Numbers 14:33

KJV

And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.

KJV (with Strong's)

And your children {H1121} shall wander {H7462} in the wilderness {H4057} forty {H705} years {H8141}, and bear {H5375} your whoredoms {H2184}, until your carcases {H6297} be wasted {H8552} in the wilderness {H4057}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and your children will wander about in the desert for forty years bearing the consequences of your prostitutions until the desert eats up your carcasses.

Berean Standard Bible

Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness.

American Standard Version

And your children shall be wanderers in the wilderness forty years, and shall bear your whoredoms, until your dead bodies be consumed in the wilderness.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 14:33 presents God's severe judgment upon the generation of Israelites who rebelled against Him by refusing to enter the Promised Land. This solemn decree condemns the adults of that generation to perish in the wilderness over forty years, a period during which their children will wander and "bear their whoredoms," signifying the profound and intergenerational consequences of their parents' profound unbelief and spiritual unfaithfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climactic pronouncement of judgment following a pivotal moment in Israel's wilderness journey. In [Numbers 13](/numbers/13 "Numbers 13 - The Spies Sent to Canaan"), twelve spies were sent to scout Canaan, the land God promised them. Ten returned with a discouraging report, emphasizing the strength of the inhabitants and their fortified cities, sowing fear and doubt among the people ([Numbers 13:32-33](/numbers/13-32 "Numbers 13:32-33 - Discouraging Report")). Despite the faithful and encouraging words of Joshua and Caleb, who urged trust in God's power and promise ([Numbers 14:6-9](/numbers/14-6 "Numbers 14:6-9 - Joshua and Caleb's Faith")), the congregation succumbed to fear, wept, complained bitterly against Moses and Aaron, and even proposed choosing a new leader to return to Egypt ([Numbers 14:1-4](/numbers/14-1 "Numbers 14:1-4 - The People's Rebellion")). This direct rebellion against God's command and faithfulness provoked divine wrath, leading to the pronouncement of judgment in [Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - God's Judgment").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites were a newly liberated people, having experienced God's miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. They were on the cusp of entering the land promised to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This land was not merely a geographical location but the tangible fulfillment of God's covenant promises, a place of rest and blessing. Their refusal to enter, despite God's explicit command and assurance of victory, represented a profound rejection of their covenant relationship with Yahweh. In the ancient Near East, corporate solidarity was a strong concept, where the actions of leaders or a generation could have far-reaching consequences for the entire community, including future generations. The wilderness itself was a place of testing and purification, a crucible where Israel's faith was meant to be forged.
* **Key Themes:** Numbers 14:33 powerfully underscores several major themes. Foremost is the theme of **Consequences of Unbelief and Disobedience**, demonstrating that God takes human faith and obedience seriously, and rebellion against His revealed will incurs severe divine judgment. The forty years of wandering directly correspond to the forty days the spies spent in Canaan, a day for each year ([Numbers 14:34](/numbers/14-34 "Numbers 14:34 - The Day-for-a-Year Principle")), highlighting God's meticulous justice. Another crucial theme is **Intergenerational Impact**, as the children, though not directly involved in the initial rebellion, are made to "bear their parents' whoredoms," experiencing the hardship of the wilderness. This also serves as a period of **Divine Cleansing and Preparation** for a new generation, one that would eventually enter the land with renewed faith. Finally, the term "whoredoms" introduces the theme of **Spiritual Unfaithfulness**, metaphorically portraying Israel's abandonment of their covenant relationship with God as an act of spiritual adultery.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wander (Hebrew, _nuwa'_):** This verb signifies a restless, aimless, or unfixed movement. Unlike a purposeful journey toward a destination, the "wandering" of the children implies a lack of direction, a state of being unsettled and without a clear path forward. It starkly contrasts with the intended direct entry into the Promised Land, emphasizing the punitive nature of their prolonged sojourn in the wilderness. Their movement is not progress but a consequence of their parents' spiritual stagnation and rebellion.
* **Whoredoms (Hebrew, _zanah_):** While literally referring to prostitution, _zanah_ is frequently used in the Old Testament as a powerful and vivid metaphor for spiritual infidelity. In this context, it describes Israel's unfaithfulness to their covenant vows with Yahweh. Their fear, complaining, and desire to return to Egypt, rather than trusting God and entering the land, were seen as a betrayal of their divine "marriage" covenant, akin to a spouse abandoning their vows for another. It encapsulates their idolatry of fear and their rejection of God's sovereign leading.
* **Carcases (Hebrew, _peger_):** This noun refers specifically to a dead body, often one left unburied or a fallen animal. Its use here for the rebellious generation emphasizes the ignominious and complete destruction of that generation. It underscores the finality of God's judgment and the utter waste of their lives, as they would die outside the promised land, their bodies littering the wilderness, a stark consequence of their unbelief.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years":** This clause pronounces the duration and nature of the punishment for the children. The "forty years" directly corresponds to the forty days the spies spent in Canaan, signifying a direct, year-for-day retribution. The children, though not the primary instigators of the rebellion, are condemned to an aimless existence in the wilderness, bearing the immediate physical hardship of their parents' sin. This period serves as a time of purification and preparation for a new generation.
* **"and bear your whoredoms":** This phrase clarifies the spiritual burden placed upon the children. They "bear" the consequences of their parents' spiritual infidelity and rebellion against God. This is not to say they are guilty of their parents' specific sin, but they experience the corporate fallout and the harsh reality of a generation that broke covenant. This period of suffering would, by divine design, lead to a new generation that understood the cost of unfaithfulness and was prepared to walk in obedience.
* **"until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness":** This final clause delivers the grim fate of the rebellious adult generation (those twenty years old and upward, excluding Joshua and Caleb). It states that they will all die in the wilderness, their bodies left to decay, a stark and humiliating end for those who rejected God's promise. This signifies the complete fulfillment of God's judgment, ensuring that only a generation purged of unbelief would enter the Promised Land.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 14:33 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of divine judgment and its consequences. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, specifically in the use of "whoredoms" (or "harlotry") to describe Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness. This powerful imagery likens their rebellion against God's covenant to marital infidelity, emphasizing the depth of their betrayal and the intimate nature of their relationship with Yahweh. There is also an element of **Irony** at play: the very generation that stood at the threshold of the Promised Land, the culmination of God's promises, is condemned to perish in the wilderness, the antithesis of the promised rest. The phrase "carcases be wasted" employs a degree of **Hyperbole** or **Intensification**, underscoring the completeness and ignominy of their destruction, serving as a stark warning. The forty years itself functions as a **Symbol** of testing, purification, and judgment, a recurring motif throughout biblical narrative.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 14:33 is a profound theological statement on the seriousness of unbelief and the unwavering nature of God's justice, even as it highlights His redemptive patience. It teaches that sin, particularly the sin of rejecting God's promises and authority, carries severe consequences that can extend beyond the immediate perpetrators, impacting future generations. This verse underscores the principle of corporate solidarity, where the actions of a community or its leaders can affect the collective destiny. Yet, within this judgment, there is a redemptive purpose: the wilderness wandering serves to purify a new generation, preparing them to inherit the promise their parents forfeited, demonstrating God's ultimate faithfulness to His covenant, even when His people are unfaithful.

* [Deuteronomy 1:34-35](/deuteronomy/1-34 "Deuteronomy 1:34-35 - God's Oath Against the Rebellious Generation")
* [Psalm 95:10-11](/psalms/95-10 "Psalm 95:10-11 - God's Anger and Oath Against Israel's Rebellion")
* [1 Corinthians 10:5-11](/1_corinthians/10-5 "1 Corinthians 10:5-11 - Warnings from Israel's Example")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 14:33 serves as a timeless warning and a powerful call to examine our own hearts. It reminds us that unbelief is not a minor transgression but a profound affront to God's character and promises. Our choices, especially our spiritual choices, have ripple effects that can extend far beyond ourselves, impacting our families, communities, and future generations. We are called to cultivate a vibrant, active faith that trusts God even when circumstances seem daunting or impossible, resisting the temptation to succumb to fear, doubt, or complaint. This verse challenges us to consider what "whoredoms"—what spiritual compromises, idolatries of comfort, or rejections of God's clear leading—we might be bearing or passing on. Ultimately, it invites us to learn from the wilderness generation's mistakes, to walk in humble obedience, and to trust in God's faithfulness to bring us into His promised rest.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I tempted to doubt God's promises or complain against His leading, much like the Israelites?**
* **What "whoredoms"—spiritual compromises or areas of unfaithfulness—might I be unknowingly perpetuating that could impact future generations?**
* **How can I actively cultivate a deeper trust in God's power and provision, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges?**
* **What lessons from the wilderness generation's experience can I apply to my own journey of faith today?**

### FAQ
**Why were the children punished for their parents' sin?**

Answer: The concept here is not primarily individual guilt for their parents' specific sin, but rather the corporate solidarity and intergenerational consequences of sin. The children bore the *effects* of their parents' rebellion, experiencing the hardship of the wilderness and the delay in entering the Promised Land. This period of wandering served a divine purpose: it allowed the rebellious, faithless generation to perish, and simultaneously, it forged a new generation in the crucible of the wilderness—a generation that would learn the lessons of obedience and trust, and ultimately be prepared to enter and possess the land. It was a cleansing and refining period, demonstrating God's justice while also preserving His covenant promise for a future, more obedient people.

**What does "whoredoms" mean in this context?**

Answer: In Numbers 14:33, "whoredoms" (Hebrew: _zanah_) is a powerful metaphorical term for spiritual unfaithfulness or idolatry. While it can refer to literal prostitution, in the Old Testament, it is frequently used to describe Israel's betrayal of their covenant relationship with Yahweh. Their refusal to trust God and enter the Promised Land, their complaints, and their desire to return to Egypt were seen as a profound act of spiritual adultery, a rejection of their divine "husband" and their sacred vows to Him. It signifies their abandonment of God's ways in favor of their own fears and desires.

**Why did they wander for exactly forty years?**

Answer: The forty years of wandering was a direct, day-for-a-year retribution for the forty days the twelve spies spent scouting the land of Canaan ([Numbers 14:34](/numbers/14-34 "Numbers 14:34 - The Day-for-a-Year Principle")). For each day of investigation that culminated in their rebellious report and the people's unbelief, a year of wandering was decreed. This precise duration underscores God's meticulous justice and His unwavering commitment to holding His people accountable for their actions and lack of faith. It ensured that the entire generation of adults (twenty years old and upward, except Joshua and Caleb) who had rebelled would perish in the wilderness, making way for a new generation to enter the land.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 14:33, with its stark portrayal of judgment for unbelief and the wilderness as a place of death for a rebellious generation, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. The wilderness wandering of Israel, marked by their "whoredoms" of spiritual unfaithfulness, points to the universal human condition of sin and rebellion against God's perfect will. Just as Israel failed to enter the promised rest due to unbelief, humanity, in its fallen state, is unable to enter God's eternal rest through its own efforts or obedience. However, Jesus Christ, the true and faithful Son, perfectly fulfills what Israel failed to do. He endured His own forty days in the wilderness, not to wander aimlessly or suffer for His own sin, but to resist temptation and perfectly obey God where Israel had failed ([Matthew 4:1-11](/matthew/4-1 "Matthew 4:1-11 - Jesus' Temptation in the Wilderness")). More profoundly, Christ bore the ultimate "whoredoms"—the spiritual infidelity and sin of all humanity—upon the cross, becoming the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Through His perfect sacrifice and resurrection, He opened the way for all who believe to enter the true and eternal promised land, the heavenly rest that surpasses any earthly inheritance ([Hebrews 4:1-11](/hebrews/4-1 "Hebrews 4:1-11 - The Promise of Rest")). He is the faithful leader who, unlike Moses, brings His people into the ultimate inheritance, not by their merit, but by His own perfect obedience and atoning work.

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

Ezekiel 23:35

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.

Numbers 32:13

And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.

Deuteronomy 2:14

And the space in which we came from Kadeshbarnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, [was] thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the LORD sware unto them.

Psalms 107:40

He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, [where there is] no way.

Joshua 14:10

And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while [the children of] Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I [am] this day fourscore and five years old.

Numbers 33:38

And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first [day] of the fifth month.

Ezekiel 23:45

And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they [are] adulteresses, and blood [is] in their hands.