King James Version

What Does Numbers 13:22 Mean?

Numbers 13:22 in the King James Version says “And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (No...” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 13 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)”

Numbers 13:22 · KJV

Context

20

And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.

21

So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.

22

And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

23

And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. brook: or, valley

24

The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. brook: or, valley Eshcol: that is, A cluster of grapes

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The spies reached Hebron, where the giant Anakim dwelt. Hebron's association with Abraham (Genesis 13:18) made its occupation by giants particularly significant—the land promised to Abraham now seemed impossible to possess. Yet this very difficulty was designed to magnify God's faithfulness when He delivered it to His people.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Hebron was founded seven years before Egypt's Zoan (Tanis), making it ancient even then. The Anakim were descendants of Anak, renowned for their great stature (Deuteronomy 9:2). Caleb would later conquer this very city (Joshua 14:12-15), demonstrating that God's promises outlast even the most formidable obstacles.

Reflection Questions

  1. What 'giants' in your life seem to block God's promises from being fulfilled?
  2. How does understanding God's past faithfulness strengthen faith for present impossibilities?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
וַיַּֽעֲל֣וּ1 of 18

“And they ascended”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

בַנֶּגֶב֮2 of 18

“by the south”

H5045

the south (from its drought); specifically, the negeb or southern district of judah, occasionally, egypt (as south to palestine)

וַיָּבֹ֣א3 of 18

“and came”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

עַד4 of 18
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

וְחֶבְר֗וֹן5 of 18

“unto Hebron”

H2275

chebron, the name of two israelites

וְשָׁ֤ם6 of 18
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

אֲחִימַן֙7 of 18

“where Ahiman”

H289

achiman, the name of an anakite and of an israelite

שֵׁשַׁ֣י8 of 18

“Sheshai”

H8344

sheshai, a canaanite

וְתַלְמַ֔י9 of 18

“and Talmai”

H8526

talmai, the name of a canaanite and a syrian

יְלִידֵ֖י10 of 18

“the children”

H3211

born

הָֽעֲנָ֑ק11 of 18

“of Anak”

H6061

anak, a canaanite

וְחֶבְר֗וֹן12 of 18

“unto Hebron”

H2275

chebron, the name of two israelites

שֶׁ֤בַע13 of 18

“seven”

H7651

seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number

שָׁנִים֙14 of 18

“years”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

נִבְנְתָ֔ה15 of 18

“was built”

H1129

to build (literally and figuratively)

לִפְנֵ֖י16 of 18

“before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

צֹ֥עַן17 of 18

“Zoan”

H6814

tson, a place in egypt

מִצְרָֽיִם׃18 of 18

“in Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Numbers 13:22 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Numbers 13:22 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 78:12Psalms 78:43Isaiah 19:11Joshua 15:13-14Joshua 11:21-22Judges 1:10

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
HebronSettlement · Modern: Tel Rumeida · 31.53°N, 35.10°E62 verses across 10 books
NegebRegion · Modern: Tel Beer Sheva · 31.24°N, 34.84°E43 verses across 13 books
ZoanSettlement · Modern: Tanis · 30.98°N, 31.88°E7 verses across 4 books
View all places in Numbers 13 →

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