Bible Strands
Joshua 14:7
I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back to him an honest report.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Caleb son of Jephunneh addresses Joshua at Gilgal, recounting his past assignment at Kadesh-barnea. He speaks to the Israelite leader and the tribe of Judah regarding the initial reconnaissance mission.
The words — The Hebrew אַרְבָּעִ֨ים ('ar.ba.'Im) denotes "forty," marking Caleb’s age at the time of the spy mission. The phrase עֶֽבֶד־ יְהוָ֥ה ('e.ved-Yah.weh) translates literally to "servant of Yahweh," identifying Moses.
The thread — This mission originates in Numbers 13:6 and Numbers 13:26, where Caleb is listed among the twelve spies sent to Kadesh and records their return. The event establishes the timeline that spans until the conquest narrative in Joshua 14.
Why it lands — The text records Caleb’s factual age and his direct commission to deliver an accurate account to Moses. It requires the reader to recognize Caleb’s baseline of factual reporting before his later claim of loyalty in Joshua 14:8.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh–barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
Cross-references
- Numbers 13:6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;
- Numbers 13:16 These were the names of the men Moses sent to spy out the land; and Moses gave to Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.
- Numbers 13:26 and they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land.
- Numbers 14:6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes