Numbers 13:3 kjv
And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.
Numbers 13:3 nkjv
So Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran according to the command of the LORD, all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel.
Numbers 13:3 niv
So at the LORD's command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites.
Numbers 13:3 esv
So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the LORD, all of them men who were heads of the people of Israel.
Numbers 13:3 nlt
So Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He sent out twelve men, all tribal leaders of Israel, from their camp in the wilderness of Paran.
Numbers 13 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 13:1-2 | The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Send men to spy out the land..." | Divine initiative to send spies. |
| Num 10:12 | The sons of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud settled down in the Wilderness of Paran. | Location of Israel's encampment. |
| Num 12:16 | Afterward the people set out from Hazeroth and camped in the Wilderness of Paran. | Preceding location and journey to Paran. |
| Deut 1:22 | "Then all of you came near to me and said, ‘Let us send men ahead...’" | People's request also played a role. |
| Exod 18:21 | "Moreover, you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers..." | Importance of selecting capable leaders. |
| Num 1:4, 16 | "And with you there shall be a man from each tribe, each head of his father's house." ... "These were the ones chosen from the congregation, heads of the tribes..." | Definition of "heads" or leaders. |
| Num 7:2 | The leaders of Israel, the heads of fathers' houses... brought offerings. | Examples of "heads" acting as representatives. |
| Gen 12:7 | Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." | God's foundational promise of the land. |
| Exod 3:8 | "I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up... to a good and broad land..." | God's intention to bring them to the land. |
| Deut 1:8 | "See, I have set the land before you. Go in and possess the land..." | Command to enter and possess the land. |
| Josh 1:2 | "Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, cross this Jordan... to the land that I am giving to them..." | Reiteration of divine land promise. |
| Josh 3:17 | Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground... | Entering the land years later due to delay. |
| Deut 8:2 | "You shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, testing you..." | Wilderness as a place of testing. |
| Heb 3:12, 19 | See to it, brothers, that there isn't in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart... So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. | Israel's unbelief as the reason for failure. |
| Heb 4:11 | Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. | Warning against repeating their unbelief. |
| Deut 4:6 | Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom... so that when they hear all these statutes, they will say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." | The importance of obeying God's commands. |
| Exod 19:5 | "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant..." | Covenant established on obedience. |
| Jer 35:16 | "For the sons of Rechab have performed the command of their father..." | Contrast highlighting obedience to a command. |
| John 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | New Testament principle of obedience. |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God... | God-given authority in leadership. |
Numbers 13 verses
Numbers 13 3 Meaning
This verse details the dispatch of twelve spies by Moses into Canaan, explicitly stating that this action was not arbitrary but directly aligned with the divine instruction from the Lord. These chosen men were not ordinary individuals but specifically selected leaders, "heads of the sons of Israel," indicating their authoritative and representative roles within their respective tribes. Their journey began from the Wilderness of Paran, marking a pivotal moment in Israel's wilderness wanderings just before their intended entry into the Promised Land.
Numbers 13 3 Context
Numbers chapter 13 marks a crucial juncture in Israel's journey from Egyptian slavery to the Promised Land. After two years of wandering and organization at Mount Sinai, the Israelites arrive at Kadesh-Barnea, located in or near the Wilderness of Paran. This is their moment to enter the land promised to their patriarchs. The immediate context of verse 3 is the Lord's command to Moses (Num 13:1-2) to send twelve men, one from each ancestral tribe, to scout the land of Canaan. Historically, this reconnaissance mission was a significant test of Israel's faith. Their subsequent reaction to the spies' report (detailed in Numbers 14) directly led to God's judgment of forty years of wilderness wandering, preventing that generation from entering Canaan. The decision to send men, the type of men chosen, and the specific location all underscore the gravity and the pivotal nature of this event for the destiny of the nation.
Numbers 13 3 Word analysis
- So Moses sent them: The verb "sent" (Hebrew: שָׁלַח, shalach) implies commissioning with a specific purpose and authority. Moses acts as the divinely appointed intermediary, faithfully executing the Lord's directive, underscoring his obedience and role in leading Israel.
- from the Wilderness of Paran: (Hebrew: מִדְבַּר פָּארָן, midbar Pa'aran) "Midbar" signifies a desolate or pasture region, not necessarily barren but uninhabited by settled peoples. Paran was a significant and expansive desert region that bordered Canaan on the south, serving as Israel's encampment and point of departure for the spying mission. This location highlights their immediate proximity to the Promised Land, marking a threshold moment.
- according to the command of the Lord: (Hebrew: עַל־פִּי יְהוָה, al-piy YHWH) This phrase literally means "at the mouth of the Lord," signifying a direct, authoritative, and non-negotiable instruction from God Himself. It emphasizes divine initiative and endorsement for the mission, despite the people also requesting spies (Deut 1:22). This underscores that the specific manner and commissioning of these spies was God's direct order.
- all of them men: Emphasizes the specific selection criteria, highlighting that only males were chosen for this reconnaissance, indicating the physically demanding and perhaps military nature of the task. It signifies that the selection was intentional and limited to those considered capable for such a mission.
- who were heads: (Hebrew: רָאשִׁים, rashim, from רֹאשׁ rosh, meaning "head" or "chief") These were not merely individuals but tribal leaders or chiefs. This term indicates their representative capacity and standing within their tribes, signifying their authority, responsibility, and the weight given to their report back to the whole assembly.
- of the sons of Israel: (Hebrew: בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, b'nei Yisrael) This refers to the entire Israelite nation, descended from Jacob (Israel). It stresses that these "heads" represented the entirety of God's covenant people, making their subsequent actions and the people's response consequences for the entire nation.
- "So Moses sent them ... according to the command of the Lord": This phrase highlights the divine mandate behind Moses' actions. Moses is not acting on his own initiative but as God's obedient servant. This fact significantly magnifies the later failure of the people to trust the Lord's word, as their lack of faith effectively challenged a directly given divine instruction.
- "from the Wilderness of Paran ... heads of the sons of Israel": This pairing points to a momentous event taking place at a critical geographic and spiritual transition point. From the arduous journey of the wilderness, represented by Paran, authoritative leaders are dispatched. This decision affects the entire congregation of Israel and determines their immediate future regarding entering the land of promise. The wilderness context, often a place of testing, sets the stage for the unfolding narrative of faith and doubt.
Numbers 13 3 Bonus section
While Deuteronomy 1:22 suggests the idea of sending spies initially came from the people ("Then all of you came near to me and said, 'Let us send men ahead of us to explore the land for us...'"), Numbers 13:1-3 firmly establishes that the sending itself was ultimately "according to the command of the Lord." This subtle interplay suggests divine permission for a human request, perhaps integrating their desire into His sovereign plan, or specifically guiding the nature of the spying mission to include leaders. This moment served not just as an intelligence gathering mission, but as a critical trial for Israel's faith. It was a test of whether they truly believed God could fulfill His promise of giving them the land, even when facing formidable challenges. Their subsequent failure, rooted in unbelief despite seeing God's power repeatedly, serves as a poignant lesson for all generations about trusting in God's faithfulness over immediate perception or fear.
Numbers 13 3 Commentary
Numbers 13:3 describes the specific launch of the twelve spies' mission, emphasizing its divine origin and the distinguished status of the men selected. This verse establishes that the expedition was neither a human innovation nor a mere suggestion, but a direct divine command transmitted through Moses, serving as a critical test of Israel's faith in God's promises. The "Wilderness of Paran" signals their readiness to enter Canaan, while the designation of the spies as "heads of the sons of Israel" underscores their representative authority and the national significance of their undertaking and eventual report. The subsequent tragic outcome stems directly from a failure to trust God, highlighting that even under direct divine command, human unbelief can lead to devastating consequences for God's people.