Deuteronomy 2:14 Meaning and Explanation
“And the space in which we came from Kadeshbarnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the LORD sware unto them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Thirty-eight years elapsed from leaving Kadesh-barnea until crossing the Zered, fulfilling God's judgment that the wilderness generation would not enter Canaan.
The Context of Deuteronomy 2:14
The forty-year wilderness period ends as the last of the condemned generation dies.
What Does Deuteronomy 2:14 Mean?
This verse anchors the narrative to a specific timeline. Kadesh-barnea was the location where Israel first refused to enter Canaan due to fear of giants (Numbers 13-14). God's response was that the entire adult generation would die in the wilderness—a judgment that took thirty-eight years to be fully executed. The crossing of the Zered marks the completion of this generational transition.
The phrase 'as the LORD sware unto them' emphasizes that God's judgment was not capricious but a declared consequence of rejecting His word. This generational turnover was not a tragedy disconnected from human choice but a covenant consequence. Yet it also demonstrates God's patience: He gave those forty years for the people to learn obedience and prepare for entry into the land.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deuteronomy 2:14
What does Deuteronomy 2:14 mean?
Thirty-eight years elapsed from leaving Kadesh-barnea until crossing the Zered, fulfilling God's judgment that the wilderness generation would not enter Canaan.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 2:14?
The forty-year wilderness period ends as the last of the condemned generation dies.