Numbers 14:24 kjv
But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
Numbers 14:24 nkjv
But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.
Numbers 14:24 niv
But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.
Numbers 14:24 esv
But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.
Numbers 14:24 nlt
But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land.
Numbers 14 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 13:30 | 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." | Caleb's confident faith |
| Num 32:11–12 | "Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and upward...except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD." | Confirms Caleb and Joshua's loyalty |
| Deut 1:35–36 | "Not one of these men, this evil generation...except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the LORD." | God's oath and promise repeated |
| Josh 14:6–9 | The people of Judah came to Joshua...Caleb said, "I was forty years old...I brought him word again as it was in my heart...surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever..." | Caleb remembers promise to Moses |
| Josh 14:10–12 | "Now behold, the LORD has kept me alive...I am this day eighty-five years old...Give me therefore this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day..." | Caleb claims his inheritance in faith |
| Josh 14:13–14 | Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance...Because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel. | Fulfillment of God's promise to Caleb |
| Judg 1:20 | And they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said, and he expelled from there the three sons of Anak. | Caleb’s successful possession of Hebron |
| Psa 78:6–8 | ...that the coming generation might know them...that they should put their confidence in God...and not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation... | Contrast to Israel’s rebellion |
| Psa 106:24–26 | Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise. They grumbled...so he swore to them that he would make them fall in the wilderness. | Consequences of lack of faith |
| Heb 3:7–12 | ...today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion...Beware, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. | Warning against unbelief/disobedience |
| Heb 3:17–19 | And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. | Israel’s unbelief as the reason for exclusion |
| Heb 4:1–2 | Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands...For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. | Faith is key to entering God's rest |
| Rom 1:5 | ...through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations... | Emphasizes importance of obedient faith |
| Rom 4:20–21 | No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. | Abraham’s faith as a parallel to Caleb’s |
| Gal 5:22–23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control... | The "different spirit" linked to character |
| 1 Cor 10:11 | Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. | Old Testament examples for believers |
| 2 Tim 4:7–8 | I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness... | Reward for faithful endurance |
| Rev 2:10 | Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. | Divine promise for faithfulness |
| Deut 5:32 | You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. | Admonition to follow fully |
| Deut 6:5 | You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. | Heartfelt devotion |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | ...Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. | Obedience valued above ritual |
Numbers 14 verses
Numbers 14 24 Meaning
Numbers 14:24 highlights God's unique commendation and unwavering promise to His servant Caleb. Despite the widespread rebellion and fear among the Israelites, Caleb exhibited an extraordinary and resolute spirit, faithfully and wholeheartedly following the Lord. Because of this unwavering devotion, God promised that Caleb would enter and inherit the promised land, a privilege denied to the rest of his rebellious generation, and that his descendants would also possess the inheritance.
Numbers 14 24 Context
Numbers chapter 14 describes the culmination of Israel's journey from Egypt to the edge of the promised land. Moses sent twelve spies, one from each tribe, into Canaan. Ten returned with a terrifying report, emphasizing the strength of the inhabitants and their fortified cities, expressing extreme doubt in God's ability to deliver them. They instilled fear and panic in the people, leading the congregation to grumble against the Lord, propose returning to Egypt, and even threaten to stone Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb. This collective act of rebellion and unbelief profoundly grieved and angered God. Numbers 14:24 is God's specific declaration of Caleb's vindication and reward amidst the severe judgment pronounced on the rest of the generation (verses 20-23 and 26-35) for their profound lack of faith and rebellion against His promise to give them the land. Caleb, along with Joshua, stood firm in faith, trusting in God's power despite the overwhelming odds.
Numbers 14 24 Word analysis
- But My servant Caleb (וְעַבְדִּי כָלֵב, v’avdi Calev): "Servant" (‘eved) is a title of honor in the Bible, signifying deep devotion, loyalty, and intimate relationship with God (e.g., Moses, Abraham, David). Calling Caleb "My servant" elevates him and distinguishes him from the rebellious congregation, highlighting God's personal endorsement and approval of his character.
- because he has had a different spirit in him (אֲשֶׁר הָיְתָה רוּחַ אַחֶרֶת עִמּוֹ, ’asher hayetah ruach ’acheret immo):
- Ruach (רוּחַ): Means "wind," "breath," or "spirit." Here, it refers to an inner disposition, attitude, or character.
- Acheret (אַחֶרֶת): Means "other" or "different."
- This "different spirit" signifies a disposition distinct from that of the ten unfaithful spies and the grumbling congregation. It was a spirit of faith, courage, obedience, and trust in God's power and promise, contrasted with their spirit of fear, doubt, and rebellion. This spirit enabled Caleb to see possibilities where others saw obstacles, rooted in his conviction of God’s faithfulness. It points to an inner transformation or empowerment that enabled steadfastness.
- and has followed Me fully (וַיְמַלֵּא אַחֲרָי, vay’malle’ acharay):
- Vay’malle’ from mala’ (מָלֵא): Means "to be full," "to fill," "to complete."
- Acharay (אַחֲרָי): Means "after me," "behind me."
- Literally, "and he filled after Me" or "he completed behind Me." This idiomatic expression signifies following with full purpose, wholeheartedly, completely, and without reservation or turning aside. It denotes total commitment, undivided loyalty, and perseverance in obedience. It stands in stark contrast to the wavering and unfaithful attitude of the Israelites.
- I will bring into the land which he entered (וַהֲבִאֹתִיו אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר בָּא שָׁמָּה, vaha'vi'oti’v el-ha’aretz ’asher ba’ shammah): "I will bring" shows divine agency and assurance. The specific mention "the land which he entered" refers to Canaan, the very land he scouted as a spy, validating his truthful report about its goodness and God's power to conquer it. It's a direct fulfillment of his faithful reconnaissance.
- and his descendants shall possess it (וְזַרְעוֹ יוֹרִשֶׁנָּה, v’zar‘o yorishannah):
- Zar‘o (וְזַרְעוֹ): "His seed," "his offspring," "his descendants."
- Yorishannah (יוֹרִשֶׁנָּה): "Shall inherit it" or "shall possess it."
- This signifies that the promise is not only for Caleb but also for his lineage, securing his family's enduring legacy within the promised land. It underscores the covenantal nature of God’s blessing, often extending across generations. It points to a complete and lasting reward for his faithfulness.
Words-Group analysis: The verse powerfully links Caleb's internal disposition ("different spirit") with his external actions ("followed Me fully") as the basis for God's specific, gracious promise of inheritance ("I will bring... and his descendants shall possess"). It underscores the biblical principle that a faithful heart translates into wholehearted obedience, leading to divine favor and blessings, contrasting with the severe consequences of unbelief and rebellion seen in the rest of the generation.
Numbers 14 24 Bonus section
This verse offers powerful insights into God's character and the principles of His kingdom. It demonstrates that God's assessment of an individual goes beyond external circumstances to the condition of the heart, the "spirit." Caleb's distinctive spirit wasn't a natural attribute but a divinely inspired one, shaped by a living faith in God's omnipotence and faithfulness, contrasting with the spirit of the world often characterized by fear and doubt. The phrase "followed Me fully" suggests a spiritual completeness and adherence that embodies Deuteronomy 6:5, to "love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." This radical devotion ensures not just personal salvation but also an inheritance that blesses future generations. It's a potent reminder for believers that unwavering fidelity in the face of spiritual challenges leads to divine favor and the fulfillment of God's promises, enabling one to conquer spiritual "giants" and claim the "high places" (Josh 14:12-15) of their divine inheritance. Caleb’s journey from spying the land to actively possessing it decades later, driven by the same faithful spirit, is a testament to perseverance in faith until the promise is fully realized.
Numbers 14 24 Commentary
Numbers 14:24 is a profound declaration of God's favor and steadfastness in rewarding true faith and singular devotion. In the midst of collective unbelief and the impending judgment upon a rebellious generation, Caleb stands out as an exception. His "different spirit" was not merely stubbornness but an unyielding, Spirit-empowered conviction that trusted God's power above human limitations or perceived dangers. This internal disposition manifested externally as "following God fully," signifying complete obedience and undivided loyalty. This wholeheartedly commitment, contrasting sharply with the fearful hearts of the majority, became the bedrock for God's solemn oath to grant Caleb entry into the promised land and ensure his descendants’ inheritance. It serves as a timeless principle that faithfulness to God, even when walking contrary to popular opinion, secures divine promises and blessings. Caleb’s example demonstrates that while a whole generation might fall due to unbelief, individual righteousness and faith are not forgotten by God.