Deuteronomy 1:25 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

Deuteronomy 1:25 kjv

And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which the LORD our God doth give us.

Deuteronomy 1:25 nkjv

They also took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they brought back word to us, saying, 'It is a good land which the LORD our God is giving us.'

Deuteronomy 1:25 niv

Taking with them some of the fruit of the land, they brought it down to us and reported, "It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us."

Deuteronomy 1:25 esv

And they took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us, and brought us word again and said, 'It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us.'

Deuteronomy 1:25 nlt

They picked some of its fruit and brought it back to us. And they reported, 'The land the LORD our God has given us is indeed a good land.'

Deuteronomy 1 25 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
Num 13:23-27	And they came unto the brook of Eshcol... and they brought it to us... Surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.	The spies bringing back fruit and a positive report.
Num 14:1-4	And all the congregation lifted up their voice... Wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword...?	The people's fear and rebellion despite the good report.
Deut 8:7-9	For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water... a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees...	Description of the land's abundance, reinforcing its goodness.
Gen 12:7	Unto thy seed will I give this land...	God's original promise of the land to Abraham.
Gen 15:18	Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:	God reiterates the covenant of the land to Abraham.
Exod 3:8	And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey...	God's intention to bring Israel to a good land.
Josh 2:24	And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the country; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.	Echoes of assurance that God would give the land, from a later generation.
Ps 106:24-25	Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word: But murmured in their tents...	Israel's sin of despising the promised land and not believing God.
Heb 3:18-19	And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.	The ultimate consequence of the first generation's unbelief.
Heb 4:6	Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:	Reiterates that unbelief prevented entry into God's rest/land.
Jude 1:5	...how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.	A New Testament summary of the fate of the unbelieving generation.
Matt 7:11	If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?	God's willingness to give good gifts, reflecting His character as provider.
Jas 1:17	Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights...	Affirms God as the source of all good things, aligning with "good land... the Lord... doth give us."
Rom 11:20	Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:	A warning against unbelief and an emphasis on faith to stand.
1 Cor 10:5-6	But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things...	The wilderness generation as a warning for future generations.
Deut 6:10-11	And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers... houses full of all good things...	Emphasizes God's provision of pre-prepared good things in the land.
Lev 20:24	But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey...	God directly promises the land as an inheritance flowing with abundance.
Jer 2:7	And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land...	Later prophet acknowledging God's bringing them to a good, fruitful land.
Neh 9:25	And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods... and trees of all sorts for their food: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat...	Reflects the actual experience of later generations enjoying the abundance God promised.
Acts 7:36-39	This is that Moses, which said... Our fathers would not obey... but in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,	Stephen's sermon recalling Israel's rebellion and rejection of God's ways despite His faithfulness.

Deuteronomy 1 verses

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Deuteronomy 1 25 Meaning

Deuteronomy 1:25 recounts the report of the Israelite spies regarding the Promised Land. This verse captures their positive initial assessment, highlighting that they presented tangible evidence—fruit from the land—and affirmed its goodness and fruitfulness. Crucially, they declared that this good land was a divine gift from "the Lord our God," emphasizing His faithfulness and benevolent provision before the subsequent widespread rebellion of unbelief among the people.

Deuteronomy 1 25 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 1 serves as the beginning of Moses' address to the new generation of Israelites, preparing to enter the Promised Land. He recounts significant historical events, emphasizing God's faithfulness and Israel's past failures, as a means of instruction and warning. This specific verse (Deut 1:25) is part of Moses' recollection of the fateful spy mission from Kadesh Barnea (Numbers 13-14), approximately forty years prior. He highlights the initial positive report of the spies, who confirmed the land's immense goodness and abundance. This starkly contrasts with the fear-driven, faithless report from the ten spies (which opposed the two faithful ones, Caleb and Joshua) and the subsequent widespread rebellion of the first generation. Moses presents this initial affirmation of the land's quality and its divine source to underscore the gravity of their forefathers' unbelief, which led to their prolonged wilderness wanderings and ultimately their demise. The broader context of Deuteronomy emphasizes obedience to God's commands as essential for inheriting and thriving in the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 1 25 Word analysis

And they took: Refers to the spies, specifically all twelve sent out (Num 13:3). The active verb "took" (`lāqăḥ`) emphasizes a deliberate act of retrieval, implying proof and witness.
of the fruit: Hebrew: `peri` (פְּרִי). Signifies the produce or yield of the land. In Num 13:23, it specifically refers to grapes, pomegranates, and figs. This concrete evidence was tangible, irrefutable proof of the land's fertility and abundance.
of the land: Hebrew: `eretz` (אֶרֶץ). Refers to Canaan, the specific geographical territory promised by God. This is not just any land but the inheritance explicitly designated by divine covenant.
in their hands: Emphasizes direct, personal interaction and the physical carrying of the evidence. It highlights the eyewitness nature of their testimony; they saw, they collected, they brought it.
and brought it down unto us: "Brought it down" refers to their descent from the elevated terrain of Canaan to the Israelite encampment at Kadesh Barnea, situated in a lower, desert region. This underscores the spies' diligent work and delivery of their findings.
and brought us word again: This signifies their verbal report, their testimony about the land. The verb `šûḇ` (שוב) often means "to return" or "turn back," indicating the completion of their mission and the delivery of their findings to the people.
and said: Introduces their spoken declaration.
It is a good land: Hebrew: `ṭôb` (טוֹב). This adjective describes the land as more than just productive or fertile; it implies excellence, pleasantness, beauty, and that it is blessed by God. This positive initial assessment highlights the land's desirability and God's benevolent provision. It directly counters the later negative report (Num 13:32) claiming it devoured inhabitants.
which the Lord: Hebrew: `YHWH` (יְהוָה). This is the personal, covenant name of God, revealing His specific relationship with Israel. It emphasizes that the land is not a prize of human conquest but a gift from their divine covenant partner.
our God: Hebrew: `’Elohim` (אֱלֹהִים), here specifically `’Elohêna` (אֱלֹהֵ֫ינוּ) "our God." Reinforces the unique covenantal relationship between God and Israel, confirming that this blessing flows from their faithful and powerful God.
doth give us: Hebrew: `nāṯan` (נָתַן). The verb "give" emphasizes that the land is a divine grant, a gift rooted in God's faithful promise to Abraham and his descendants (Gen 12:7, 15:18). It's a testament to His grace and sovereign design, contrasting with any human achievement or struggle for it.

took of the fruit of the land: This phrase presents a powerful, undeniable sensory confirmation of the Promised Land's agricultural abundance. The fruit served as physical evidence that God’s description of a “land flowing with milk and honey” was truthful and observable, directly addressing any doubt about the land’s capacity to sustain a large population.
brought it down unto us, and brought us word again: This indicates the comprehensive nature of the spies’ report—they provided both tangible proof (the fruit) and verbal testimony. It signifies a full and verifiable accounting of their reconnaissance, designed to build confidence in God's promise.
It is a good land which the Lord our God doth give us: This complete statement is the core of the verse’s theological message. It emphatically declares the land’s inherent quality as blessed (`good`) and clearly attributes its provision to God's benevolent action (`doth give us`), stemming from His covenant relationship (`the Lord our God`). This initial unanimous report directly affirms God's character and promises, making the subsequent national rebellion rooted in unbelief even more culpable. It establishes the theological framework that God is faithful and generous.

Deuteronomy 1 25 Bonus section

The very act of carrying back "fruit" from the land—particularly the large cluster of grapes from the Valley of Eshcol (Num 13:23-24)—was designed to excite hope and faith among the Israelites, visually demonstrating the land's fertility which contrasted sharply with the harsh desert environment.
This positive report of the land's "goodness" serves as a direct indictment of the first generation's later rebellion. They had concrete proof of God's provision, yet chose to believe in giants and impossible obstacles rather than their faithful God.
The phrase "the Lord our God doth give us" explicitly attributes the inheritance of the land to divine grace and sovereignty, counteracting any humanistic claim or the idea that success depends solely on military might. It reinforces God's unique identity as Israel's covenant Lord.

Deuteronomy 1 25 Commentary

Deuteronomy 1:25 provides a pivotal snapshot of the initial, truthful report delivered by all the spies about the Promised Land. This verse underscores the irrefutable evidence—the abundant fruit they physically carried—which confirmed that Canaan was indeed a "good land." More profoundly, it highlights the theological understanding of its source: "the Lord our God doth give us." This acknowledgement confirms God's faithful covenant relationship and His generous provision, establishing that the land was not merely conquered by human strength but received as a divine gift. The unanimous agreement on the land's quality before fear clouded judgment serves as Moses' poignant reminder to the new generation that their forefathers' unbelief stemmed not from a lack of evidence of God's blessing, but from a failure to trust God's ability to fulfill His promise in the face of obstacles. It emphasizes that genuine faith rests not just on the visible "goodness" but on the faithfulness of the Giver.