Numbers 14:8 kjv
If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
Numbers 14:8 nkjv
If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.'
Numbers 14:8 niv
If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.
Numbers 14:8 esv
If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey.
Numbers 14:8 nlt
And if the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.
Numbers 14 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 13:27 | ...We came to the land to which you sent us; it flows with milk and honey. | Original spy report confirms land's richness. |
| Deut 7:7-8 | The Lord did not set His affection on you and choose you because... but out of His love... | God's choice and love as basis for delight. |
| Deut 6:10-11 | ...houses full of all good things, wells already dug...vineyards and olive trees... | Description of the ready inheritance. |
| Deut 8:7-9 | For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land... | God is the agent of entry to a good land. |
| Josh 1:3 | Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you... | Divine promise of land possession. |
| Heb 3:18-19 | And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who disobeyed? | Consequence of unbelief in the wilderness. |
| Ps 37:23 | The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. | God delights in righteous living. |
| 1 Chr 29:17 | I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. | God delights in integrity of heart. |
| Isa 62:4 | ...You shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord delights in you... | God's delight bringing blessings upon His people. |
| Mal 3:12 | "Then all nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a land of delight," says the Lord of hosts. | Delight in a land of divine blessing. |
| Ex 3:8 | So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey... | First mention of promised land's abundance. |
| Lev 20:24 | But I have said to you, ‘You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ | God's explicit gift of the abundant land. |
| Deut 27:3 | ...a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, promised you. | Fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. |
| Heb 4:1-11 | Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, lest anyone fall by the same example of disobedience. | The concept of "rest" and entering God's promises. |
| Rom 8:31 | If God is for us, who can be against us? | God's favor ensuring ultimate victory. |
| Judg 6:16 | The Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” | God's presence and power for overcoming obstacles. |
| Zech 8:13 | So I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong. | Command not to fear and be strengthened by God. |
| Matt 3:17 | And behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." | God's ultimate delight in His Son, Christ. |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. | God's strength enabling the believer. |
| 1 Sam 14:6 | ...For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few. | God's limitless power for salvation/victory. |
| 2 Cor 12:9 | My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. | God's power made manifest in human weakness. |
| Ps 147:11 | the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. | God's delight is connected to fear of God and trust. |
Numbers 14 verses
Numbers 14 8 Meaning
This verse declares that if the Lord God, in His sovereign pleasure and favor, delights in the Israelites, He will undoubtedly bring them into the promised land of Canaan and grant it to them as their inheritance. This land is specifically described as being exceedingly fertile and prosperous, a place of abundant provision. It acts as a counter-argument to the fear and disbelief sown by the ten spies, emphasizing divine will and favor as the true basis for Israel's success.
Numbers 14 8 Context
Numbers chapter 14 describes the pivotal moment at Kadesh Barnea where Israel stood at the threshold of the Promised Land. The preceding chapter, Numbers 13, details the sending of twelve spies into Canaan, who return with a report that instilled fear and unbelief in the congregation. While ten spies focused on the formidable inhabitants and fortified cities, only Joshua and Caleb gave a positive report, affirming God's power and promise to deliver the land into their hands. Verse 8 is Joshua and Caleb's fervent appeal to the frightened Israelites, urging them to trust in God's faithfulness and good intention. It directly challenges the nation's rising tide of rebellion and desire to return to Egypt, laying bare the choice between fear and faith. Historically, this generation’s failure to believe resulted in forty years of wilderness wandering and their exclusion from the Promised Land, serving as a solemn lesson on the consequences of unbelief and disobedience to God's will.
Numbers 14 8 Word analysis
- If: Introduces a condition, implying a requirement for God's delight. This is not a hypothetical "if God can", but rather "if He is pleased with us," emphasizing Israel's responsive posture of faith and obedience as critical.
- the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): This is the covenantal, personal name of God, revealing His self-existent, faithful, and promise-keeping character. It underlines that it is the God who delivered them from Egypt, who speaks and acts.
- delights (חָפֵץ - chaphets): Signifies deep pleasure, desire, inclination, or favor. It indicates a willing, joyful disposition on God's part. This isn't just tolerance but affection and pleasure, arising from His people's right relationship and response to Him (e.g., their faith and obedience).
- in us: Refers to the collective body of Israel. This delight is not arbitrary but contingent on their heart posture—specifically, their trust and obedience rather than rebellion and fear, contrasting them with the grumbling majority.
- then he will bring us: "Bring" (בּוֹא - bo) denotes movement and direction, God acting as the active agent, leading and enabling their entry. It’s a divine action, not solely a human effort.
- into this land: Points directly to Canaan, the specific geographical territory promised to Abraham's descendants. It reiterates the specific and tangible nature of God's covenant promise.
- and give it (נָתַן - nathan) to us: Emphasizes that the land is an inheritance, a sovereign gift from God. It's not something they conquer by their own strength but receive by divine grace and power.
- a land flowing (זָבַת - zavath) with milk (חָלָב - chalav) and honey (דְּבַשׁ - devash): This classic biblical idiom describes a land of exceptional fertility, richness, and abundant provision. It portrays an idyllic place, far surpassing the desert and contrasting the hardships of their current wandering with God’s intended blessing. It signifies ease, prosperity, and a life of natural abundance, the epitome of God's covenant blessings.
Numbers 14 8 Bonus section
- This verse stands as a powerful testament to the concept of God's enabling grace; it's not Israel's might or strategy that guarantees success, but God's deliberate pleasure and power.
- The "milk and honey" phrase not only denotes physical prosperity but symbolizes a life of deep spiritual fulfillment and peace, representing the rich inheritance found in God's presence and promises.
- Joshua and Caleb’s exhortation highlights the stark contrast between a human perspective that magnifies obstacles and a faith perspective that magnifies God's character and omnipotence.
- This passage foreshadows the New Testament concept that "the battle is the Lord's" (1 Sam 17:47) and that God empowers those in whom He delights, such as in the example of Gideon where God explicitly shows His favor by diminishing the army (Judg 7).
- The conditional "If" subtly carries a polemic against the pagan belief that human effort or offerings can compel divine favor; instead, God's delight arises from a covenant relationship, demanding trust and obedience.
Numbers 14 8 Commentary
Numbers 14:8 presents a foundational truth: God’s fulfillment of His promises is directly tied to His divine pleasure, which is often elicited by His people's faith and obedience. Caleb and Joshua correctly discerned that the major obstacle wasn't the Canaanite giants, but the spiritual giants of fear and unbelief within the Israelite camp. Their message posits a crucial conditional clause: "If the LORD delights in us." This delight stems not from Israel’s inherent merit, but from their faithful submission to God's will and reliance on His power. If their response honors Him, God's disposition toward them becomes one of favor and strong desire to act on their behalf. The land's description as "flowing with milk and honey" serves as a vivid assurance of God's complete provision, far exceeding human expectation or effort. It paints a picture of blessing that counters the negative reports and fear-mongering. The ultimate success and possession of blessings, therefore, hinge entirely on God's empowering presence and the nation's willingness to align their hearts with His pleasure.