The Death of the Ten Evil Spies

36 So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it- 37 these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord. 38 Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.

The Defeat of Israel at Hormah

39 When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly.

Other Translations of Numbers 14:36-39

King James Version

The Death of the Ten Evil Spies

36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, 37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord. 38 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.

The Defeat of Israel at Hormah

39 And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.

English Standard Version

The Death of the Ten Evil Spies

36 And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land-- 37 the men who brought up a bad report of the land-- died by plague before the Lord. 38 Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive.

The Defeat of Israel at Hormah

39 When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly.

The Message

The Death of the Ten Evil Spies

36 So it happened that the men Moses sent to scout out the land returned to circulate false rumors about the land causing the entire community to grumble against Moses - 37 all these men died. Having spread false rumors of the land, they died in a plague, confronted by God. 38 Only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh were left alive of the men who went to scout out the land.

The Defeat of Israel at Hormah

39 When Moses told all of this to the People of Israel, they mourned long and hard.

New King James Version

The Death of the Ten Evil Spies

36 Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, 37 those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the Lord. 38 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land.

The Defeat of Israel at Hormah

39 Then Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly.

New Living Translation

The Death of the Ten Evil Spies

36 The ten men Moses had sent to explore the land-the ones who incited rebellion against the Lord with their bad report- 37 were struck dead with a plague before the Lord . 38 Of the twelve who had explored the land, only Joshua and Caleb remained alive.

The Defeat of Israel at Hormah

39 When Moses reported the Lord 's words to all the Israelites, the people were filled with grief.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 14:36-39

Commentary on Numbers 14:36-39

(Read Numbers 14:36-39)

Here is the sudden death of the ten evil spies. They sinned in bringing a slander upon the land of promise. Those greatly provoke God, who misrepresent religion, raise dislike in men's minds toward it, or give opportunity to those to do so, who seek occasion. Justly are murmurers made mourners. If they had mourned for the sin, when they were faithfully reproved, the sentence had been prevented; but as they mourned for the judgment only, it did them no service. There is in hell such mourning as this; but tears will not quench the flames, nor cool the tongue.