Bible Dictionary: Spies

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Easton's Bible Dictionary

When the Israelites reached Kadesh for the first time, and were encamped there, Moses selected twelve spies from among the chiefs of the divisions of the tribes, and sent them forth to spy the land of Canaan (Numbers 13), and to bring back to him a report of its actual condition. They at once proceeded on their important errand, and went through the land as far north as the district round Lake Merom. After about six weeks' absence they returned. Their report was very discouraging, and the people were greatly alarmed, and in a rebellious spirit proposed to elect a new leader and return to Egypt. Only two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, showed themselves on this occasion stout-hearted and faithful. All their appeals and remonstrances were in vain. Moses announced that as a punishment for their rebellion they must now wander in the wilderness till a new generation should arise which would go up and posses the land. The spies had been forty days absent on their expedition, and for each day the Israelites were to be wanderers for a year in the desert. (see ESHCOL.)

Two spies were sent by Joshua "secretly" i.e., unknown to the people (Joshua 2:1), "to view the land and Jericho" after the death of Moses, and just before the tribes under his leadership were about to cross the Jordan. They learned from Rahab (q.v.), in whose house they found a hiding-place, that terror had fallen on all the inhabitants of the land because of the great things they had heard that Jehovah had done for them (Exodus 15:14-16; Comp. 23:27; Deuteronomy 2:25; 11:25). As the result of their mission they reported: "Truly Jehovah hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us."

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) Plural of Spy.

Greek

5432. phroureo -- to guard
... From a compound of pro and horao; to be a watcher in advance, ie To mount guard
as a sentinel (post spies at gates); figuratively, to hem in, protect -- keep ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5432.htm - 7k

2685. kataskopos -- a spy
... Definition: a spy, scout. Word Origin probably from kataskopeo Definition
a spy NASB Word Usage spies (1). spy. From kata (intensive ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2685.htm - 6k

4460. Rhaab -- Rahab, a Canaanitess and an ancestor of Christ
... Transliteration: Rhaab Phonetic Spelling: (hrah-ab') Short Definition: Rahab Definition:
Rahab, a Canaanitess, who rescued the Hebrew spies at Jericho. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4460.htm - 6k

4477. Rhachab -- Rachab.
... Transliteration: Rhachab Phonetic Spelling: (hrakh-ab') Short Definition: Rahab
Definition: Rahab, a Canaanitess, who rescued the Hebrew spies at Jericho. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4477.htm - 6k

1455. egkathetos -- hired to lie in wait, lying in wait
... Word Origin from en and a derivation of kathiemi Definition hired to lie
in wait, lying in wait NASB Word Usage spies (1). spy. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1455.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

871. Atharim -- a caravan route in the Negev
... spies. Plural from an unused root (probably meaning to step); places; Atharim, a
place near Palestine -- spies. 870, 871. Atharim. 872 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/871.htm - 6k

7270. ragal -- to go about on foot
... 7269, 7270. ragal. 7271 . to go about on foot. Transliteration: ragal
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-gal') Short Definition: spies. Word ...
/hebrew/7270.htm - 6k

2658. chaphar -- to dig, search for
... Definition to dig, search for NASB Word Usage 76,500* (1), dig (2), digs (1), dug
(11), hollowed (1), look around (1), paws (1), sank (1), search (3), spies (1 ...
/hebrew/2658.htm - 6k

6822. tsaphah -- to look out or about, spy, keep watch
... root Definition to look out or about, spy, keep watch NASB Word Usage destined
(1), keep watch (3), lookout (1), looks well (1), spies (1), watch (3), watch ...
/hebrew/6822.htm - 6k

8104. shamar -- to keep, watch, preserve
... 3), preserves (6), protect (4), protects (1), regard (3), regards (2), remains
(1), reserved (1), secured (1), sentries (1), spare (1), spies (1), take care (1 ...
/hebrew/8104.htm - 7k

Library

The Spies
... The Spies. A Sermon (No.197). Delivered on Sabbath Morning, June 6, 1858, by the. ...
THE UNBELIEF OF THE CHILDREN of Israel, prompted them to send spies into Canaan ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the spies.htm

Spies in the Enemy's Camp.
... Homily II. Chapter XXXVII."Spies in the Enemy's Camp. "Some [945] of
our people attend feignedly upon Simon as companions, as ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xxxvii spies in the enemys.htm

The Report of the Hebrew Spies
... THE OLD TESTAMENT THE REPORT OF THE HEBREW SPIES. Moses sent certain men
to explore the land of Canaan and said to them, "Go up into ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the report of the hebrew.htm

The Testing of Joseph's Brothers
... they did not know him. Joseph also remembered the dreams which he had had
about them and said to them, "You spies! you have come to ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the testing of josephs brothers.htm

The Story of the Grapes from Canaan
... They named the place where they found this bunch of grapes Eshcol, a word which
means "a cluster." These twelve men were called "spies," because they went "to ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of the grapes.htm

The Story of Benjamin.
... "You are spies!" he cried in a passion. ... They had heard terrible stories of how these
fierce Egyptians never allowed spies to get out of their country alive. ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/the story of benjamin.htm

Then Follows the Book of Leviticus, in which the Precepts Bearing ...
... Spies, accordingly, having been sent into it, they report that it was a land blessed
with all abundance, but that the nations were powerful, and the towns ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xx then follows the.htm

How Moses Sent Some Persons to Search Out the Land of the ...
... Let us then send spies, who may take a view of the goodness of the land, and what
strength it is of; but, above all things, let us be of one mind, and let us ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 14 how moses sent.htm

How Joshua, the Commander of the Hebrews, Made War with The
... He also sent spies to Jericho to discover what forces they had, and what were their
intentions; but he put his camp in order, as intending soon to pass over ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how joshua the.htm

From Joshua to Samuel.
... 6.= Whom did J[)o]sh´u-[.a] send to look at the city of J[)e]r´[)i]-ch[=o]? =Two
spies.=. =7.= What woman hid the two spies and saved their lives? ...
/.../hurlbut/hurlbuts bible lessons/part second from joshua to samuel.htm

Thesaurus

Spies (22 Occurrences)
... When the Israelites reached Kadesh for the first time, and were encamped there,
Moses selected twelve spies from among the chiefs of the divisions of the tribes ...
/s/spies.htm - 15k

Rahab (14 Occurrences)
... encamped at Shittim, in the "Arabah" or Jordan valley opposite Jericho, ready to
cross the river, Joshua, as a final preparation, sent out two spies to "spy ...
/r/rahab.htm - 16k

Honest (34 Occurrences)
... Luke 20:20 So, after impatiently watching their opportunity, they sent spies who
were to act the part of good and honest men, that they might fasten on some ...
/h/honest.htm - 18k

Kadesh (30 Occurrences)
... From this place, in compliance with the desire of the people, Moses sent forth
"twelve spies" to spy the land. After ... Beersheba. (see SPIES.). ...
/k/kadesh.htm - 21k

Caleb (39 Occurrences)
... who encouraged the people to go up and possess the land, and they alone were spared
when a plague broke out in which the other ten spies perished (Numbers 13 ...
/c/caleb.htm - 24k

Numbers (136 Occurrences)
... 2. An account of the journey from Sinai to Moab, the sending out of the spies and
the report they brought back, and the murmurings (eight times) of the people ...
/n/numbers.htm - 71k

Dan (71 Occurrences)
... They accordingly sent out five spies from two of their towns, who went north to
the sources of the Jordan, and brought back a favourable report regarding that ...
/d/dan.htm - 41k

Ephraim (168 Occurrences)
... 2:18-24). When the spies were sent out to spy the land, "Oshea the son
of Nun" of this tribe signalized himself. The boundaries ...
/e/ephraim.htm - 56k

Shittim (34 Occurrences)
... were encamped after their two victories over Sihon and Og, at the close of their
desert wanderings, and from which Joshua sent forth two spies (qv) "secretly ...
/s/shittim.htm - 20k

Negeb (37 Occurrences)
... in Genesis 13:1 Abram is represented as going "into the South" when journeying
northward from Egypt toward Bethel; in Numbers 13:22 the spies coming from the ...
/n/negeb.htm - 26k

Bible Concordance

Spies (22 Occurrences)

Luke 20:20 They watched him, and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 11:26 I have served Him by frequent travelling, amid dangers in crossing rivers, dangers from robbers; dangers from my own countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles; dangers in the city, dangers in the Desert, dangers by sea, dangers from spies in our midst;
(WEY)

Hebrews 11:31 By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn't perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

James 2:25 In the same way also was not the notorious sinner Rahab declared to be righteous because of her actions when she welcomed the spies and hurriedly helped them to escape another way?
(WEY NIV)

Genesis 42:9 Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed about them, and said to them, "You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 42:11 We are all one man's sons; we are honest men. Your servants are not spies."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 42:14 Joseph said to them, "It is like I told you, saying,'You are spies!'
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 42:16 Send one of you, and let him get your brother, and you shall be bound, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you, or else by the life of Pharaoh surely you are spies."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 42:30 "The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 42:31 We said to him,'We are honest men. We are no spies.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 42:34 Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. So I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.'"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 21:1 And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.
(KJV WBS)

Joshua 2:1 Joshua the son of Nun secretly sent two men out of Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, including Jericho." They went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and slept there.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 2:7 The men pursued them the way to the Jordan to the fords: and as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.
(See NIV)

Joshua 6:17 The city shall be devoted, even it and all that is in it, to Yahweh. Only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
(See NIV)

Joshua 6:23 The young men who were spies went in, and brought out Rahab with her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. They also brought out all her relatives, and they set them outside of the camp of Israel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Joshua 6:25 But Rahab the prostitute, her father's household, and all that she had, Joshua saved alive. She lived in the midst of Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers, whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
(See NIV)

Judges 1:24 And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Show us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will show thee mercy.
(KJV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 26:4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had certainly come.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Samuel 15:10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say,'Absalom is king in Hebron!'"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS)

Job 39:29 From there he spies out the prey. His eyes see it afar off.
(WEB NAS RSV)

Psalms 37:32 The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to kill him.
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Spies

Spies in the Congregation of Galatia

Spies used at the Court of Absalom

Spies used by David

Spies: General Scriptures Concerning

Spies: Pharisees Acted As

Spies: Sent to Investigate: Canaan

Spies: Sent to Investigate: Jaazer

Spies: Sent to Investigate: Jericho