Numbers 32:12 kjv
Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.
Numbers 32:12 nkjv
except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD.'
Numbers 32:12 niv
not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the LORD wholeheartedly.'
Numbers 32:12 esv
none except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD.'
Numbers 32:12 nlt
The only exceptions are Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they have wholeheartedly followed the LORD.'
Numbers 32 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 14:24 | But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit... I will bring him into the land. | Caleb's "different spirit" of faithfulness. |
| Num 14:29-30 | Of those listed... not one of you shall come into the land... except Caleb... and Joshua. | God's specific exemption for Caleb & Joshua. |
| Num 26:65 | For the LORD had said... "Not one of them shall be left, except Caleb... and Joshua." | Reiteration of their sole survival. |
| Deut 1:35-36 | "Not one of these men... shall see the good land... except Caleb the son of Jephunneh..." | Moses affirms Caleb's reward for his devotion. |
| Josh 14:8-9 | "...My brethren... discouraged the people; but I wholly followed the LORD..." | Caleb reiterates his complete faithfulness. |
| Josh 14:14 | So Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb... because he wholly followed the LORD. | His wholehearted obedience resulted in inheritance. |
| Dt 6:5 | You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul... | The foundational command for wholehearted devotion. |
| Mt 22:37-38 | "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." | Jesus affirms the greatest commandment. |
| Mk 12:30 | And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart... mind and strength. | Reiterates loving God with undivided loyalty. |
| Lk 10:27 | "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul..." | Another affirmation of complete devotion. |
| 1 Sam 12:14 | If you will fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice... then both you and your king will continue. | Obedience brings divine blessing. |
| 2 Chr 15:17 | The high places were not removed from Israel; nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the LORD. | Asa's exemplary wholeheartedness to God. |
| Ps 119:2 | Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart. | Seeking God wholeheartedly brings blessing. |
| Ps 119:10 | With my whole heart I seek You; let me not wander from Your commandments. | A prayer for unreserved pursuit of God's will. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. | Emphasizes complete reliance on God. |
| Isa 1:19 | If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. | Willing obedience is linked to prosperity. |
| Heb 3:7-19 | Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts..." | Warning against unbelief using Israel's example. |
| Heb 4:1-11 | For we who have believed enter that rest... the good news was preached to us as well as to them... | Believers can enter God's rest through faith. |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please Him... | Highlights the necessity of faith to please God. |
| Jas 1:6-8 | But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea... | Warning against wavering or double-mindedness. |
| Phil 2:19-22 | ...I have no one else like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. | Timothy as an example of genuine commitment. |
Numbers 32 verses
Numbers 32 12 Meaning
Numbers 32:12 highlights the distinct faithfulness of Caleb and Joshua, who, unlike the rest of their generation, were permitted to enter the Promised Land. This verse underscores God's discernment of and favor towards those who wholeheartedly commit to Him, contrasting their steadfast obedience with the general rebellion and unbelief that led to the wilderness judgment. Their complete devotion was the key reason for their exemption from the divine decree of death in the wilderness.
Numbers 32 12 Context
Numbers 32 describes the tribes of Reuben and Gad, joined later by half of Manasseh, requesting to settle the fertile Transjordan land rather than cross into Canaan. Moses initially reacts with dismay, fearing a repeat of the Kadesh-barnea rebellion (Numbers 13-14), where the previous generation refused to enter the Promised Land due to fear and unbelief. In this context, Numbers 32:12 specifically cites Caleb and Joshua as the exceptions from that past judgment, highlighting their unwavering faithfulness as the reason for their divine favor, contrasting them with the generation whose disobedience resulted in death in the wilderness. This verse serves as Moses' poignant reminder and warning against a similar lack of faith that could jeopardize the current generation's entry into the Promised Land.
Numbers 32 12 Word analysis
"except": The Hebrew word rak (רַק) emphasizes a sole exclusion. It isolates Caleb and Joshua, pointing out their unique status among a generation marked for destruction due to unbelief.
"Caleb": Kalev (כָּלֵב) means "dog" or "wholehearted." This individual, originally introduced in Numbers 13, courageously provided a good report alongside Joshua, urging Israel to trust God despite formidable obstacles.
"the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite": Jephunneh (יְפֻנֶּה, possibly meaning "he will be beheld") denotes Caleb's father. The designation "the Kenizzite" is significant. The Kenizzites (קְנִזִּי) were a non-Israelite group, perhaps Edomite or part of a clan associated with Judah. Caleb’s lineage demonstrates that God's favor is not solely determined by birthright but by heartfelt obedience and faithfulness, highlighting divine grace that extends beyond typical tribal boundaries to those who truly follow Him.
"and Joshua": Yehoshu'a (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ), meaning "Yahweh saves" or "Yahweh is salvation." He was Moses' trusted servant and military leader, chosen by God to succeed Moses as the leader of Israel, demonstrating his consistent loyalty and dedication.
"the son of Nun": Nun (נוּן) likely means "fish" or "perpetuity," referring to Joshua's father.
"for they have wholly followed the Lord": This is the crucial theological statement.
- "wholly followed": The Hebrew phrase is male' ahare Yahweh (מָלֵא אַחֲרֵי יְהוָה). Male' (מָלֵא) means "full, complete," implying an unreserved commitment. Ahare (אַחֲרֵי) means "after" or "behind." Combined, this idiomatic expression signifies following God fully, completely, without wavering, reservations, or turning aside. It indicates undivided loyalty and devotion, aligning their desires and actions entirely with God's will. It's more than just physical proximity; it describes a spiritual posture of absolute surrender and unwavering trust.
- "the Lord": Refers to Yahweh (יהוה), the covenant God of Israel. Caleb and Joshua's commitment was not merely to an idea or a mission, but to the living, covenant-making God Himself.
Words-group Analysis:
- "Caleb...and Joshua...for they have wholly followed the Lord": This phrase draws a direct cause-and-effect relationship between their singular obedience and their exemption from divine judgment. It sets them apart as paragons of faith in contrast to a fearful and disobedient multitude. Their active choice to trust and obey God earned them life and entrance into the land.
Numbers 32 12 Bonus section
The concept of "wholly following the Lord" is a powerful idiom describing active and deep covenant loyalty. It represents the pinnacle of spiritual commitment, demanding complete trust, obedience, and dedication, rather than just superficial adherence. This quality is rarely attributed to many individuals in the Old Testament, highlighting its exceptional nature when applied to Caleb and Joshua. Their Kenizzite background is an early testament to the principle that God's grace and blessings extend beyond physical lineage to anyone who genuinely devotes themselves to Him, prefiguring the New Covenant where salvation is universally offered through faith. This exemption, divinely decreed, was not just about saving lives, but about preserving the leadership needed to usher Israel into the Promised Land under a banner of faithful obedience, making them spiritual fathers to the new generation.
Numbers 32 12 Commentary
Numbers 32:12 distills a profound truth about divine judgment and grace. It identifies Caleb and Joshua as the sole surviving men from the rebellious generation that perished in the wilderness, attributing their survival to their wholehearted devotion to Yahweh. Their "wholly followed" (Hebrew: male' ahare Yahweh) signifies not just partial obedience but a complete, unwavering, and unreserved commitment that stood in stark contrast to the wavering faith and complaining spirit of their peers. God honored this unblemished allegiance by allowing them to experience the inheritance denied to others. This verse serves as an enduring reminder that God values and rewards radical faithfulness, demonstrating that His promises are secured by a heart fully aligned with Him. It encourages believers across generations to pursue a similarly undivided and unwavering devotion to God, trusting in His character and promises even amidst daunting circumstances.