Numbers 13:31

KJV

But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they [are] stronger than we.

KJV (with Strong's)

But the men {H582} that went up {H5927} with him said {H559}, We be not able {H3201} to go up {H5927} against the people {H5971}; for they are stronger {H2389} than we.

Complete Jewish Bible

But the men who had gone with him said, "We can't attack those people, because they are stronger than we are";

Berean Standard Bible

But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!”

American Standard Version

But the men that went up with him said, We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 13:31 captures the critical moment when ten of the twelve Israelite spies, sent to reconnoiter the land of Canaan, delivered a report rooted in fear rather than faith. Despite Caleb's earlier declaration of confidence in God's ability to grant them victory, these men expressed profound doubt, asserting that the inhabitants of Canaan were too powerful for Israel to overcome. This declaration of inability, born of a human-centric perspective, directly challenged God's covenant promises and set the stage for a tragic rebellion that would have profound consequences for the entire generation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Caleb's courageous and faith-filled exhortation in [Numbers 13:30](/numbers/13-30 "Numbers 13:30 - Caleb's Call to Action"), where he confidently declared, "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." Numbers 13:31 serves as the direct counter-argument, initiating the dissenting report of the ten other spies. The narrative then escalates into a full-blown crisis of faith, culminating in the people's lamentation and desire to return to Egypt in [Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - The People's Rebellion and God's Judgment"), leading to God's judgment of forty years of wilderness wandering. The contrast between Caleb's singular faith and the collective fear of the majority is a central theme of this immediate passage.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites were at the cusp of entering the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, promised by God to Abraham and his descendants centuries earlier (as seen in [Genesis 12:7](/genesis/12-7 "Genesis 12:7 - God's Promise to Abraham")). They had witnessed God's mighty acts of deliverance from Egyptian bondage, the parting of the Red Sea, and His provision in the wilderness. However, the land of Canaan was inhabited by various peoples, including the formidable Anakim, described as giants in [Numbers 13:33](/numbers/13-33 "Numbers 13:33 - The Sons of Anak"), and fortified cities, presenting a significant military challenge. The spies' report reflects a common ancient Near Eastern practice of assessing enemy strength, but their failure lay in neglecting to factor in the omnipotent power and faithfulness of their God.
* **Key Themes:** The predominant theme in [Numbers 13](/numbers/13 "Numbers 13 - The Spies Sent to Canaan") and [Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - The People's Rebellion") is the stark conflict between **faith and fear**. The spies' report exemplifies how a human-centric view, focusing solely on observable obstacles, can eclipse divine promises and past demonstrations of power. This leads to **disbelief and rebellion**, which carries severe **consequences**, as the entire generation (save Joshua and Caleb) is condemned to die in the wilderness, never entering the land God had sworn to give them (as detailed in [Numbers 14:26-35](/numbers/14-26-35 "Numbers 14:26-35 - God's Judgment on the Disbelieving Generation")). The incident also highlights the **importance of leadership and influence**, as the ten spies' negative report swayed the entire congregation, demonstrating the profound impact of a few voices on collective destiny.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Stronger (Hebrew, _chazaq'_):** The Hebrew word חָזָק (*chazaq*) means "strong," "mighty," "firm," or "hard." When applied to people or nations, it denotes formidable power, military might, or numerical superiority. In this context, the spies use *chazaq* to describe the Canaanites' overwhelming strength relative to Israel's perceived weakness. Their focus is entirely on the physical, human dimension of power, completely omitting God's demonstrated strength and His explicit promise to fight for Israel. This word choice underscores their human-limited perspective and the fear that gripped them, leading to a declaration of impossibility.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But the men that went up with him said":** This clause immediately sets up a contrast with Caleb's confident assertion in the preceding verse. "The men" refers to the ten spies who returned with the negative report, distinguishing them from Caleb (and implicitly, Joshua). Their collective voice here represents a consensus of doubt, directly opposing the spirit of faith. The phrase "went up with him" refers to their shared mission with Caleb and Joshua to scout the land, highlighting that they witnessed the same realities but interpreted them through a lens of fear.
* **"We be not able to go up against the people;":** This is the core declaration of the spies' unbelief. The phrase "not able" (לֹא נוּכַל, *lo nukhal*) expresses absolute inability and helplessness. It's a statement of resignation and defeat before the battle has even begun. They are not merely reporting obstacles; they are declaring the mission impossible for *them*, implicitly discounting God's power and faithfulness to fulfill His promise to give them the land. This statement directly contradicts God's command and promise to lead them into Canaan.
* **"for they [are] stronger than we.":** This clause provides the justification for their declaration of inability. The perceived superior strength of the Canaanite inhabitants is the sole basis for their fear and unbelief. Their assessment is purely human-centric, comparing Israel's military might to that of the Canaanites. They failed to consider the strength of the God of Israel, who had already delivered them from the mightiest empire of their day (Egypt) and sustained them miraculously in the wilderness. This comparison reveals a profound lack of trust in God's omnipotence and His covenant promises.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 13:31 powerfully employs **Contrast** by juxtaposing the faith-filled declaration of Caleb in the preceding verse with the fear-driven report of the ten spies. This stark opposition highlights the central conflict of the narrative: trust in God versus reliance on human perception. The spies' statement also contains an element of **Hyperbole**, as their assertion that the Canaanites were "stronger than we" was true only from a purely human, military standpoint, ignoring the infinite power of God who was on Israel's side. Furthermore, the verse serves as a moment of **Foreshadowing**, as this declaration of inability and subsequent widespread unbelief directly leads to the tragic judgment of forty years of wandering in the wilderness, preventing that generation from entering the Promised Land.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 13:31 serves as a profound theological warning against the perils of unbelief and the destructive power of fear when it eclipses faith in God's promises. The spies' assessment, though factually accurate in its description of the Canaanites' strength, was spiritually flawed because it failed to account for God's omnipotence and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people. Their declaration of "not able" was a direct affront to the God who had repeatedly demonstrated His ability to overcome impossible odds. This incident underscores the biblical truth that God's power is made perfect in weakness, and that human limitations are never a barrier to divine purposes when faith is present. It calls believers to fix their gaze on the greatness of God rather than the magnitude of their challenges.

* [Deuteronomy 1:26-33](/deuteronomy/1-26-33 "Deuteronomy 1:26-33 - Moses Recounts the Rebellion at Kadesh Barnea")
* [Psalm 78:17-22](/psalm/78-17-22 "Psalm 78:17-22 - Israel's Disbelief and God's Patience")
* [Hebrews 3:12-19](/hebrews/3-12-19 "Hebrews 3:12-19 - Warning Against Unbelief")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 13:31 resonates deeply with the human experience, as we frequently encounter "giants" in our own lives – whether they are overwhelming financial burdens, seemingly insurmountable career obstacles, daunting health challenges, or deeply entrenched personal sins. The spies' response serves as a powerful mirror, prompting us to examine our own reactions when faced with overwhelming odds. Do we, like the ten spies, allow the visible strength of our problems to overshadow the invisible, yet infinitely greater, power of God? Or do we, like Caleb, fix our eyes on God's character and promises, declaring that "we are well able" because He is with us? This verse challenges us to cultivate a faith that sees beyond immediate circumstances, trusting that God's faithfulness is not contingent on our perceived strength, but on His own omnipotence. It calls us to resist the paralysis of fear and to step forward in courageous obedience, knowing that the battle belongs to the Lord.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "giants" or seemingly insurmountable obstacles are you facing in your life right now?**
* **How does your initial reaction to these challenges compare to the spies' declaration in Numbers 13:31?**
* **What specific promises of God can you cling to when fear threatens to overshadow your faith?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be allowing a human-centric perspective to limit your belief in God's ability?**
* **How can you intentionally shift your focus from the size of your problems to the greatness of your God?**

### FAQ

**What was the ultimate consequence of the spies' negative report?**

Answer: The spies' negative report, particularly their declaration of inability in [Numbers 13:31](/numbers/13-31 "Numbers 13:31 - The Spies' Negative Report"), led to widespread fear, weeping, and rebellion among the Israelites. This profound lack of faith and direct disobedience to God's command resulted in a severe divine judgment: the entire generation of Israelites aged twenty and older, who had come out of Egypt, was condemned to die in the wilderness over the next forty years, never entering the Promised Land. Only Joshua and Caleb, who maintained their faith, were permitted to enter (as detailed in [Numbers 14:26-35](/numbers/14-26-35 "Numbers 14:26-35 - God's Judgment on the Disbelieving Generation")). Their children, the next generation, would eventually inherit the land.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 13:31, with its stark portrayal of human inability and fear in the face of daunting obstacles, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. The Israelites' failure to enter the Promised Land due to unbelief foreshadows humanity's inherent inability to enter God's true rest and inherit eternal life through their own strength or works. Just as the spies declared, "We be not able," humanity, in its fallen state, is utterly incapable of overcoming the "giants" of sin, death, and the power of the devil. However, Jesus Christ is the true and faithful Spy, who not only surveyed the land of human experience but conquered its greatest enemies. He is the ultimate Joshua, leading His people into the true promised land—the kingdom of God and eternal life—not by human might, but by His divine power and perfect obedience. Where Israel failed through unbelief, Christ perfectly trusted the Father, even to the point of death on the cross, thereby securing the victory that humanity could not achieve. Through His sacrifice, He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities, triumphing over them (as seen in [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Spiritual Powers")), and through His resurrection, He opened the way to the true rest (as promised in [Hebrews 4:9-11](/hebrews/4-9-11 "Hebrews 4:9-11 - The Promise of God's Rest")). Thus, the "stronger than we" of Numbers 13:31 is definitively answered by the "stronger than all" of Christ, who enables us to do all things through Him who strengthens us ([Philippians 4:13](/philippians/4-13 "Philippians 4:13 - I Can Do All Things Through Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 1:28

Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people [is] greater and taller than we; the cities [are] great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

Joshua 14:8

Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

Hebrews 3:19

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

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 9:1

¶ Hear, O Israel: Thou [art] to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven,