Deuteronomy 9:2
New International Version
The people are strong and tall—Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: “Who can stand up against the Anakites?”

New Living Translation
The people are strong and tall—descendants of the famous Anakite giants. You’ve heard the saying, ‘Who can stand up to the Anakites?’

English Standard Version
a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak?’

Berean Standard Bible
The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them, and you have heard it said, “Who can stand up to the sons of Anak?”

King James Bible
A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak!

New King James Version
a people great and tall, the descendants of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the descendants of Anak?’

New American Standard Bible
a people who are great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand against the sons of Anak?’

NASB 1995
a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak?’

NASB 1977
a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak?’

Legacy Standard Bible
a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak?’

Amplified Bible
a people great and tall, sons of Anakim, whom you know and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak?’

Christian Standard Bible
The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them and you have heard it said about them, ‘Who can stand up to the sons of Anak? ’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them and you have heard it said about them, ‘Who can stand up to the sons of Anak?’

American Standard Version
a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the sons of Anak?

Contemporary English Version
Some of these nations are descendants of the Anakim. You know how tall and strong they are, and you've heard that no one can defeat them in battle.

English Revised Version
a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the sons of Anak?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Their people are tall and strong. They're descendants of Anak. You know all about them. You've also heard it said, "Who can oppose the descendants of Anak?"

Good News Translation
The people themselves are tall and strong; they are giants, and you have heard it said that no one can stand against them.

International Standard Version
The Anakim are strong and tall, and you know them. You've heard it said, 'Who can stand up against the Anakim?'

Majority Standard Bible
The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them, and you have heard it said, ?Who can stand up to the sons of Anak??

NET Bible
They include the Anakites, a numerous and tall people whom you know about and of whom it is said, "Who is able to resist the Anakites?"

New Heart English Bible
a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard say, "Who can stand before the sons of Anak?"

Webster's Bible Translation
A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard it said, Who can stand before the children of Anak!

World English Bible
a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard say, “Who can stand before the sons of Anak?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
a people great and tall, sons of Anakim, whom you have known, and [of whom] you have heard: Who stations himself before sons of Anak?

Young's Literal Translation
a people great and tall, sons of Anakim, whom thou -- thou hast known, (and thou -- thou hast heard: Who doth station himself before sons of Anak?)

Smith's Literal Translation
A people great and high, sons of Anakims, whom thou knewest, and thou heardest, Who shall stand before the sons of Anak?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A People great and tall, the sons of the Enacims, whom thou hast seen, and heard of, against whom no man is able to stand.

Catholic Public Domain Version
a people great and lofty, the sons of the Anakim, whom you yourselves have seen and heard, against whom no one is able to stand.

New American Bible
the Anakim, a people great and tall. You yourselves know of them and have heard it said of them, “Who can stand up against the Anakim?”

New Revised Standard Version
a strong and tall people, the offspring of the Anakim, whom you know. You have heard it said of them, “Who can stand up to the Anakim?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
A people great and tall, the sons of giants, whom you know, and of whom you have heard it said, No man can stand up before the giants!

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
People, great and high, children of giants whom you know, and you have heard that a man cannot stand before the giants!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say: 'Who can stand before the sons of Anak?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
a people great and many and tall, the sons of Enac, whom thou knowest, and concerning whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Enac?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Assurance of Victory
1Hear, O Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities fortified to the heavens. 2The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them, and you have heard it said, “Who can stand up to the sons of Anak?” 3But understand that today the LORD your God goes across ahead of you as a consuming fire; He will destroy them and subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them swiftly, as the LORD has promised you.…

Cross References
Numbers 13:33
We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”

Joshua 11:21-22
At that time Joshua proceeded to eliminate the Anakim from the hill country of Hebron, Debir, and Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah and of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction, along with their cities. / No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites; only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did any survive.

Joshua 14:12-15
Now therefore give me this hill country that the LORD promised me on that day, for you yourself heard then that the Anakim were there, with great and fortified cities. Perhaps with the LORD’s help I will drive them out, as the LORD has spoken.” / Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. / Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel. ...

Amos 2:9
Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, though his height was like that of the cedars, and he was as strong as the oaks. Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below.

Numbers 13:28
Nevertheless, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We even saw the descendants of Anak there.

Numbers 14:6-9
Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes / and said to the whole congregation of Israel, “The land we passed through and explored is an exceedingly good land. / 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. ...

Joshua 15:13-14
According to the LORD’s command to him, Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah—Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) / And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak—the descendants of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

1 Samuel 17:4-7
Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height, / and he had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a bronze coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels, / and he had armor of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. ...

2 Samuel 21:16-22
Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David. / But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.” / Some time later at Gob, there was another battle with the Philistines. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, a descendant of Rapha. ...

1 Chronicles 20:4-8
Some time later, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued. / Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. / And there was also a battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha, ...

Hebrews 11:29-30
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned. / By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

Hebrews 11:31
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Matthew 17:20
“Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 21:21
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.


Treasury of Scripture

A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom you know, and of whom you have heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak!

great

Deuteronomy 2:11,12,21
Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims…

Who can stand

Deuteronomy 7:24
And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them.

Exodus 9:11
And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.

Job 11:10
If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

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Deuteronomy 9
1. Moses dissuades them from the opinion of their own righteousness
7. Moses reminds them of the golden calf














The people are strong and tall
This phrase refers to the physical stature and might of the inhabitants of the land, specifically the Anakim. In Hebrew, the word for "strong" is "חָזָק" (chazaq), which conveys not only physical strength but also a sense of being firm and resolute. The word "tall" is "גָּבוֹהַּ" (gavoah), indicating great height. Historically, the Anakim were known as a formidable race of giants, which instilled fear in the hearts of the Israelites. This description serves to highlight the daunting challenge that lay before the Israelites, emphasizing their need to rely on God's power rather than their own.

the descendants of the Anakim
The Anakim were a race of giants mentioned several times in the Old Testament. The Hebrew term "עֲנָקִים" (Anakim) is derived from "עָנָק" (Anak), a notable ancestor of this group. Archaeological evidence and ancient texts suggest that these people were indeed of significant stature, contributing to their reputation as fearsome warriors. The mention of their lineage underscores the continuity of their strength and the enduring nature of the threat they posed to Israel.

You know about them
This phrase indicates that the Israelites were already familiar with the reputation of the Anakim. The Hebrew word "יָדַע" (yada) means to know or to be aware, suggesting that the Israelites had prior knowledge or experience with these people. This familiarity could have come from the reports of the spies sent by Moses in Numbers 13, who described the land and its inhabitants in daunting terms. The phrase serves as a reminder of the challenges they had previously encountered and the fears they needed to overcome.

and have heard it said
The phrase implies that the reputation of the Anakim was widespread and well-known among the surrounding nations. The Hebrew verb "שָׁמַע" (shama) means to hear or listen, indicating that the accounts of the Anakim's might were not just known but were actively spoken about. This widespread reputation would have contributed to the fear and intimidation felt by the Israelites, highlighting the psychological as well as physical challenges they faced.

'Who can stand up to the sons of Anak?'
This rhetorical question captures the sense of awe and fear that the Anakim inspired. The Hebrew word "יַעֲמֹד" (ya'amod) means to stand or to withstand, suggesting a challenge or confrontation. The phrase "sons of Anak" emphasizes their formidable lineage and the continuation of their strength through generations. This question reflects the human perspective of the situation, one that sees the Anakim as invincible. However, from a faith perspective, it sets the stage for God's intervention, reminding the Israelites that with God, no enemy is too great to overcome.

(2) Whom thou knowest.--The pronoun is emphatic. The twelve spies, two of whom were still living, had seen them (Numbers 13:33), and their fame was doubtless notorious. It seems to have been a common saying, possibly among the Anakim themselves, "Who will stand up to the children of Anak?" No one could be found to face them.

Verse 2. - Anakim (cf. Deuteronomy 1:28). It was a common saying, Who can stand before the sons of Anak? But even these gigantic foes should be unable to stand before Israel (cf. Deuteronomy 7:24):

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The people
עַֽם־ (‘am-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

are strong
גָּד֥וֹל (gā·ḏō·wl)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

and tall,
וָרָ֖ם (wā·rām)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7311: To be high actively, to rise, raise

the descendants
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of the Anakim.
עֲנָקִ֑ים (‘ă·nā·qîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6062: Anakim -- 'neck', a giant people around Hebron and in Philistia

You
אַתָּ֤ה (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

know
יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙ (yā·ḏa‘·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

about them
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

and you
וְאַתָּ֣ה (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

have heard it said,
שָׁמַ֔עְתָּ (šā·ma‘·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

“Who
מִ֣י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

can stand up
יִתְיַצֵּ֔ב (yiṯ·yaṣ·ṣêḇ)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3320: To set or station oneself, take one's stand

to
לִפְנֵ֖י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the sons
בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Anak?”
עֲנָֽק׃ (‘ă·nāq)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6061: Anak -- 'neck', a Canaanite


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 9:2 A people great and tall the sons (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 9:1
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