After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.

NUMBERS 14:34KJV
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Numbers 14:34 (KJV)

What does Numbers 14:34 mean?

Numbers 14:34 says that because the Israelites spent forty days scouting the land of Canaan, they will spend forty years wandering in the wilderness—one year for each day—as a consequence for their disobedience, and they will experience the results of breaking faith with God. This verse explains the direct connection between the time spent exploring the land and the length of their punishment.

In this verse, God is speaking to the Israelites through Moses after they refused to enter the Promised Land due to fear and lack of trust. The verse spells out that their punishment matches their actions: every day of their scouting becomes a year of wandering. The phrase "ye shall know my breach of promise" means the people will experience what it is like when God withdraws His protection or favor because of their unfaithfulness.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 14:34

  • "bear your iniquities" uses the Hebrew word נָשָׂא (nasa’), which means to carry or endure. Here, it emphasizes that the Israelites must personally endure the consequences of their wrongdoing, not just hear about them.
  • "iniquities" is עָוֹן (avon), meaning guilt or moral fault. This word highlights that the punishment is not random but directly tied to their moral failure.
  • "breach of promise" comes from תְּנוּאָה (tenu’ah), which can mean alienation or estrangement. The verse is not saying God broke His promise, but that the people will feel the result of their broken relationship with Him.

Why Numbers 14:34 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the Israelites’ punishment was not arbitrary; it was directly related to their actions, showing a principle of measure-for-measure justice.
  • The language highlights the seriousness of breaking faith with God, making clear that there are real consequences for collective disobedience.
  • Numbers 14:34 connects the story of the spies to the entire generation’s fate, helping readers understand why the Israelites wandered for forty years and why only the next generation would enter the Promised Land.

Where else these words appear

“promise” Hebrew H8569 · used in 2 verses

  • Job 33:10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,

“searched” 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 14:6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
  • 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.

“forty” Hebrew H705 · used in 124 verses

  • Genesis 5:13 And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:
  • Deuteronomy 8:4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
  • 1 Chronicles 12:36 And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.

“number” Hebrew H4557 · used in 129 verses

  • Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
  • Deuteronomy 33:6 Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.
  • Ezra 3:4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;