Numbers 14:24
in Numbers 14But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
KJV
But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
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This verse in Numbers 14
Commentary
9 notes on this verseBut my servant Caleb, etc. - Caleb had another spirit - not only a bold, generous, courageous, noble, and heroic spirit; but the Spirit and influence of the God of heaven thus raised him above human inquietudes and earthly fears, therefore be followed God fully; וימלא אחרי vaimalle acharai, literally, he filled after me: God showed him the way he was to take, and the line of conduct he was to pursue, and he filled up this line, and in all things followed the will of his Maker.
This site's exposition
My servant Caleb has a different spirit
on Numbers 14:24-25
Caleb is named alone here, and the reason given is another spirit with him and following fully. The land he walked in is the land his seed will hold, which Joshua 14:6-14 records him claiming forty-five years later at eighty-five.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
It is not made worse than really it was, but is shown to be exceedingly sinful. It was an evil congregation, each bad, but altogether in congregation, very bad. They tempted God--tempted his power, whether he could help them in their straits--his goodness, whether he would--and his faithfulness, whether his promise would be performed.
They must have the spirit of Caleb. [3.] Those that follow God fully in times of general apostasy God will own and honour by singular preservations in times of general calamity. The heavenly Canaan shall be the everlasting inheritance of those that follow the Lord fully. When Caleb is again mentioned (
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But my servant Caleb,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
IT is a rough name that—"Caleb." Most translators say it signifies "a dog." But what matters a man's name? Possibly the man himself was somewhat rough—many of the heartiest of men are so. As the unpolished oyster yet bears within itself the priceless pearl, so oftentimes ruggedness of exterior covers worth. A dog, moreover, is not all badness, though, "Without are dogs and sorcerers." It has this virtue, that it follows its master. And therein this Caleb was well-named. For never dog so followed his master as Caleb followed his God.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
my servant Caleb--Joshua was also excepted, but he is not named because he was no longer in the ranks of the people, being a constant attendant on Moses. because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully--Under the influence of God's Spirit, Caleb was a man of bold, generous, heroic courage, above worldly anxieties and fears.
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2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
IT is a rough name that—"Caleb." Most translators say it signifies "a dog." But what matters a man's name? Possibly the man himself was somewhat rough—many of the heartiest of men are so. As the unpolished oyster yet bears within itself the priceless pearl, so oftentimes ruggedness of exterior covers worth. A dog, moreover, is not all badness, though, "Without are dogs and sorcerers." It has this virtue, that it follows its master. And therein this Caleb was well-named. For never dog so followed his master as Caleb followed his God. As we have seen the faithful dog following his master when he is on horseback through mud and mire and dirt, for many a weary mile, even though the horses heels might wound him, so Caleb keeps close to God. And even if stoning threatens him, yet is he well content to follow the Lord fully. The name, however, has another signification and we like it rather better—it means "All heart." Here was a fitting surname for the man, whose whole heart followed his God. He says himself that he brought a report of the land according to all that was in his heart. He was a man of a healthy and mighty spirit. He did nothing heartlessly. His spirit was not the Laodicean luke-warmness, which is neither hot nor cold, which God spits out of His mouth—it was a spirit of holy heat, of noble daring. If I may not call him lion-hearted, never lion had a braver heart than he. Many mortals appear to have no heart. They are like corporations of which we are often told that a corporation has a head—does it not have a new mayor every year? And yet who ever saw it blush? It certainly has a mouth, for it swallows much—and hands, for it can grasp much—and feet, for it takes long strides.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
My servant Caleb - Caleb only is mentioned here as also in Num 13:30 ff. Both passages probably form part of the matter introduced at a later period into the narrative of Moses, and either by Joshua or under his superintendence. Hence, the name of Joshua is omitted, and his faithfulness together with its reward are taken for granted. In Num 14:30, Num 14:38, both names are mentioned together; and these verses in all likelihood belong to the same original composition as Num 14:6-10.
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְעַבְדִּ֣י | veavdi | and servant my | H5650 → | 799 times |
| כָלֵ֗ב | khalev | Caleb | H3612 → | 35 times |
| עֵ֣קֶב | ʾekev | consequence | H6118 → | |
| הָֽיְתָ֞ה | hayetah | it has been | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| ר֤וּחַ | ruach | a spirit | H7307 → | 378 times |
| אַחֶ֙רֶת֙ | ʾacheret | another | H312 → | 166 times |
| עִמּ֔וֹ | imo | with him | H5973 → | 1050 times |
| וַיְמַלֵּ֖א | vaymale' | and he has filled | H4390 → | 249 times |
| אַחֲרָ֑י | ʾacharai | after me | H310 → | 715 times |
| וַהֲבִֽיאֹתִ֗יו | vahaviotiv | and I will bring him | H935 → | 2568 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | into | H413 → | 5510 times |
| הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ | haaretz | the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | where | H834 → | 5497 times |
| בָּ֣א | ba' | he went | H935 → | 2568 times |
| שָׁ֔מָּה | shamah | there <towards> | H8033 → | 834 times |
| וְזַרְע֖וֹ | vezaro | and offspring his | H2233 → | 229 times |
| יוֹרִשֶֽׁנָּה׃ | yorishenah | it will take possession of it | H3423 → | 231 times |
וְעַבְדִּ֣יand servant my
veavdiH5650 →799 times
כָלֵ֗בCaleb
khalevH3612 →35 times
עֵ֣קֶבconsequence
ʾekevH6118 →
הָֽיְתָ֞הit has been
hayetahH1961 →3559 times
ר֤וּחַa spirit
ruachH7307 →378 times
אַחֶ֙רֶת֙another
ʾacheretH312 →166 times
עִמּ֔וֹwith him
imoH5973 →1050 times
וַיְמַלֵּ֖אand he has filled
vaymale'H4390 →249 times
אַחֲרָ֑יafter me
ʾacharaiH310 →715 times
וַהֲבִֽיאֹתִ֗יוand I will bring him
vahaviotivH935 →2568 times
אֶל־into
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
הָאָ֙רֶץ֙the land
haaretzH776 →2504 times
אֲשֶׁר־where
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
בָּ֣אhe went
ba'H935 →2568 times
שָׁ֔מָּהthere <towards>
shamahH8033 →834 times
וְזַרְע֖וֹand offspring his
vezaroH2233 →229 times
יוֹרִשֶֽׁנָּה׃it will take possession of it
yorishenahH3423 →231 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ephesians 6:6And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
it leads to
- Colossians 3:22–23
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4
Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
- Galatians 1:10
Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
- Ephesians 5:17
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
- Philippians 2:12
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
- Colossians 3:22–23
Through
Acts 11:23When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- Acts 14:22
strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
- Acts 13:43
After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies14
On this verse
About Numbers
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 538: “Caleb—The Man For The Times” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.