Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the LORD your God,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Deuteronomy 1:32
What does Deuteronomy 1:32 mean?
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Deuteronomy 1:32
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The Hebrew word translated "thing" here can also mean "word." So, the verse isn't just saying they didn't believe in a situation, but that they refused to believe God's actual words of assurance and promise. This highlights that their failure wasn't just a passive lack of faith, but an active rejection of what God had clearly spoken.
Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the LORD your God,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses is reminding the Israelites of their departure from Mount Sinai and their journey to Kadesh Barnea, recounting God's provision and guidance through the wilderness. He emphasizes God's promises to fight for them and lead them into the promised land, a stark contrast to their fearful refusal to enter and possess it. This verse highlights their persistent unbelief despite all the miraculous evidence of God's power and care for them.
Moses confronts the Israelites with a stark reality: despite God's constant care and guidance, they still chose not to believe Him.
Think about all God had already done for Israel. He led them out of Egypt with a mighty hand, protected them in the wilderness with fire by night and cloud by day, and even carried them like a father carries his child. These weren't small things; they were direct, undeniable proofs of God's power and love.
Yet, when it came time to step into the promised land, their faith faltered. Moses highlights this contrast, calling it 'this thing' or 'this word' – referring to God's promise and commandment to go forward. Their unbelief wasn't just a passive lack of faith; it was a direct rejection of God's proven faithfulness and a stubborn refusal to trust His word when it mattered most. This made their sin particularly grievous.
What makes unbelief such a dangerous and final sin?
The commentary points out that unbelief isn't just another sin among many; it's a sin against God's solution for sin. Think about it: God offers salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life through Jesus Christ. Faith is our act of accepting that free gift.
When we refuse to believe, we are essentially saying 'no' to God's remedy. It's like a doctor offering a cure for a deadly disease, and the patient refusing to take the medicine. It's not just a mistake; it's a rejection of the very thing that could save them. This is why unbelief is described as a sin 'without remedy' in the biblical context; it cuts off the source of all help and healing.
Ask a follow-up
Was Israel's unbelief a one-time event, or something more persistent?
The Hebrew word used here for 'believe' is actually a participle. This grammatical form isn't just about a single decision; it describes a continuous action or state. It means they weren't just failing to believe at that one moment; they were continuing in a state of unbelief.
Imagine someone saying, 'I am not walking.' This describes an ongoing lack of movement. Similarly, Israel's 'not believing' was a persistent condition that characterized their journey. This continuous aspect is what made their sin so profound. Despite God's ongoing provision and guidance – the pillar of cloud and fire that moved with them, day after day – their hearts remained hardened in doubt. It was a settled pattern, not a fleeting lapse.
Understand the original words
aman · Hebrew Verb
To hold confidence, trust, or faith in someone or something; biblically, it denotes a firm reliance upon God's character and promises, resulting in obedience.
This verse highlights that the Israelites' failure to enter the Promised Land wasn't due to a lack of God's power or presence, but a persistent refusal to trust His word, even after witnessing countless miracles.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God powerfully delivers the Israelites from over 400 years of slavery in Egypt, a foundational event demonstrating His might and faithfulness.
c. 1446 BC
Theophany at Mount Sinai
God establishes His covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai, giving them the Law and promising them the land of Canaan.
c. 1445 BC
Journey to Kadesh-barnea
The Israelites travel from Mount Sinai towards the Promised Land, guided by a pillar of cloud and fire, experiencing God's provision in the wilderness.
c. 1445 BC
Sending of the Spies
At the Israelites' request, Moses sends twelve spies into Canaan to scout the land, leading to conflicting reports and widespread fear.
c. 1445 BC— this verse
Israelites Refuse to Enter Canaan
Despite God's command and Moses' encouragement, the people refuse to advance into the Promised Land, swayed by the spies' fearful report and their own doubt.
c. 1445 BC
Divine Judgment Pronounced
As a consequence of their unbelief and rebellion, God decrees that the generation that came out of Egypt will not enter the Promised Land, wandering in the wilderness for forty years.
This passage directly quotes Deuteronomy 1:32 in the Greek and explicitly links the Israelites' failure to enter the promised land to their unbelief, mirroring the text's theme.
Numbers 14:11This verse describes a similar moment of severe unbelief where the Israelites 'will not believe me for all the signs which I have done among them,' highlighting a pattern of distrust despite divine intervention.
Joshua 1:9In contrast to the unbelief in Deuteronomy, Joshua is commanded to 'Be strong and courageous' because the LORD 'is with you wherever you go,' emphasizing that God's presence is a reason for faith, not fear.
Psalm 106:24This psalm directly rebukes the Israelites, saying they 'despised the pleasant land, giving no obedience to his word,' which captures the essence of their sin described in Deuteronomy 1:32.
Isaiah 7:9This verse is a strong exhortation to belief, stating 'If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all,' underscoring the foundational importance of faith that the Israelites in Deuteronomy neglected.
gillDeuteronomy 1:32: "Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,"
Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God. That they might go up and possess the land at once, and that he would fight for them, and subdue their enemies under them; or notwithstanding the favours bestowed upon them, and because of them, they did not believe in the Lord their God, and which was a great aggravation of their unbelief, and was the cause of their not entering into the good land, Hebrews 3:19 .
wesleyDeuteronomy 1:32: "Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,"
1:32 Ye did not believe the Lord - So they could not enter in, because of unbelief. It was not any other sin shut them out of Canaan, but their disbelief of that promise, which was typical of gospel grace: to signify that no sin will ruin us but unbelief, which is a sin against the remedy; and therefore without remedy.
The Hebrew word translated "thing" here can also mean "word." So, the verse isn't just saying they didn't believe in a situation, but that they refused to believe God's actual words of assurance and promise. This highlights that their failure wasn't just a passive lack of faith, but an active rejection of what God had clearly spoken.
Moses is reminding the Israelites of their departure from Mount Sinai and their journey to Kadesh Barnea, recounting God's provision and guidance through the wilderness. He emphasizes God's promises to fight for them and lead them into the promised land, a stark contrast to their fearful refusal to enter and possess it. This verse highlights their persistent unbelief despite all the miraculous evidence of God's power and care for them.
Moses is reminding the Israelites of their departure from Mount Sinai and their journey to Kadesh Barnea, recounting God's provision and guidance through the wilderness. He emphasizes God's promises to fight for them and lead them into the promised land, a stark contrast to their fearful refusal to enter and possess it. This verse highlights their persistent unbelief despite all the miraculous evidence of God's power and care for them.
"Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the LORD your God," — The Hebrew word translated "thing" here can also mean "word." So, the verse isn't just saying they didn't believe in a situation, but that they refused to believe God's actual words of assurance…
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Last reviewed October 2026