Numbers 14:8

If the LORD delights in us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and He will give it to us.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Caleb and Joshua address the rebellious Israelite congregation at the border of Canaan, urging them to trust God’s promise after the spies’ report. They speak immediately after describing the land’s fertility and just before warning against defiance.

The words — חָפֵץ (cha.Fetz) means “he delights,” paired with אִם (‘im) meaning “if,” framing the promise as contingent on divine pleasure rather than human merit. The verb הֵבִיא (he.Vi’) translates literally as “he will bring,” emphasizing God’s active role in the transition.

The thread — The motif of God’s delight driving deliverance appears in 2 Samuel 22:20, while the phrase “flowing with milk and honey” echoes the spies’ initial account in Numbers 13:27. Isaiah 62:4 later repurposes divine delight language to rename Israel and her land with covenantal favor.

Why it lands — The text demands a reader to recognize that possession of the promised inheritance depends entirely on whether Yahweh chooses to act, not on Israel’s courage or numbers. It requires immediate alignment with God’s stated will rather than reliance on human assessment of the enemy.

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

אִם־'im-if חָפֵ֥ץcha.Fetzhe delightsבָּ֙נוּ֙ba./nuin <the>/ usיְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh וְהֵבִ֤יאve./he.Vi'and/ he will bring אֹתָ֙נוּ֙'o.Ta./nu<obj.>/ us אֶל־'el-into הָאָ֣רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ land הַזֹּ֔אתha./Zot<the>/ this וּנְתָנָ֖הּu./ne.ta.Na/hand/ he will give/ itלָ֑נוּLa./nuto <the>/ usאֶ֕רֶץ'E.retza land אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which הִ֛ואhi'it זָבַ֥תza.Vat[is] flowing of חָלָ֖בcha.Lavmilk וּדְבָֽשׁ׃u./de.Vashand/ honey

King James Version

If 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.

Cross-references

2 Samuel 22:20 He brought me out into the open; He rescued me because He delighted in me.
Isaiah 62:4 No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride.
Numbers 13:27 And they gave this account to Moses: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and indeed, it is flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of its fruit!
Deuteronomy 10:15 Yet the LORD has set His affection on your fathers and loved them. And He has chosen you, their descendants after them, above all the peoples, even to this day.
Psalms 147:10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
1 Kings 10:9 Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, He has made you king to carry out justice and righteousness.”
Psalms 22:8 “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Jeremiah 32:41 Yes, I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.