(The Emim formerly lived there, a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Deuteronomy 2:10
What does Deuteronomy 2:10 mean?
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Deuteronomy 2:10
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This verse isn't just describing a past people, the Emim, but offering a subtle theological point: their name itself means "terrible ones." The text highlights their fearsome reputation for size and strength, comparing them to the Anakim, to underscore God's power in clearing the land for His people, not just from human opposition, but from even the most intimidating forces.
(The Emim formerly lived there, a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God instructs Moses and the Israelites not to provoke the Moabites, explaining that their land, specifically the region called Ar, has already been given to them as a possession inherited from Lot. To emphasize how Moab came to possess this land, Moses recounts that a powerful and giant-like people called the Emim once lived there, but they were later displaced by the Moabites. This sets the stage for understanding the inherited rights and previous inhabitants of the lands east of the Jordan River that Israel would eventually encounter.
Ever heard of a people so intimidating their name means 'terrifying'? That's the Emim!
The Emim, who previously lived in the land now occupied by the Moabites, were known for their imposing stature and formidable presence. Their name itself, 'Emim,' likely stems from a word meaning 'terrible' or 'frightful,' hinting at the fear they inspired. This description of their size and might serves a crucial purpose in Deuteronomy. It's meant to show the Israelites that the nations God was dispossessing were not just ordinary people, but powerful, established groups. This highlights that Israel's victories weren't just about military might, but about God’s direct intervention on their behalf.
Imagine being promised land that was once home to giants. What does that tell you about God's plans?
Deuteronomy 2:10-12 provides a crucial historical backdrop. Before the Moabites and Edomites settled the lands east of the Jordan, they were inhabited by formidable peoples like the Emim and the Horites. The text explains that these 'giant-like' peoples were dispossessed by the descendants of Lot (Moabites and Ammonites) and Esau (Edomites). Now, Israel is also poised to take possession of lands previously occupied by powerful groups, including the Canaanites. This pattern underscores that God sovereignly grants and redistributes land. The fact that these lands were once held by 'giants' serves as a testament to God's power to overcome any obstacle and fulfill His promises to His people, even when the task seems impossible.
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Emim · Hebrew Noun
A group of ancient, pre-Israelite inhabitants often described as having formidable size or stature, emphasizing their dominance or fearsome nature in the land before God's people arrived.
Anakim · Hebrew Noun
A legendary, ancient people known for their extraordinary physical size and height, often representing significant obstacles or enemies in the conquest narrative.
This verse highlights that the land Israel is about to claim was once inhabited by formidable peoples, reminding them of God's power to dispossess others and grant land, a pattern previously seen with the Moabites and Emim.
c. 2000 BC
Chedorlaomer defeats Emim
The Emim, a people described as great, many, and tall, inhabited the land later occupied by the Moabites. They were conquered by Chedorlaomer and his allies.
c. 1800 BC
Moabites displace Emim
The Moabites, descendants of Lot, eventually took possession of the land previously held by the Emim. Their right to the land is presented as divinely sanctioned.
c. 1400 BC
Israel departs Egypt
The Israelites begin their exodus from Egypt, marking the start of their journey towards the Promised Land, a journey that would take forty years.
c. 1360 BC
Conquest of Sihon
The Israelites, after wandering for decades, conquered Sihon, the Amorite king who had taken territory from the Moabites, including cities formerly held by the Emim.
c. 1360 BC— this verse
Israel crosses the Zered
The Israelites cross the Zered Valley, a significant marker signifying the end of their 38-year wandering period and the beginning of their push into territories east of the Jordan River.
This passage introduces the Emim by name, linking them to a significant historical event involving kings from the East, establishing their ancient presence in the land.
Numbers 13:33This verse provides a striking parallel by describing the Anakim, whom the Emim are compared to, as giants that caused the Israelite spies to feel like grasshoppers, highlighting the formidable nature of these peoples.
Genesis 15:20This verse lists the Anakim among other nations inhabiting the land God promised to Abraham, showing they were part of the established peoples that would eventually need to be displaced.
Joshua 11:21-22This passage describes Joshua's conquest of the Anakim and other giants in the land of Canaan, showing the eventual fulfillment of God's judgment against these powerful groups, similar to how the Emim were dealt with.
Amos 2:9This prophetic passage references the Amorites (though here it could broadly refer to giants like the Anakim mentioned in Deuteronomy) and their stature, underscoring that God’s power is sovereign over even the physically imposing nations.
gillDeuteronomy 2:10: "The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims;"
The Emims dwelt there in time past,.... We read of them as early as the times of Chedorlaomer, Genesis 14:5 when their dwelling was in Kirjathaim, a city which Sihon king of the Amorites took from the Moabites, and which being taken from him, was with others given to the tribe of Reuben, Numbers 32:37 . These are by some thought to be the same with the Yemim which Anah found and met wi…
clarkeDeuteronomy 2:10: "The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims;"
The Emims dwelt therein - Calmet supposes that these people were destroyed in the war made against them by Chedorlaomer and his allies, Genesis 14:5 . Lot possessed their country after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. They are generally esteemed as giants; probably they were a hardy, fierce, and terrible people, who lived, like the wandering Arabs, on the plunder of others. This…
This verse isn't just describing a past people, the Emim, but offering a subtle theological point: their name itself means "terrible ones." The text highlights their fearsome reputation for size and strength, comparing them to the Anakim, to underscore God's power in clearing the land for His people, not just from human opposition, but from even the most intimidating forces.
God instructs Moses and the Israelites not to provoke the Moabites, explaining that their land, specifically the region called Ar, has already been given to them as a possession inherited from Lot. To emphasize how Moab came to possess this land, Moses recounts that a powerful and giant-like people called the Emim once lived there, but they were later displaced by the Moabites. This sets the stage for understanding the inherited rights and previous inhabitants of the lands east of the Jordan River that Israel would eventually encounter.
God instructs Moses and the Israelites not to provoke the Moabites, explaining that their land, specifically the region called Ar, has already been given to them as a possession inherited from Lot. To emphasize how Moab came to possess this land, Moses recounts that a powerful and giant-like people called the Emim once lived there, but they were later displaced by the Moabites. This sets the stage for understanding the inherited rights and previous inhabitants of the lands east of the Jordan River that Israel would eventually encounter.
"(The Emim formerly lived there, a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim." — This verse isn't just describing a past people, the Emim, but offering a subtle theological point: their name itself means "terrible ones." The text highlights their fearsome reputation for size and…
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Last reviewed October 2026