Numbers 13:27
And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְסַפְּרוּ
And they told
H5608
וַיְסַפְּרוּ
And they told
Strong's:
H5608
Word #:
1 of 15
properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e., (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e., celebra
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
7 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
שְׁלַחְתָּ֑נוּ
whither thou sentest
H7971
שְׁלַחְתָּ֑נוּ
whither thou sentest
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
8 of 15
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
וְ֠גַם
H1571
וְ֠גַם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
9 of 15
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
זָבַ֨ת
us and surely it floweth
H2100
זָבַ֨ת
us and surely it floweth
Strong's:
H2100
Word #:
10 of 15
to flow freely (as water), i.e., (specifically) to have a (sexual) flux; figuratively, to waste away; also to overflow
הִ֖וא
H1931
הִ֖וא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
13 of 15
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
וְזֶה
H2088
Cross References
Exodus 3:8And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.Exodus 3:17And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.Exodus 13:5And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.Exodus 33:3Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.Deuteronomy 31:20For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.Deuteronomy 27:3And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.Deuteronomy 11:9And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey.Deuteronomy 26:9And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.Deuteronomy 6:3Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.Numbers 14:8If 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.
Historical Context
'Milk and honey' was a standard ancient Near Eastern phrase indicating agricultural fertility. Milk came from flocks grazing on plentiful pastures, while honey (possibly bee honey or date syrup) indicated fruit abundance.
Questions for Reflection
- How can you acknowledge God's faithfulness while still being paralyzed by fear of obstacles?
- What 'neverthelesses' in your thinking diminish confidence in God's promises?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The spies' report begins accurately: the land does flow with milk and honey, confirmed by the fruit as evidence. They acknowledge God's promise was true regarding the land's abundance. Yet their subsequent 'nevertheless' (verse 28) reveals how faith and fear can coexist, with fear ultimately dominating ten spies' perspective.