Numbers 14:6
New International Version
Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes

New Living Translation
Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing.

English Standard Version
And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes

Berean Standard Bible
Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes

King James Bible
And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

New King James Version
But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;

New American Standard Bible
And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;

NASB 1995
Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;

NASB 1977
And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;

Legacy Standard Bible
And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;

Amplified Bible
Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes [as a sign of grief],

Christian Standard Bible
Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes

American Standard Version
And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of them that spied out the land, rent their clothes:

Contemporary English Version
Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes in sorrow

English Revised Version
And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that spied out the land, rent their clothes:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
At the same time, two of those who had explored the land, Joshua (son of Nun) and Caleb (son of Jephunneh), tore their clothes in despair.

Good News Translation
And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, two of the spies, tore their clothes in sorrow

International Standard Version
Nun's son Joshua and Jephunneh's son Caleb, who had accompanied the others who also had explored the land, tore their clothes

Majority Standard Bible
Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes

NET Bible
And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, two of those who had investigated the land, tore their garments.

New Heart English Bible
Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes:

Webster's Bible Translation
And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

World English Bible
Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, of those spying out the land, have torn their garments,

Young's Literal Translation
And Joshua son of Nun, and Caleb son of Jephunneh, of those spying the land, have rent their garments,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joshua, son of Nun, and Caleb, son of Jephunneh, from those searching out the land, tare their garments.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But Josue the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephone, who themselves also had viewed the land, rent their garments,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Yet truly, Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who themselves had also viewed the land, tore their garments,

New American Bible
while Joshua, son of Nun, and Caleb, son of Jephunneh, who had been among those that reconnoitered the land, tore their garments

New Revised Standard Version
And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jophaniah, who were of those who had spied out the land, rent their clothes;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yeshua, son of Nun, and Kalab, son of Yuphana, of the spies of the land, tore their garments.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of them that spied out the land, rent their clothes.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But Joshua the son of Naue, and Chaleb the son of Jephonne, of the number of them that spied out the land, rent their garments,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The People Rebel
5Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown before the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel. 6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7and said to the whole congregation of Israel, “The land we passed through and explored is an exceedingly good land.…

Cross References
Joshua 14:7-9
I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back to him an honest report. / Although my brothers who went with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear, I remained loyal to the LORD my God. / On that day Moses swore to me, saying, ‘Surely the land on which you have set foot will be an inheritance to you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’

Deuteronomy 1:36-38
except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land on which he has set foot, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.” / The LORD was also angry with me on your account, and He said, “Not even you shall enter the land. / Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, will enter it. Encourage him, for he will enable Israel to inherit the land.

Joshua 2:9-11
and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you. / For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, whom you devoted to destruction. / When we heard this, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below.

Hebrews 3:16-19
For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? / And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? ...

Joshua 14:6-8
Then the sons of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me. / I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back to him an honest report. / Although my brothers who went with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear, I remained loyal to the LORD my God.

Deuteronomy 31:7-8
Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. / The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

1 Samuel 30:6
And David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of every man grieved for his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

Joshua 1:6-9
Be strong and courageous, for you shall give these people the inheritance of the land that I swore to their fathers I would give them. / Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go. / This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do. ...

Hebrews 4:1-2
Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it. / For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.

1 Corinthians 10:10-11
And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. / Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

Deuteronomy 9:23
And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh-barnea, He said, “Go up and possess the land that I have given you.” But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You neither believed Him nor obeyed Him.

Psalm 106:24-25
They despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise. / They grumbled in their tents and did not listen to the voice of the LORD.

2 Corinthians 4:13
And in keeping with what is written, “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,

Joshua 14:10-12
Now behold, as the LORD promised, He has kept me alive these forty-five years since He spoke this word to Moses, while Israel wandered in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old, / still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. As my strength was then, so it is now for war, for going out, and for coming in. / 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.”

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?


Treasury of Scripture

And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

Joshua

Numbers 14:24,30,38
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…

Numbers 13:6,8,30
Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh…

rent their clothes

Genesis 37:29,34
And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes…

Genesis 44:13
Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.

Joshua 7:6
And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.

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Caleb Clothes Explored Jephunneh Jephun'neh Rent Searched Signs Spied Spying Tore
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Caleb Clothes Explored Jephunneh Jephun'neh Rent Searched Signs Spied Spying Tore
Numbers 14
1. The people murmur at the news
6. Joshua and Caleb labor to still them
11. God threatens them
13. Moses intercedes with God, and obtains pardon
26. The Murmurers are debarred from entering into the land
36. The men who raised the evil report die by a plague
40. The people that would invade the land against the will of God are smitten














Joshua son of Nun
The name "Joshua" is derived from the Hebrew "Yehoshua," meaning "Yahweh is salvation." Joshua, a central figure in the Old Testament, is a type of Christ, symbolizing deliverance and leadership. As the son of Nun, Joshua's lineage is from the tribe of Ephraim, one of the tribes of Israel. His role as a leader and successor to Moses is significant, as he embodies faithfulness and courage. Historically, Joshua's leadership is pivotal in the conquest of Canaan, and his faith in God's promises sets a standard for believers.

Caleb son of Jephunneh
Caleb's name means "whole-hearted" or "faithful," reflecting his character. As the son of Jephunneh, Caleb is from the tribe of Judah, the tribe from which King David and ultimately Jesus Christ would come. Caleb's faith and trust in God's promises are exemplary, as he stands firm against the majority's fear and disbelief. His partnership with Joshua highlights the unity and strength found in shared faith and purpose.

who were among those who had spied out the land
This phrase refers to the mission of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore Canaan, the Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb were part of this group, tasked with assessing the land's resources and inhabitants. Their report contrasted sharply with the other ten spies, who focused on the challenges rather than the opportunities. This mission is a test of faith, revealing the hearts of the Israelites and their readiness to trust in God's provision.

tore their clothes
Tearing one's clothes is an ancient expression of grief, distress, or repentance. In the context of Numbers 14:6, Joshua and Caleb's action signifies their deep sorrow and frustration over the Israelites' lack of faith and rebellion against God. This act is a powerful visual representation of their commitment to God and their anguish over the people's disobedience. It serves as a call to repentance and a reminder of the seriousness of turning away from God's promises.

(6) Rent their clothes.--Comp. Leviticus 10:6 and Note.

Verse 6. - And Joshua. In a last hopeless effort to bring the people to a better mind, or at least to deliver their own souls, there was no reason why Joshua should hold back any more. Rent their clothes. Another token of grief and horrer practiced from patriarchal times (cf. Genesis 37:29, 34; Job 1:20).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Joshua
וִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ (wî·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites

son
בִּן־ (bin-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Nun
נ֗וּן (nūn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5126: Nun -- father of Joshua

and Caleb
וְכָלֵב֙ (wə·ḵā·lêḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3612: Caleb -- a son of Jephunneh and sent by Moses to spy out the land

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Jephunneh,
יְפֻנֶּ֔ה (yə·p̄un·neh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3312: Jephunneh -- father of Caleb, also an Asherite

who were
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

among those who had spied out
הַתָּרִ֖ים (hat·tā·rîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 8446: To meander, about, for, trade, reconnoitring

the land,
הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

tore
קָרְע֖וּ (qā·rə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7167: To rend

their clothes
בִּגְדֵיהֶֽם׃ (biḡ·ḏê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 899: A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage


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OT Law: Numbers 14:6 Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb (Nu Num.)
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