Numbers 13 30

Numbers 13:30 kjv

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Numbers 13:30 nkjv

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it."

Numbers 13:30 niv

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."

Numbers 13:30 esv

But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, "Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it."

Numbers 13:30 nlt

But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. "Let's go at once to take the land," he said. "We can certainly conquer it!"

Numbers 13 verses

Numbers 13 30 Meaning

Numbers 13:30 reveals a pivotal moment where Caleb, driven by faith in God's promises, confronts the fear and doubt spreading among the Israelite congregation. Amidst the terrifying report of the other spies concerning the formidable inhabitants of Canaan, Caleb boldly encourages the people to immediately proceed and conquer the land, confidently stating that they possess the necessary ability, which implicitly refers to God's empowering presence. His declaration directly challenges the prevailing narrative of impossibility and reaffirms divine omnipotence and faithfulness.

Numbers 13 30 Context

Numbers chapter 13 describes Moses sending twelve spies, one leader from each tribe, to explore the land of Canaan. Their mission was to gather information on the land's fertility, its inhabitants' strength and number, their cities, and the local conditions. After forty days, they returned, confirming the land's fruitfulness but, crucially, delivering a report that filled the Israelite community with terror. Ten of the spies emphasized the colossal physical stature of the inhabitants, portraying them as giants (the Anakim) and their cities as heavily fortified, making conquest seem impossible from a human perspective.

Verse 30 directly follows this fearful report. Caleb, along with Joshua, held a contrasting perspective rooted in faith in God's promises and power. In this verse, Caleb takes immediate action to quiet the panic and speak a message of courage and capability, recognizing that their strength was not their own but God's. This moment is the climax of the reconnaissance mission, leading to the decisive response of the people in the next chapter, ultimately resulting in their forty-year wilderness wandering due to widespread unbelief. Historically, Israel stood on the brink of inheriting the land promised to Abraham generations prior, making this test of faith critically significant for their destiny.

Numbers 13 30 Word analysis

• "But Caleb": (Hebrew: וַיַּהַס כָּלֵב - Wayyahas Kālēḇ)
  • "Caleb" (כָּלֵב Kālēḇ): This name can mean "dog" (implying faithfulness, loyalty, or even zeal) or be derived from a root meaning "wholehearted" or "all heart." In the biblical narrative, his character strongly supports the "wholehearted" interpretation, emphasizing his singular devotion and obedience to the Lord, distinguishing him from the fearful majority. He belonged to the tribe of Judah, which later became the tribe of kingship, further highlighting his leadership qualities.
• "quieted": (Hebrew: וַיַּהַס - wayyahas) Derived from the verb הָסַס hasas, meaning "to hush," "silence," "calm," or "cause to cease." This indicates Caleb's powerful presence and authority, able to momentarily bring a noisy, agitated crowd under control, preparing them to hear an opposing viewpoint. It wasn't just speaking over them, but actively suppressing their clamor.
• "the people": (Hebrew: אֶת־ הָעָם - ’eṯ- hā‘ām) Refers to the whole assembly of Israel, who were becoming agitated and disheartened by the negative report. Caleb recognized the impending panic and acted quickly to stem its tide.
• "before Moses": (Hebrew: אֶל־ מֹשֶׁה - ’el- Mōšeh) Signifies a public action, undertaken with Moses's knowledge and, implicitly, his support. Caleb wasn't acting subversively but upholding the divine command given through Moses. This also shows respect for established leadership.
• "and said": (Hebrew: וַיֹּאמֶר - wayyō’mer) A simple yet powerful conjunction, introducing his direct and firm declaration.
• "Let us go up at once": (Hebrew: עָלֹה נַעֲלֶה - ‘ālōh na‘aleh) This is an emphatic Hebrew construction known as the infinitive absolute (עָלֹה ‘ālōh) used with the finite verb of the same root (נַעֲלֶה na‘aleh, "we will go up"). It translates to "we will surely go up," "we must certainly go up," or "we will by all means go up." It expresses absolute conviction, immediate resolve, and no hesitation. "Go up" reflects both the geographical ascent into the elevated land of Canaan and the act of conquest. "At once" emphasizes urgency and faith-driven action, countering the idea of delay born of fear.
• "and take possession of it": (Hebrew: וְיָרַשְׁנוּ אֹתָהּ - wəyārašnū ’ōtāh) From the verb יָרַשׁ yarash, meaning "to inherit," "take possession," or "dispossess." This phrase directly alludes to God's repeated covenant promise to give the land to Abraham's descendants. Caleb confidently asserts that they are capable of dispossessing the current inhabitants, implying divine enablement, not just their own military prowess. "It" refers to the entire Promised Land.
• "for we are well able to overcome it": (Hebrew: כִּי־ יָכוֹל נוּכַל לָהּ - kî- yākôl nûḵal lāh) Another emphatic infinitive absolute construction. The word יָכוֹל yakol means "to be able," "to be capable," or "to overcome." This doubles the emphasis on their capability: "we are certainly able to overcome it," or "we shall surely prevail against it." This statement is not based on their human strength or military might, which was inferior, but on the power and faithfulness of God who had already brought them out of Egypt and sustained them in the wilderness. It is a declaration of faith, directly challenging the despairing report of the ten spies. Caleb views the task not through the lens of human limitation but through the lens of God's limitless power.

Numbers 13 30 Bonus section

• Caleb's "different spirit" mentioned in Numbers 14:24 is directly evidenced in his resolute stance in verse 30. This distinctive faith set him apart from the rest of his generation, except for Joshua.
• This passage serves as a cautionary tale repeatedly referenced in the New Testament (e.g., Hebrews 3 and 4) regarding the perils of unbelief and the importance of holding fast to God's promises for spiritual rest and inheritance.
• Caleb, despite the majority report, focused on God's divine mandate and power, effectively performing a spiritual audit rather than merely a physical one.
• His reward for this unshakeable faith was seeing the Promised Land and, significantly, receiving Hebron as his personal inheritance decades later, even driving out the descendants of Anak himself as recounted in Joshua 14. This fulfills the implicit claim of "we are well able to overcome it."

Numbers 13 30 Commentary

Numbers 13:30 stands as a monument to unwavering faith amidst overwhelming fear. Caleb's leadership shines brightly as he, with Joshua, defies the popular opinion, which was swiftly degenerating into rebellion. He demonstrates courage, not in the absence of fear, but in choosing to trust God above the terrifying realities reported by the other spies. His decisive "Let us go up at once and take possession of it; for we are well able to overcome it" is a testament to perceiving circumstances through the eyes of God's covenant promises rather than through human inadequacy. This moment reveals the stark difference between a perspective founded on faith and one consumed by sight and worldly assessment. Caleb’s confident assertion of "we are well able" was not based on his military analysis of giants or fortified cities, but on his full knowledge and trust in the God who promised to fight for Israel and had repeatedly shown His power. This verse encapsulates a critical test of faith for a nascent nation, the outcome of which would profoundly shape their immediate destiny and provide a lasting biblical lesson on the dangers of unbelief versus the triumph of divine faithfulness.