Numbers 26:65 kjv
For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
Numbers 26:65 nkjv
For the LORD had said of them, "They shall surely die in the wilderness." So there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.
Numbers 26:65 niv
For the LORD had told those Israelites they would surely die in the wilderness, and not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
Numbers 26:65 esv
For the LORD had said of them, "They shall die in the wilderness." Not one of them was left, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.
Numbers 26:65 nlt
For the LORD had said of them, "They will all die in the wilderness." Not one of them survived except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
Numbers 26 65 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 14:23 | surely they shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers... | The initial decree of judgment |
| Num 14:28 | As you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you... | God's immediate and direct response to rebellion |
| Num 14:29 | Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness... | Specific details of the judgment's execution |
| Num 14:30 | You shall by no means enter the land... except Caleb... and Joshua. | Explicit mention of the two exceptions |
| Num 14:32 | But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. | Reiterating the judgment upon the rebels |
| Num 14:35 | I the Lord have spoken. Surely this whole evil congregation... shall perish. | God's absolute certainty in His word |
| Num 14:38 | Of the men who went to search the land, only Joshua... and Caleb... lived. | The survival of the faithful spies |
| Num 26:64 | But among these there was not one of those who were numbered by Moses... | The immediate preceding context confirming death |
| Deut 1:35 | Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land... | Moses recounts God's oath for the new generation |
| Deut 1:36 | except Caleb... he shall see it, and to him and his children I will give... | Moses reiterates Caleb's faithfulness and reward |
| Deut 1:38 | Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there. | Moses confirms Joshua's destiny |
| Deut 2:15 | Indeed the hand of the Lord was against them, to destroy them... | God's active involvement in their demise |
| Deut 2:16 | So it was, when all the men of war had finally perished from among them... | Affirmation of the completed destruction |
| Ps 90:7-8 | For we have been consumed by Your anger... our secret sins in the light... | Reflecting on the consequence of rebellion |
| Ps 95:10-11 | For forty years I was grieved... So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.' | God's grief and judgment regarding unbelief |
| Ps 106:26 | He also lifted His hand in an oath against them, to overthrow them... | God's covenant oath of judgment |
| Jos 14:8-9 | My brethren... made the heart of the people melt... but I wholly followed... | Caleb recounts his steadfast faith at 40 years prior |
| Jos 14:10-14 | Lord has kept me alive... as the Lord spoke... and gave Hebron to Caleb. | God's faithfulness to Caleb's reward |
| Heb 3:17-19 | And with whom was He angry forty years?... those who sinned, whose bodies... | NT commentary on the wilderness generation's judgment |
| Heb 4:6 | those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience. | Emphasizing the link between disobedience and lack of rest |
| Heb 4:11 | Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall... | Warning for believers to learn from their example |
| 1 Cor 10:5 | But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were... | Paul's caution regarding idolatry and rebellion |
| Jude 1:5 | God... afterward destroyed those who did not believe. | God's destruction of unbelievers as a past example |
Numbers 26 verses
Numbers 26 65 Meaning
Numbers 26:65 declares the definitive fulfillment of God's judgment against the rebellious generation that departed Egypt. It reaffirms that the entire generation of Israelites aged twenty and above at the time of the rebellion at Kadesh Barnea perished in the wilderness, just as the Lord had solemnly decreed. The verse emphatically highlights God's unfailing word, executed in full detail, with only two exceptions: Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, whose unwavering faith preserved them to enter the Promised Land.
Numbers 26 65 Context
Numbers 26:65 concludes a second census conducted in the plains of Moab, on the eve of Israel's entry into the Promised Land. This census, detailed in chapter 26, lists the fighting men (20 years and older) of the new generation. Its primary purpose was to confirm the fulfillment of God's prior judgment announced forty years earlier in Numbers 14. Following the rebellion at Kadesh Barnea, where the majority of the Israelite generation chose unbelief and fear over trusting God to deliver the land, God decreed that none of those adults who murmured would enter Canaan, except Caleb and Joshua. Numbers 26:65 serves as a solemn postscript to the census data, confirming the precise and absolute execution of this divine judgment. It underscores God's faithfulness not only to His promises of blessing but also to His pronouncements of discipline.
Numbers 26 65 Word analysis
- For the Lord had said: This phrase emphasizes the divine origin and certainty of the decree. "Lord" is YHWH (יהוה), the covenant-keeping God, highlighting His unwavering nature. "Had said" ('āmar, אמר) indicates a previous, specific pronouncement. The judgment was not an accident but a direct fulfillment of His declared will.
- of them: Refers directly to the previous generation of Israelites who rebelled against God at Kadesh Barnea.
- "They shall surely die": The Hebrew phrase môt tāmūtûn (מות תמותון) uses the infinitive absolute môt with the finite verb tāmūtûn, creating a strong emphatic construction meaning "dying, you shall die" or "you shall certainly die." This conveys absolute certainty and irreversibility of the decree. It leaves no room for doubt or escape.
- in the wilderness: Hebrew bammidbār (במדבר). This specifies the geographical locus of the judgment's execution. The wilderness became the tomb for an entire generation, serving as a constant reminder of the consequences of unbelief and disobedience, even for those redeemed from slavery.
- and not one of them shall be left: The Hebrew wĕlō-yiššā’ēr bāhem (ולא-ישאר בהם) signifies utter extermination for that specific demographic. "Not one shall be left" conveys the completeness and severity of God's judgment against the generation that murmured against Him. It underlines that this was a targeted, specific act of divine justice.
- except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun: The word "except" (bil'tî, בלתי) serves as a sharp contrast, underscoring the singular faithfulness of these two men amidst widespread unbelief. This exception is a testament to God's rewarding of loyalty and trust in His power and promise. They exemplify a "different spirit" (Num 14:24).
- "For the Lord had said of them, ‘They shall surely die in the wilderness’": This entire phrase functions as the reason (ki) for the current situation (no survivors from the first census). It confirms the fulfillment of a long-standing, divine decree. It stresses divine omnipotence and faithfulness to every word, including words of judgment.
- "and not one of them shall be left, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun": This concluding phrase powerfully reiterates the judgment's finality while simultaneously celebrating divine grace and fidelity to two individuals. It highlights God's justice in condemning corporate unbelief and His righteousness in preserving individual faith. It stands as a profound testament to the power of unwavering trust in God, even when facing overwhelming odds.
Numbers 26 65 Bonus section
The inclusion of Numbers 26:65 directly after the second census results (Num 26:5-64) serves as a dramatic theological affirmation. It shifts the focus from mere numbers to the deeper theological truth they represent: God's perfect execution of His covenant promises and warnings. The census figures for each tribe in Num 26 do not match those from the first census (Num 1), which subtly proves that a significant generational shift has occurred through death. Verse 65 makes this explicit, underlining that the discrepancy is not random, but the direct outcome of a specific divine pronouncement. This verse also implicitly sets the stage for the book of Deuteronomy, where Moses recounts these events to the new generation, reinforcing the lessons of obedience and trust before they enter the land. The two individuals, Caleb and Joshua, are not just exceptions; they represent the new ideal: unwavering faith leading to inheritance and leadership. They signify God’s preserving power for the faithful within the context of widespread apostasy and judgment. Their preservation highlights that personal faith can transcend corporate punishment.
Numbers 26 65 Commentary
Numbers 26:65 functions as a concise summary and powerful affirmation of divine fidelity. It confirms that the detailed census records of the preceding verses have an underlying theological truth: God’s word, whether of blessing or judgment, never fails. The rebellion at Kadesh Barnea was a pivotal moment in Israel's wilderness journey, marked by widespread unbelief that provoked God’s severe decree against an entire generation (Num 14). This verse solemnly declares that judgment has now been completely executed; not a single male twenty years or older from that faithless generation survived, fulfilling the môt tāmūtûn ("surely die") oath of God. The miraculous survival of Caleb and Joshua stands as a sharp contrast, a living testament to the rewards of singular devotion and unwavering trust in the Lord. This verse serves as a crucial bridge, closing the door on the tragic failures of the past and opening it to the hopeful prospects of the new generation poised to inherit the Promise Land. It emphasizes that while God is merciful, He also keeps His word in judgment, requiring faith and obedience for His blessings.
Examples:
- God's judgment against Pharaoh (Ex 14:27-28), fulfilled exactly as stated.
- Noah's ark (Gen 7:4), God's judgment by flood, salvation for few as promised.