Numbers 13:27 - They told him, and said, “We came to the land where you sent us. Surely it flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.
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What does "Numbers 13:27" mean?
Numbers 13:27 is a key verse in the story of the spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"They told him, and said..." This refers to the spies returning to Moses and Aaron, along with the whole Israelite community, after their 40-day mission.
"We came to the land where you sent us." This is a confirmation that they followed Moses' instructions and explored the designated territory.
"Surely it flows with milk and honey..." This is the crucial part. "Flows with milk and honey" is a common idiom in the Old Testament, particularly in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It's a figurative expression that signifies a land of abundance, fertility, and prosperity. Milk represents the bounty of the herds, and honey symbolizes the sweetness of the land's produce (dates, figs, and grapes, rather than honey from bees, which was less common at the time). The spies are acknowledging that the land is indeed fertile and prosperous, just as God had promised.
"...and this is its fruit." The spies brought back physical samples of the land's produce, such as grapes, figs, and pomegranates, as tangible evidence to support their claim about the land's richness. The fact that they had to carry a single cluster of grapes on a pole between two men (as described earlier in the chapter) further emphasizes the extraordinary size and abundance of the produce.
In summary, the verse means:
The spies returned from their mission and reported to Moses and the Israelites that the land of Canaan was indeed a fertile and prosperous land, just as God had promised. They brought back samples of its fruit as proof of its richness.
Context and Significance:
It's important to note that although the spies acknowledge the land's fertility, their report is not entirely positive. In the verses that follow, they express fear and doubt, emphasizing the strength and size of the inhabitants of the land and concluding that the Israelites would not be able to conquer it. This negative report, despite the positive initial observation about the land's abundance, ultimately leads to the Israelites' lack of faith and their subsequent 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The verse is ironic because it starts with an affirmation of God's promise but then segues into a narrative of fear and disbelief.
Numbers 13:27 - They told him, and said, “We came to the land where you sent us. Surely it flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.
What does "Numbers 13:27" mean?
Numbers 13:27 is a key verse in the story of the spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"They told him, and said..." This refers to the spies returning to Moses and Aaron, along with the whole Israelite community, after their 40-day mission.
"We came to the land where you sent us." This is a confirmation that they followed Moses' instructions and explored the designated territory.
"Surely it flows with milk and honey..." This is the crucial part. "Flows with milk and honey" is a common idiom in the Old Testament, particularly in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It's a figurative expression that signifies a land of abundance, fertility, and prosperity. Milk represents the bounty of the herds, and honey symbolizes the sweetness of the land's produce (dates, figs, and grapes, rather than honey from bees, which was less common at the time). The spies are acknowledging that the land is indeed fertile and prosperous, just as God had promised.
"...and this is its fruit." The spies brought back physical samples of the land's produce, such as grapes, figs, and pomegranates, as tangible evidence to support their claim about the land's richness. The fact that they had to carry a single cluster of grapes on a pole between two men (as described earlier in the chapter) further emphasizes the extraordinary size and abundance of the produce.
In summary, the verse means:
The spies returned from their mission and reported to Moses and the Israelites that the land of Canaan was indeed a fertile and prosperous land, just as God had promised. They brought back samples of its fruit as proof of its richness.
Context and Significance:
It's important to note that although the spies acknowledge the land's fertility, their report is not entirely positive. In the verses that follow, they express fear and doubt, emphasizing the strength and size of the inhabitants of the land and concluding that the Israelites would not be able to conquer it. This negative report, despite the positive initial observation about the land's abundance, ultimately leads to the Israelites' lack of faith and their subsequent 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The verse is ironic because it starts with an affirmation of God's promise but then segues into a narrative of fear and disbelief.