Deuteronomy 1:27-28
And you murmured in your tents and said, ‘Because the LORD hated us he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.”’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The people's complaint isn't just about fear of the Amorites; it's a radical distortion of God's past actions, twisting the miraculous Exodus, a clear sign of His love, into proof of His hatred and a setup for their destruction. This highlights how easily present fear can blind us to God's faithfulness, leading us to misinterpret His character and purpose.
Moses is recounting the Israelites' journey, reminding them of their rebellion at Kadesh-barnea after the spies returned with a frightening report. Instead of trusting God's promise to give them the land, the people publicly declared that God had actually brought them out of Egypt to be destroyed by the Amorites, a complete distortion of God's loving deliverance. This moment of deep unbelief and ingratitude, though whispered in their tents, quickly escalated into a national crisis, setting the stage for their forty years of wandering in the wilderness.
Imagine being rescued from a burning building, only to immediately complain that the rescuer 'hated' you. That's the astonishing turn of logic the Israelites took.
The people's words, 'Because the LORD hated us,' reveal a profound disconnect between God's actions and their perception. They saw their miraculous deliverance from Egypt – a testament to God's power and love – as proof of His hatred. This isn't just forgetfulness; it's a twisted interpretation where God's favor is seen as a setup for disaster. Their fear and unbelief blinded them to the truth that God's mighty acts were for their good, not their destruction.
Why would Moses remind them of a sin from 40 years prior? Because the seeds of that rebellion were still present.
Moses addresses the people by recalling their murmuring at Kadesh-barnea (Numbers 14). Even though that generation largely perished, Moses uses this historical moment to warn the current generation. He's saying, 'This same complaining spirit, this same distrust, is dangerous and can lead you astray.' The 'tents' where the murmuring began represent private discontent that can easily spread and become public rebellion. This verse is a stark reminder that past failures in faith are not just history; they're potential warnings for the future.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Deuteronomy 1:27-28 is available in the Sola app.
They had witnessed God's power in Egypt and the wilderness. Yet, faced with the Anakim, they forgot everything.
The Israelites' accusation—that God brought them out only to hand them over to the Amorites for destruction—highlights a critical failure: they did not believe God's power, despite overwhelming evidence. They had seen God's high hand in the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the provision in the wilderness. Moses reminds them (as seen in the larger context of Deuteronomy 1) how God 'carried' them like a father carries his son. Their fear of the Anakim completely eclipsed their memory of God's active, protective power. This shows how quickly fear can erase the lessons of past faith.
Understand the original words
ragan · Hebrew Verb
The expression of discontent, dissatisfaction, or complaining, often directed against God or His appointed leadership; it carries the connotation of a lack of trust in God's providence.
sane · Hebrew Verb
A strong term denoting intense animosity, hostility, or rejection. When attributed to God, it signifies His judicial displeasure or His turning away from those who have rejected His covenant.
Emori · Hebrew Noun
A Semitic people inhabiting the hill country of Canaan. In Scripture, they represent the formidable opposition that stands in the way of God’s people possessing the Promised Land, serving as a test of faith.
masas · Hebrew Verb
Refers to a state of being disheartened, terrified, or losing all courage. It is the opposite of the boldness and confidence that comes from trusting in God's promises.
Anaqim · Hebrew Noun
A legendary group of people described as giants in the Bible. Their presence symbolized human impossibility and the need for divine intervention to overcome enemies of God's people.
These words recall a moment of profound spiritual failure, where the very people God had so mightily rescued twisted His incredible acts of deliverance into evidence of His hatred, revealing a deep-seated unbelief that had devastating consequences.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously delivers the Israelites from over 400 years of slavery in Egypt, demonstrating His power and faithfulness.
c. 1446 BC
Giving of the Law at Mount Sinai
God establishes His covenant with Israel, giving them the Law and outlining the path to the Promised Land.
c. 1445 BC
Journey to Kadesh-barnea
The Israelites travel from Mount Sinai towards the border of the Promised Land, a journey that should have taken weeks but stretches into a year.
c. 1445 BC— this verse
Spies Sent into Canaan
Moses sends twelve spies to scout the land of Canaan. Ten return with a terrifying report of giants and fortified cities, while Joshua and Caleb urge faith.
c. 1445 BC
Israelite Rebellion at Kadesh
The people refuse to enter the Promised Land, leading to widespread murmuring and rebellion against Moses and God. This event directly sparks the words in Deuteronomy 1:27.
c. 1445 BC - 1405 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
As a consequence of their unbelief, the generation that refused to enter Canaan is condemned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years until they all perish.
This passage directly parallels the murmuring of the Israelites in Deuteronomy 1:27, showing their fear and disbelief leading them to question God's goodness and provision, even after witnessing His mighty acts.
Psalm 106:7-11This psalm recounts the exodus and the Israelites' subsequent rebellion, highlighting their immediate distrust and God's faithfulness in delivering them despite their grumbling and forgetfulness of His power.
Hebrews 3:7-19This New Testament passage uses the Israelites' persistent unbelief and murmuring in the wilderness, as seen in Deuteronomy 1:27, as a strong warning against hardening one's heart and falling away from God.
1 Corinthians 10:10Paul explicitly warns the Corinthian church against 'grumbling' and 'complaining,' referencing the very type of sinful attitude displayed by the Israelites in Deuteronomy 1:27, and connecting it to God's judgment.
gillDeuteronomy 1:27: "And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us."
And ye murmured in your tents,.... Not in a private manner; for though the murmurs began there, they having wept all night after the report of the spies; yet it became general and public, and they gathered together in a body, and openly expressed their murmurs against Moses and Aaron, Numbers 14:1 ,…
bensonDeuteronomy 1:27: "And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us."
Deuteronomy 1:27 . Because the Lord hated us — This shows what dishonourable and unworthy thoughts they had entertained of God, to imagine him capable of being actuated by hatred to his own creatures. Their sins, indeed, he could not but view with hatred; just as every good and wise parent must disl…
The people's complaint isn't just about fear of the Amorites; it's a radical distortion of God's past actions, twisting the miraculous Exodus, a clear sign of His love, into proof of His hatred and a setup for their destruction. This highlights how easily present fear can blind us to God's faithfulness, leading us to misinterpret His character and purpose.
Moses is recounting the Israelites' journey, reminding them of their rebellion at Kadesh-barnea after the spies returned with a frightening report. Instead of trusting God's promise to give them the land, the people publicly declared that God had actually brought them out of Egypt to be destroyed by the Amorites, a complete distortion of God's loving deliverance. This moment of deep unbelief and ingratitude, though whispered in their tents, quickly escalated into a national crisis, setting the stage for their forty years of wandering in the wilderness.
Moses is recounting the Israelites' journey, reminding them of their rebellion at Kadesh-barnea after the spies returned with a frightening report. Instead of trusting God's promise to give them the land, the people publicly declared that God had actually brought them out of Egypt to be destroyed by the Amorites, a complete distortion of God's loving deliverance. This moment of deep unbelief and ingratitude, though whispered in their tents, quickly escalated into a national crisis, setting the stage for their forty years of wandering in the wilderness.
"And you murmured in your tents and said, ‘Because the LORD hated us he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying,…" — The people's complaint isn't just about fear of the Amorites; it's a radical distortion of God's past actions, twisting the miraculous Exodus, a clear sign of His love, into proof of His hatred and…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
