And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:

NUMBERS 13:17KJV
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Numbers 13:17 (KJV)

What does Numbers 13:17 mean?

Numbers 13:17 describes Moses sending a group of men to scout out the land of Canaan, instructing them to travel through the southern region and then go up into the hill country. Moses is giving specific directions for how the spies should approach and explore the land that the Israelites hope to enter.

In this verse, Moses is speaking directly to the twelve men chosen to spy out Canaan. The context is that the Israelites are camped near the border of the Promised Land, and Moses wants a report on what lies ahead. The instructions to go "southward" and "into the mountain" show Moses’ careful planning, guiding the spies to cover different types of terrain as they gather information about the land and its people.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 13:17

  • "Sent" — שָׁלַח (shalach): This word means to send out or dispatch. Here, it emphasizes Moses’ authority and the official nature of the mission.
  • "Southward" — נֶגֶב (negev): This term refers to the southern region, often a dry or desert area. Moses is telling the spies to start their journey in the south, which would have been a challenging landscape.
  • "Mountain" — הַר (har): This word means mountain or hill country. Moses directs the spies to move from the southern plain up into the higher, hillier regions, showing a plan to get a full picture of the land’s geography.

Why Numbers 13:17 matters

  • This verse shows Moses acting as a careful leader, planning the route for the spies rather than sending them without direction.
  • The mention of both the "southward" region and the "mountain" highlights the diversity of the land of Canaan, setting up the detailed report the spies will later give.
  • Understanding the route helps explain why the spies’ later report covers both fertile and challenging areas, giving a fuller sense of what the Israelites would face.

Where else these words appear

“out” Hebrew H8446 · used in 22 verses

  • Numbers 10:33 And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.
  • Numbers 14:7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
  • 1 Kings 10:15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.

“Canaan” Hebrew H3667 · used in 91 verses

  • Genesis 9:18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
  • Genesis 45:17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;
  • Numbers 35:14 Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.

“southward” Hebrew H5045 · used in 98 verses

  • Genesis 12:9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
  • Joshua 15:21 And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,
  • Isaiah 30:6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.