Psalm 106:24-26
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The people didn't just doubt God's promise; they actively despised the land, preferring the familiar hardship of Egypt over the challenge of God's best. This reveals that unbelief isn't passive doubt, but an active rejection of God's good purposes for us.
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. Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
English Standard Version (ESV)
After God miraculously delivered them from slavery, the Israelites were given a choice: continue following God toward the promised land or turn back to Egypt. Despite the spies' glowing report of Canaan as a land flowing with milk and honey, the people chose disbelief and rebellion, effectively despising the promised inheritance God had prepared for them. This deep distrust led them to reject God's command to enter and possess the land, setting them on a path of divine judgment.
What makes a place 'desirable'? For the Israelites, the lush land of Canaan, a place flowing with milk and honey, was rejected. What did they miss?
The text calls Canaan the 'pleasant land' or the 'land of desire.' This wasn't just a geographical description; it was a divine promise, representing God's best for His people.
A Glimpse of God's Goodness
This land was meant to be a tangible sign of God's faithfulness and provision, a place of rest and abundance after years of hardship in the wilderness.
The Real Rejection
When the Israelites 'despised' this land, they weren't just being picky. They were rejecting God's promise and His power to fulfill it. Their focus shifted from God's provision to their own fears and perceived difficulties, preferring the known hardships of Egypt over the unknown challenges of possessing God's gift.
The verse directly links despising the land to a lack of faith. What does it mean to 'believe not his word' in this context?
The core issue here is not a lack of information, but a failure of trust. The Israelites had seen God's mighty acts—the plagues, the Red Sea crossing, the provision of manna. Yet, faced with the challenge of Canaan, their faith faltered.
A Failure to Trust God's Character
'Believing not his word' means they didn't trust God's promise to give them the land, nor did they trust His power to defeat their enemies. Their eyes were on the giants in the land, not on the God who had brought them out of Egypt.
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The Consequence of Doubt
This unbelief led directly to their rejection of the promised land. When we don't trust God's promises, we can't fully embrace the good things He has planned for us, often settling for less or turning back to familiar, but unfulfilling, situations.
Understand the original words
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.
nasa yado · Hebrew Verb phrase
An oath or solemn promise, often involving a gesture of lifting the hand toward God, signifying a binding commitment or a divine judgment that cannot be revoked.
This verse highlights a critical moment when the Israelites, standing on the brink of God's promise, chose disbelief over faith. Their rejection of the Promised Land stemmed from a deep-seated distrust in God's word and power, preferring the familiar hardship of Egypt over the challenging but divinely guaranteed future in Canaan.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Leave Egypt
After 400 years of slavery, God miraculously delivered the Israelites from Egypt under the leadership of Moses.
c. 1446 BC
Forty Years in the Wilderness
Due to their disobedience and lack of faith, the Israelites wandered in the Sinai wilderness for 40 years. Only those 20 years and older who left Egypt, except for Caleb and Joshua, died in the wilderness.
c. 1406 BC
Spies Sent into Canaan
Before entering the Promised Land, Moses sent twelve spies to scout the territory. Their report was mixed, with ten spies emphasizing the formidable giants and fortified cities.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Israelites Reject the Promised Land
Following the negative report of the spies, the Israelites rebelled. They despised the 'pleasant land' of Canaan, preferring to return to Egypt rather than trust God's promise to give them the land and fight for them.
c. 1406 BC
God's Judgment Declared
As a consequence of their unbelief and rebellion, God declared that the generation that left Egypt would not enter the Promised Land. He swore they would perish in the wilderness.
This passage directly describes the Israelites' reaction to the spies' report, showing them despising the promised land and preferring to return to Egypt, mirroring the sentiment in Psalm 106:24.
Hebrews 3:18-19The author of Hebrews explicitly connects the Israelites' unbelief in the wilderness with their inability to enter the promised land, directly linking their 'disobedience' to a lack of faith, a key theme in Psalm 106:24.
Deuteronomy 8:7-10This passage vividly describes the 'pleasant land' God promised, highlighting its abundance and blessings, which makes the Israelites' subsequent despise and disbelief in Psalm 106:24 all the more striking.
Joshua 1:6In contrast to the faithlessness described in Psalm 106:24, Joshua is called to be strong and courageous because the Lord is with him to give him the land, showing the other side of the coin – obedience fueled by faith.
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 people didn't just doubt God's promise; they actively despised the land, preferring the familiar hardship of Egypt over the challenge of God's best. This reveals that unbelief isn't passive doubt, but an active rejection of God's good purposes for us.
After God miraculously delivered them from slavery, the Israelites were given a choice: continue following God toward the promised land or turn back to Egypt. Despite the spies' glowing report of Canaan as a land flowing with milk and honey, the people chose disbelief and rebellion, effectively despising the promised inheritance God had prepared for them. This deep distrust led them to reject God's command to enter and possess the land, setting them on a path of divine judgment.
After God miraculously delivered them from slavery, the Israelites were given a choice: continue following God toward the promised land or turn back to Egypt. Despite the spies' glowing report of Canaan as a land flowing with milk and honey, the people chose disbelief and rebellion, effectively despising the promised inheritance God had prepared for them. This deep distrust led them to reject God's command to enter and possess the land, setting them on a path of divine judgment.
"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. Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall…" — The people didn't just doubt God's promise; they actively despised the land, preferring the familiar hardship of Egypt over the challenge of God's best. This reveals that unbelief isn't passive dou…
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Last reviewed October 2026
