The spies claim the land "eats up" its inhabitants, but this could be a veiled admission that they saw signs of God's judgment, like frequent funerals, rather than just sickness or famine. Their emphasis on giants then highlights their fear and distorted perspective, ignoring God's power to deliver them.
So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After 40 days of scouting the promised land, the spies return to the Israelites. While a few, like Caleb, are ready to conquer, the majority deliver a chilling report, exaggerating the land's dangers and the inhabitants' strength to justify their fear and disobedience. This report directly contradicts their earlier, more honest assessment of the land's incredible fruitfulness.
The spies reported the land itself was a killer. What did they really mean, and why frame it this way?
The spies used fear-inducing language to describe the land. While some scholars suggest it meant an unhealthy climate or constant warfare, the most compelling interpretation is that the land itself seemed hostile and dangerous. They saw it as a place where inhabitants struggled to survive, perhaps due to harsh conditions or constant conflict. This imagery served their purpose: to paint a picture of inescapable doom, making any attempt to conquer it seem futile.
It’s crucial to remember they had just confirmed the land flowed with milk and honey (Num. 13:27). Their deliberate shift in description highlights how fear can twist perception. Instead of focusing on God's provision, they magnified the perceived threats.
They saw 'men of great stature' and felt like grasshoppers. How did seeing giants become a reason to doubt God?
The spies’ report culminates in their description of the inhabitants: 'all the people that we saw in it are of great height.' This was a deliberate exaggeration designed to instill terror. While giants (the Anakites) did live in Canaan, the spies presented them as the norm, not the exception.
This distorted view directly led to their despair. They compared themselves to grasshoppers, feeling utterly insignificant and incapable. Their focus shifted from God's power to their own perceived weakness in the face of these giants. This is the insidious nature of fear: it magnifies the obstacles and shrinks God in our vision. They saw formidable enemies, but failed to see the God of armies fighting for them.
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Understand the original words
dibbah · Hebrew Noun
In a biblical context, this refers to a pessimistic, faithless, or false assessment of a situation that contradicts God's promises and encourages rebellion or fear. It stands in contrast to a 'good report' (or 'bringing back word') that rests on divine assurance.
The spies' terrifying report, describing Canaan as a land that 'devours its inhabitants' and is filled with giants, wasn't just an exaggeration; it played on real fears. Whether it was the perceived unhealthiness of the land, constant warfare, or the imposing stature of some inhabitants, this fear-mongering masked a deeper rebellion against God's promises. Their words reveal a failure of faith, choosing to focus on human strength and insurmountable obstacles rather than God's power to deliver them.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Leave Egypt
After 400 years of slavery, God dramatically delivers the Israelites from Egypt under Moses' leadership. This marks the beginning of their journey towards the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Spies Sent to Canaan
Moses sends twelve spies, one from each tribe, to scout the land of Canaan. They are tasked with assessing its fertility, its inhabitants, and its defenses.
c. 1446 BC
Spies Return with Report
After 40 days of exploration, the spies return to the Israelite camp. While some bring back samples of the land's rich fruit, ten of the twelve deliver a discouraging report.
c. 1446 BC
Israel Rejects the Promised Land
Fueled by fear and discouragement from the majority report, the Israelites rebel against God's command to enter Canaan. They are condemned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.
c. 1406 BC
Israel Enters Canaan
Forty years later, a new generation of Israelites, led by Joshua, crosses the Jordan River and begins the conquest of Canaan.
This passage directly refers back to the spies' mission and their fearful report, setting the stage for the consequences that followed their lack of faith.
Joshua 14:7Caleb, one of the faithful spies, recounts this event years later, highlighting the contrast between the fearful report and his own conviction that they could overcome.
Psalm 106:24This psalm explicitly mentions the Israelites despising the promised land and disbelieving God's word, directly referencing the spies' evil report.
Hebrews 3:17This New Testament passage uses the wilderness generation's disobedience, stemming from their unbelief after the spies' report, as a cautionary example for believers.
jfbNumbers 13:32: "And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature."
- a land that eateth up the inhabitants—that is, an unhealthy climate and country. Jewish writers say that in the course of their travels they saw a great many funerals, vast numbers of the Canaanites being…
gillNumbers 13:32: "And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature."
And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel,.... Before, they gave a good report of the land itself, as a very fruitful one, answering to their expectati…
The spies claim the land "eats up" its inhabitants, but this could be a veiled admission that they saw signs of God's judgment, like frequent funerals, rather than just sickness or famine. Their emphasis on giants then highlights their fear and distorted perspective, ignoring God's power to deliver them.
After 40 days of scouting the promised land, the spies return to the Israelites. While a few, like Caleb, are ready to conquer, the majority deliver a chilling report, exaggerating the land's dangers and the inhabitants' strength to justify their fear and disobedience. This report directly contradicts their earlier, more honest assessment of the land's incredible fruitfulness.
After 40 days of scouting the promised land, the spies return to the Israelites. While a few, like Caleb, are ready to conquer, the majority deliver a chilling report, exaggerating the land's dangers and the inhabitants' strength to justify their fear and disobedience. This report directly contradicts their earlier, more honest assessment of the land's incredible fruitfulness.
"So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of grea…" — The spies claim the land "eats up" its inhabitants, but this could be a veiled admission that they saw signs of God's judgment, like frequent funerals, rather than just sickness or famine. Their emph…
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Last reviewed October 2026
