Numbers 13:3
Numbers 13:3 in Multiple Translations
So at the consent of the LORD, Moses sent them out from the Wilderness of Paran. All the men were leaders of the Israelites,
And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.
And Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran according to the commandment of Jehovah: all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel.
And Moses sent them from the waste land of Paran as the Lord gave orders, all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel.
Moses did as the Lord had ordered and sent the men out from the Desert of Paran. They were all leaders of the Israelites.
Sende thou men out to search the lande of Canaan which I giue vnto the children of Israel: of euery tribe of their fathers shall ye sende a man, such as are all rulers among them.
And Moses sendeth them from the wilderness of Paran by the command of Jehovah; all of them [are] men, heads of the sons of Israel they are,
Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran according to the commandment of the LORD. All of them were men who were heads of the children of Israel.
And Moses, by the commandment of the LORD, sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.
Send men to view the land of Chanaan, which I will give to the children of Israel, one of every tribe, of the rulers.
So Moses/I did what Yahweh commanded him/me. He/I sent out twelve Israeli men who were all leaders of their tribes. He/I sent them from their/our camp at Paran in the desert.
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 13:3
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Numbers 13:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יִּשְׁלַ֨ח
אֹתָ֥/ם
מֹשֶׁ֛ה
מִ/מִּדְבַּ֥ר
פָּארָ֖ן
עַל
פִּ֣י
יְהוָ֑ה
כֻּלָּ֣/ם
אֲנָשִׁ֔ים
רָאשֵׁ֥י
בְנֵֽי
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
הֵֽמָּה
וַ/יִּשְׁלַ֨ח
shâlach
H7971
to send
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
אֹתָ֥/ם
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM | Suff
מֹשֶׁ֛ה
Môsheh
H4872
Moses
N-proper
מִ/מִּדְבַּ֥ר
midbâr
H4057
mouth
Prep | N-ms
פָּארָ֖ן
Pâʼrân
H6290
Paran
N-proper
עַל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
פִּ֣י
peh
H6310
lip
N-ms
יְהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
כֻּלָּ֣/ם
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms | Suff
אֲנָשִׁ֔ים
ʼîysh
H376
man
N-mp
רָאשֵׁ֥י
rôʼsh
H7218
head
N-mp
בְנֵֽי
bên
H1121
son
N-mp
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
Israel
N-proper
הֵֽמָּה
hêm
H1992
they(masc.)
Pron
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 13:3
וַ/יִּשְׁלַ֨ח
shâlach
H7971
"to send"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
To send or depart is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which has various applications in the Bible. It can describe sending someone or something away, or letting something go.
Definition: : depart/send 1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to send 1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct 1a3) to send away 1a4) to let loose 1b) (Niphal) to be sent 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out 1c2) to let go, set free 1c3) to shoot forth (of branches) 1c4) to let down 1c5) to shoot 1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled 1e) (Hiphil) to send
Usage: Occurs in 790 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). See also: Genesis 3:22; Exodus 9:27; Joshua 14:11.
אֹתָ֥/ם
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM | Suff
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
מֹשֶׁ֛ה
Môsheh
H4872
"Moses"
N-proper
Moses, the Israelite leader, was born to Amram and Jochebed and led the Exodus from Egypt. He received the law from God and is considered a key figure in the Bible. Moses means 'drawn' in Hebrew.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.2.10; son of: Amram (H6019) and Jochebed (H3115); brother of: Aaron (H0175) and Miriam (H4813); married to Zipporah (H6855); father of: Gershom (H1647) and Eliezer (H0461H); also called Manasseh at Jdg.18.30(?) § Moses = "drawn" the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus
Usage: Occurs in 704 OT verses. KJV: Moses. See also: Exodus 2:10; Exodus 13:1; Exodus 32:21.
מִ/מִּדְבַּ֥ר
midbâr
H4057
"mouth"
Prep | N-ms
The wilderness refers to a desert or open field, like the one the Israelites wandered in after leaving Egypt. It can also mean a place of solitude or a region without many people. In the Bible, it is often associated with the journey to the Promised Land.
Definition: 1) mouth 1a) mouth (as organ of speech)
Usage: Occurs in 257 OT verses. KJV: desert, south, speech, wilderness. See also: Genesis 14:6; Joshua 5:4; Psalms 29:8.
פָּארָ֖ן
Pâʼrân
H6290
"Paran"
N-proper
Paran is a desert area in Arabia, mentioned in the Bible as a place the Israelites traveled through during their exodus. It is bounded by Palestine, the wilderness of Etham, and the desert of Sinai.
Definition: § Paran = "place of caverns" wilderness area bounded on the north by Palestine, on the west by the wilderness of Etham, on the south by the desert of Sinai, and on the east by the valley of Arabah; the exodus was through this area and probably all 18 stops were in this area
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: Paran. See also: Genesis 21:21; Deuteronomy 1:1; Habakkuk 3:3.
עַל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
פִּ֣י
peh
H6310
"lip"
N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to the mouth, lips, or edge of something, and can also mean a portion or side of something. It is often used to describe speech or the act of speaking. This word appears in various forms, such as mouth, lip, or edge.
Definition: : lip/mouth peh 1) mouth 1a) mouth (of man) 1b) mouth (as organ of speech) 1c) mouth (of animals) 1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc) 1e) extremity, end pim 2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
Usage: Occurs in 460 OT verses. KJV: accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word. See also: Genesis 4:11; Deuteronomy 21:17; Ezra 9:11.
יְהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
כֻּלָּ֣/ם
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms | Suff
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
אֲנָשִׁ֔ים
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
N-mp
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
רָאשֵׁ֥י
rôʼsh
H7218
"head"
N-mp
This Hebrew word means chief or prince, and is used to describe leaders in the Bible, such as in the book of 1 Samuel. It signifies a position of authority and importance.
Definition: : head 1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning 1a) head (of man, animals) 1b) top, tip (of mountain) 1c) height (of stars) 1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest) 1e) head, front, beginning 1f) chief, choicest, best 1g) head, division, company, band 1h) sum
Usage: Occurs in 547 OT verses. KJV: band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top. See also: Genesis 2:10; Numbers 17:18; 2 Samuel 4:7.
בְנֵֽי
bên
H1121
"son"
N-mp
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
"Israel"
N-proper
Israel is the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, had 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel, as told in Genesis 25:26. His story is crucial to the Bible's narrative.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently § Israel = "God prevails" 1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel 2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob 2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split 2b) the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah 2c) the name of the nation after the return from exile
Usage: Occurs in 2231 OT verses. KJV: Israel. See also: Genesis 32:29; Exodus 13:18; Exodus 40:38.
הֵֽמָּה
hêm
H1992
"they(masc.)"
Pron
This Hebrew word is used to refer to a group of men, emphasizing that it is specifically them. It is often translated as 'they' or 'them' in the Bible, and appears in books like Exodus and Isaiah.
Definition: they, these, the same, who
Usage: Occurs in 524 OT verses. KJV: it, like, [idiom] (how, so) many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, [idiom] so, [idiom] such, their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye. See also: Genesis 3:7; Deuteronomy 19:17; 2 Kings 1:18.
Study Notes — Numbers 13:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The Spies Explore Canaan
1And the LORD said to Moses,
2“Send out for yourself men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each of their fathers’ tribes send one man who is a leader among them.”
3So at the command of the LORD, Moses sent them out from the Wilderness of Paran. All the men were leaders of the Israelites,
4and these were their names: From the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zaccur; 5from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 12:16 | After that, the people set out from Hazeroth and camped in the Wilderness of Paran. |
| 2 | Numbers 32:8 | This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to inspect the land. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 1:19 | And just as the LORD our God had commanded us, we set out from Horeb and went toward the hill country of the Amorites, through all the vast and terrifying wilderness you have seen. When we reached Kadesh-barnea, |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 9:23 | And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh-barnea, He said, “Go up and possess the land that I have given you.” But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You neither believed Him nor obeyed Him. |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 1:23 | The plan seemed good to me, so I selected twelve men from among you, one from each tribe. |
Numbers 13:3 Summary
In Numbers 13:3, Moses sends out leaders from each of the Israelite tribes to spy out the land of Canaan, at God's instruction. This shows that God values leadership and planning, and that He wants us to be prepared and informed as we follow Him. Just like the Israelites, we are on a journey with God, and we need to trust in His guidance and provision, as promised in Psalm 37:3-7, and seek His consent in all our decisions, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Moses send out the leaders of the Israelites to spy out the land of Canaan?
Moses sent out the leaders at the consent of the Lord, as instructed in Numbers 13:1-2, to gather information about the land God was giving to the Israelites, similar to how God instructed Joshua to spy out the land in Joshua 2:1.
What kind of men were sent to spy out the land?
The men sent to spy out the land were all leaders of the Israelites, chosen from each of their fathers' tribes, as mentioned in Numbers 13:2, indicating that God values leadership and strategic planning in fulfilling His purposes.
Where did Moses send the leaders from?
Moses sent the leaders out from the Wilderness of Paran, which was a place where the Israelites were encamped, as mentioned in Numbers 13:3, and is also referenced in other parts of the Bible, such as Deuteronomy 1:19.
How does this event relate to God's overall plan for the Israelites?
This event is part of God's plan to give the land of Canaan to the Israelites, as promised to Abraham in Genesis 12:7 and reaffirmed in Genesis 15:18, and is a key step in the fulfillment of that promise, as seen in the book of Joshua.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean to act 'at the consent of the Lord', and how can we seek God's consent in our own decisions?
- How do leaders in the church today embody the qualities of the leaders sent to spy out the land, and what can we learn from their example?
- In what ways are we, like the Israelites, being led by God into new territories or challenges, and how can we trust in His guidance?
- What role does faith play in our willingness to take risks and step into the unknown, as the leaders did in this verse?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 13:3
And Moses, by the commandment of the Lord,.... By his power, permission, and leave, as Jarchi, that there might be no delay through his means: sent them from the wilderness of Paran; from Rithmah or
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 13:3
And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.
Trapp's Commentary on Numbers 13:3
Numbers 13:3 And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men [were] heads of the children of Israel.Ver. 3. By the commandment of the Lord.] That is, by his permission; God’ s command was, that they should forthwith, without any further search, go up and possess the land. Now wicked men are esteemed unjust, because they act against God’ s command, though according to his decree; like as believers are esteemed just, not because they obey God’ s decree, but his command.
Ellicott's Commentary on Numbers 13:3
(3) And Moses, by the commandment of the Lord, sent them, &c.—Better, And Moses sent them, from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command (literally, the mouth) of the Lord, i.e., as appears from Deuteronomy 1:19. from Kadesh-barnea.
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 13:3
1–24. The spies are sent out, and search the land.
Sermons on Numbers 13:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
God Carries His People by Charles Leiter | In this sermon, the preacher addresses a crowd of believers and warns them not to be shocked or fearful when faced with opposition and persecution. He reminds them that God has bee |
|
The Spirit 04 gen.22: Quench Not by Alden Gannett | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the fear and worry that the congregation is experiencing due to a report they received about the great stature of the people in the land they |
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Kadesh-Barnea Again by J. Wilbur Chapman | J. Wilbur Chapman preaches about the significance of Kadeshbarnea in Deuteronomy 1:19, drawing parallels between the missed opportunity of the children of Israel to enter the Promi |
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Letters: Rev. Dr. John J. Bonar His Brother, Greenock (1) by Andrew Bonar | Andrew Bonar shares a heartfelt letter to his brother John, expressing gratitude for his support during a difficult time. He reflects on the trials they face, comparing their painf |
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Instant Obedience or the Frozen Chosen by Friedel Stegen | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the negative report brought back by the ten spies who explored the promised land. Despite God's promise to give them the land and be with the |