Psalm 106:24-25
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The verse highlights that "despising the pleasant land" wasn't just about the physical territory, but a profound lack of faith in God's promise. They actively chose to devalue the promised future and the faithfulness of God over their present comfort and familiar hardship.
Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise. They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After recounting Israel's repeated rebellions and God's patient faithfulness, the psalm now zeroes in on a specific failure: the Israelites' rejection of the Promised Land based on the spies' discouraging report. Instead of trusting God's promise to give them this desirable land, they despised it and longed for Egypt, ultimately facing God's judgment for their unbelief.
God called Canaan 'a land flowing with milk and honey,' a place of abundance and rest. Yet, the Israelites despised it.
A Desired Land, Undesired Actions
The Hebrew text calls Canaan the 'land of desire' – a place perfectly suited to Israel's needs, promised by God with rich descriptions of its fertility and security. It was meant to be their ultimate home. But when faced with the challenge of taking possession, the people's hearts turned away.
Instead of longing for this divinely appointed inheritance, they longed for the familiar hardships of Egypt. Their preference for bondage over promised freedom reveals a deep-seated discontent not with the land itself, but with the God who offered it and the faith required to claim it.
What does it mean to 'believe not his word,' and why is it so devastating?
When Promises Meet Doubt
The core issue wasn't the land's desirability or even the difficulty of conquering it; it was their lack of faith in God's promise. 'They believed not his word' means they did not trust God's declaration that He would give them the land and go before them to secure it.
This disbelief wasn't just a passive doubt; it actively fueled their rejection of the 'pleasant land.' It led them to question God's ability, His faithfulness, or His goodness. When we fail to trust God's promises, we effectively diminish Him and forfeit the blessings He intends for us.
Understand the original words
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ma'as · Hebrew Verb
To treat with contempt or lack of value; to regard as unworthy of interest or respect, often manifesting in the rejection of God's blessings or truth.
emunah · Hebrew Noun
A state of trusting reliance on God and His word; a foundational posture of the heart that acknowledges God’s truthfulness and sovereign ability.
ragan · Hebrew Verb
To express discontent, complain, or grumble, particularly against divine providence or God’s chosen leadership; it is frequently characterized by a lack of trust in God’s goodness.
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The self-existent, covenant-keeping God of Israel; the personal name of the Almighty who enters into relationship with His people.
This verse recalls a pivotal moment in Israel's history where their fear and lack of faith led them to reject God's promised gift, turning away from a land flowing with milk and honey because they didn't trust the God who had just delivered them.
c. 1440 BC
Exodus from Egypt
After 400 years of slavery, God delivers the Israelites from Egypt through Moses and Aaron, marking the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land.
c. 1440 BC
Giving of the Law
At Mount Sinai, God establishes His covenant with Israel, giving them the Ten Commandments and other laws to guide their relationship with Him and each other.
c. 1400 BC
Spies Explore Canaan
Moses sends twelve spies to scout the land of Canaan. Ten return with a fearful report of giants and fortified cities, while Joshua and Caleb express confidence in God's ability to grant them victory.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Israel Rejects the Land
The Israelites, swayed by the fearful report, refuse to enter Canaan. They grumble against Moses and God, preferring to return to Egypt rather than trust God's promise and power.
c. 1400 BC
God's Judgment Announced
Because of their unbelief and rebellion, God declares that the generation that left Egypt will not enter the Promised Land, except for Joshua and Caleb. They will wander in the wilderness for 40 years.
c. 1360 BC
Wilderness Wandering
The Israelites spend 40 years wandering in the Sinai wilderness, a period marked by further testing, judgment, and God's continued provision.
This passage directly describes the Israelites' reaction to the spies' report, showing them despising the promised land and preferring to return to Egypt, just as Psalm 106 recounts.
Hebrews 3:16-19The New Testament author connects the Israelites' unbelief and rebellion in the wilderness to the consequences of not entering God's rest, highlighting the danger of despising God's promises through a lack of faith.
Deuteronomy 1:26-28This passage shows Moses recounting how the people refused to go up and take the land, fearing the inhabitants and speaking evil of the land, which is the very attitude described as despising the pleasant land.
Joshua 1:6In contrast to the Psalm's account, this verse powerfully calls Joshua to be strong and courageous to possess the land, emphasizing the importance of faith and obedience in entering God's promised blessings.
bensonPsalms 106:24: "Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:"
Psalm 106:24-27 . They despised the pleasant land — Canaan, which was so, not only in truth, but even by the relation of those spies, who discouraged them from entering into it. They preferred Egypt and their former bondage before it, Numbers 14:3-4 , and did not think it deserving of a little hazard and difficulty in taking possession of it. They believed not his word — His promise of giving them the land, and s…
wesleyPsalms 106:24: "Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:"
106:24 Despised - Preferring Egypt, and their former bondage, before it, Numb 14:3,4.
The verse highlights that "despising the pleasant land" wasn't just about the physical territory, but a profound lack of faith in God's promise. They actively chose to devalue the promised future and the faithfulness of God over their present comfort and familiar hardship.
After recounting Israel's repeated rebellions and God's patient faithfulness, the psalm now zeroes in on a specific failure: the Israelites' rejection of the Promised Land based on the spies' discouraging report. Instead of trusting God's promise to give them this desirable land, they despised it and longed for Egypt, ultimately facing God's judgment for their unbelief.
After recounting Israel's repeated rebellions and God's patient faithfulness, the psalm now zeroes in on a specific failure: the Israelites' rejection of the Promised Land based on the spies' discouraging report. Instead of trusting God's promise to give them this desirable land, they despised it and longed for Egypt, ultimately facing God's judgment for their unbelief.
"Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise. They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD." — The verse highlights that "despising the pleasant land" wasn't just about the physical territory, but a profound lack of faith in God's promise. They actively chose to devalue the promised future a…
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Last reviewed October 2026
