the outworking of God's plan for His people.
*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: H4557
There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִסְפָּר
Transliteration: miçpâr
Pronunciation: mis-pawr'
Description: from סָפַר; a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration; [phrase] abundance, account, [idiom] all, [idiom] few, (in-) finite, (certain) number(-ed), tale, telling, [phrase] time. - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H8446
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תּוּר
Transliteration: tûwr
Pronunciation: toor
Description: a primitive root; to meander (causatively, guide) about, especially fortrade or reconnoitring; chap(-man), sent to descry, be excellent, merchant(-man), search (out), seek, (e-) spy (out). - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H705
There are 178 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַרְבָּעִים
Transliteration: ʼarbâʻîym
Pronunciation: ar-baw-eem'
Description: multiple of אַרְבַּע; forty; -forty. - Strong's Number: H8141
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁנֶה
Transliteration: shâneh
Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly). - 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: H5771
There are 213 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָוֺן
Transliteration: ʻâvôn
Pronunciation: aw-vone'
Description: or עָווֹן; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (אֲבַד)), from עָוָה; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin. - Strong's Number: H3045
There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָדַע
Transliteration: yâdaʻ
Pronunciation: yaw-dah'
Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot. - Strong's Number: H8569
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תְּנוּאָה
Transliteration: tᵉnûwʼâh
Pronunciation: ten-oo-aw'
Description: from נוּא; alienation; by implication, enmity; breach of promise, occasion.