Deuteronomy 1 28

Deuteronomy 1:28 kjv

Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

Deuteronomy 1:28 nkjv

Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, "The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there." '

Deuteronomy 1:28 niv

Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt in fear. They say, 'The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.'?"

Deuteronomy 1:28 esv

Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, "The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there."'

Deuteronomy 1:28 nlt

Where can we go? Our brothers have demoralized us with their report. They tell us, "The people of the land are taller and more powerful than we are, and their towns are large, with walls rising high into the sky! We even saw giants there ? the descendants of Anak!"'

Deuteronomy 1 verses

Deuteronomy 1 28 Meaning

Deuteronomy 1:28 records the fearful and faithless report delivered by the spies, as recounted by Moses, regarding the inhabitants and fortifications of the Promised Land. It captures the essence of the Israelites' despair and loss of courage at Kadesh Barnea, resulting from believing exaggerated claims of overwhelming enemy strength, particularly the presence of the Anakim giants and seemingly impregnable cities. This human-centric focus on obstacles, rather than God's promise and power, led to a deep discouragement among the people, preventing their immediate entry into the land.

Deuteronomy 1 28 Context

Deuteronomy 1:28 is part of Moses' opening address to the new generation of Israelites gathered on the plains of Moab, just before they are about to enter the Promised Land. This particular verse forms a crucial part of Moses' recounting of their history, specifically the pivotal events at Kadesh Barnea approximately forty years prior. Moses is reminding them of the disastrous outcome of their parents' lack of faith and rebellion when they sent twelve spies into Canaan. The chapter begins with Moses recalling God's command to leave Horeb (Sinai) and take possession of the land. It then details the selection of tribal leaders and the decision to send scouts. Verse 28 encapsulates the fearful report of those scouts, highlighting their focus on the overwhelming size and strength of the inhabitants and their fortifications, ultimately leading to the widespread discouragement and subsequent disobedience that condemned the first generation to wander and die in the wilderness. This serves as a potent warning and an object lesson for the generation now poised to cross the Jordan.

Deuteronomy 1 28 Word analysis

• "Where are we going up?" (אָנָה אֲנַחְנוּ עֹלִים? - Anah anachnu olim?): This rhetorical question, spoken by the disheartened people, reflects deep dismay and uncertainty. It's not merely asking for a direction, but questioning the wisdom and feasibility of the entire endeavor, betraying a complete loss of trust in divine guidance and promise. It implies an overwhelming sense of being trapped and directionless due to fear.
• "Our brethren" (אַחֵינוּ - achimenu): This refers to the ten spies who brought the discouraging report. The use of "brethren" emphasizes the close, trusted source of the debilitating news, highlighting the internal subversion of courage within the community, making the impact more potent and personal.
• "have discouraged our hearts" (הֵמַסּוּ אֶת־לְבָבֵנוּ - hemassu et-levavenu): The Hebrew verb "masas" (מָסַס) means to melt, dissolve, or cause to faint. It powerfully conveys a complete collapse of resolve, courage, and spirit, implying that their hearts literally "melted" in fear, rendering them incapable of action. This melting of courage left them vulnerable to doubt and disobedience.
• "The people are greater and taller than we" (גָדוֹל הָעָם וְרָם מִמֶּנּוּ - gadol ha'am ve'ram mimmenu): This illustrates a comparison focused solely on human capability and size, exaggerating the enemy's might relative to their own perceived weakness. This emphasis on physical superiority underscores the intimidation and a complete failure to factor in God's power.
• "the cities are great and fortified to heaven" (עָרִים גְּדֹלֹת וּבְצֻרוֹת בַּשָּׁמַיִם - arim gedolot u'betzurot bashamayim): This is hyperbole, an intentional exaggeration to express the perceived impossibility of conquering these cities. Similar language (like in Gen 11:4 concerning the Tower of Babel) suggests an aspiration to reach impregnable heights. It denotes an 'unassailable' defense in human terms, demonstrating the depth of their despair and misperception of reality, failing to account for a God who brings down the loftiest structures.
• "and moreover, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there." (וְגַם־בְּנֵי עֲנָק רָאִינוּ שָׁם - vegam b'nei Anak rainu sham): The Anakim (lit. "long-necked" or "giants") were a race known for their imposing stature and strength, frequently mentioned as a terrifying presence (Num 13:33). Their very name was synonymous with overwhelming and unconquerable might. Their presence was the ultimate point of terror, meant to finalize the sense of futility among the Israelites.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Where are we going up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts,": This phrase group shifts focus from an external command to an internal collapse. It reflects the deep questioning of God's direction, amplified by the treachery of the "brethren," leading to utter loss of resolve. This points to the destructive power of fear disseminated from within the community.
• "'The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified to heaven; and moreover, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.'": This entire quote forms a composite picture of human-centric fear and distorted perception. Each element—giant people, impregnable cities, specific mention of Anakim—builds upon the last to construct an overwhelming obstacle in the human mind, deliberately omitting any consideration of God's promises or power. It portrays the spies' (and thus the people's) perspective as being entirely fixed on visible, physical challenges rather than invisible, divine power.

Deuteronomy 1 28 Bonus section

This specific historical failure, particularly the role of the spies' report in melting the people's hearts, became a pivotal lesson for future generations of Israelites and a common warning cited in the New Testament against the dangers of unbelief and hardening one's heart (as seen notably in Hebrews 3-4). The phrase "fortified to heaven" showcases an ancient Hebrew literary device used for hyperbole, expressing insurmountable human difficulty. While an exaggeration, it powerfully conveys the psychological impact on a people who saw their perceived weakness against such odds as a death sentence, failing to recall the God who parted the Red Sea and shattered Pharaoh's army. The fear of the Anakim highlights the spiritual battle within physical conquests; it wasn't just about armies, but overcoming deeply entrenched psychological and spiritual intimidation tactics by the enemy, which the Israelites failed to do on this occasion. Moses’ re-telling of this event is strategic: it functions as both a rebuke and a preventative measure, imploring the new generation not to repeat their forefathers' tragic mistake of succumbing to fear and distrust.

Deuteronomy 1 28 Commentary

Deuteronomy 1:28 vividly captures the turning point in Israel's wilderness journey when their faith faltered disastrously. The verse illustrates the immediate and crushing effect of a report rooted in fear rather than trust in God. The spies, meant to bring back intelligence, instead spread demoralization by exaggerating the strength of the Canaanites and their defenses, symbolized by the "fortified to heaven" cities and the terrifying Anakim. This narrative demonstrates the destructive power of unbelief; by focusing solely on human limitations and giant obstacles, the Israelites negated God's omnipotence and faithfulness, despite His consistent miracles leading them from Egypt. Their fear not only paralyzed them but also fueled rebellion against divine command, leading to the severe consequence of forty years of wilderness wandering, postponing the promise. This incident serves as a timeless warning that an exaggerated view of difficulties, coupled with a minimized view of God, inevitably leads to despair, disobedience, and the forfeiture of blessings.