Numbers 13:32 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Ten spies deliver a negative report, characterizing the land as destructive and its inhabitants as giants.
The Context of Numbers 13:32
The spies present a fearful, discouraging assessment of the land and its peoples.
What Does Numbers 13:32 Mean?
The spies transform their testimony from factual observation into a narrative of despair. They describe the land as consuming or hostile to its inhabitants—a stark reversal of their earlier affirmation of fertility. This characterization aims to dissuade Israel from attempting entry.
The phrase 'men of great stature' refers to giants, emphasizing the physical and military superiority the spies perceive in the inhabitants.
Numbers 13:32 in the Original Language
Evil report (דִּבַת־רָע), 'dibat-ra' — literally, an evil or bad report; the word emphasizes the testimony's negative character and its destructive intent.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 13:32
What does Numbers 13:32 mean?
Ten spies deliver a negative report, characterizing the land as destructive and its inhabitants as giants.
What is the context of Numbers 13:32?
The spies present a fearful, discouraging assessment of the land and its peoples.