Overview
The Bible addresses reports of spies across 13 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in Numbers. Closely related themes include Majority and Minority Reports, Caleb, Holy Land and Anakim. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Moses, Caleb, Aaron and Joshua.
Key Bible verses about reports of spies
Old Testament
Numbers
And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.
And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. men: Heb. men of statures
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
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.
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.
Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. defence: Heb. shadow
But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
People in the Bible and reports of spies
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying reports of spies for yourself
- Begin with Numbers 13:26, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Consider the lives of Moses, Caleb and Aaron and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Majority and Minority Reports, Caleb, Holy Land and Anakim.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about reports of spies?
The Bible addresses reports of spies across 13 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in Numbers. Closely related themes include Majority and Minority Reports, Caleb, Holy Land and Anakim. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Moses, Caleb, Aaron and Joshua.
How many Bible verses are about reports of spies?
The Bible references reports of spies in 13 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention reports of spies?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Numbers 13:26: “And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.”
Which people in the Bible are associated with reports of spies?
Moses, Caleb, Aaron and Joshua.
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