The Meaning of Numbers 13:20 Explained

Numbers 13:20

KJV: And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.

YLT: And what the land is, whether it is fat or lean; whether there is wood in it or not; and ye have strengthened yourselves, and have taken of the fruit of the land;' and the days are days of the first-fruits of grapes.

Darby: and what the land is, whether it is fat or lean, whether there are trees in it, or not. And take courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first grapes.

ASV: and what the land is, whether it is fat or lean, whether there is wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first-ripe grapes.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And what the land  [is], whether it [be] fat  or lean,  whether there be  wood  therein, or not. And be ye of good courage,  and bring  of the fruit  of the land.  Now the time  [was] the time  of the firstripe  grapes. 

What does Numbers 13:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 13:1-20 - The Spies Sent To Canaan
By comparing the opening verses with Deuteronomy 1:19-22, it appears that the suggestion about the spies emanated from the people, and that their proposal was graciously acquiesced in by God. But let us remember that it is a profound mistake to spy out or criticize the land or lot into which we are being led. We are almost certain to see the difficulties apart from the grace, and they sometimes appear to be insurmountable.
It is better to await with calm trust the unfoldings of divine providence. The book of the future is in the hands of the Lamb that was slain, Revelation 5:7-8. Take no thought for tomorrow! Go steadily on! God will go before you, and cleave your way! Unbelief sees giants and spells them with "G" faith sees God, and spells giants with "g." "Looking unto the promise of God," Abraham "wavered not," Romans 4:20. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 13

1  The names of the men who were sent to search the land
17  Their instructions
21  Their acts
26  Their relation

What do the individual words in Numbers 13:20 mean?

and what the land rich is or poor and [whether] there are there forests not And Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land And the time [was] the season of the first ripe grapes
וּמָ֣ה הָ֠אָרֶץ הַשְּׁמֵנָ֨ה הִ֜וא אִם־ רָזָ֗ה הֲיֵֽשׁ־ בָּ֥הּ עֵץ֙ אַ֔יִן וְהִ֨תְחַזַּקְתֶּ֔ם וּלְקַחְתֶּ֖ם מִפְּרִ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהַ֨יָּמִ֔ים יְמֵ֖י בִּכּוּרֵ֥י עֲנָבִֽים

וּמָ֣ה  and  what 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
הָ֠אָרֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
הַשְּׁמֵנָ֨ה  rich 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: שָׁמֵן  
Sense: fat, rich, robust.
רָזָ֗ה  poor 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רָזֶה  
Sense: lean.
הֲיֵֽשׁ־  and  [whether]  there  are 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יֵשׁ  
Sense: being, existence, substance, there is or are.
עֵץ֙  forests 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
וְהִ֨תְחַזַּקְתֶּ֔ם  And  Be  of  good  courage 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
וּלְקַחְתֶּ֖ם  and  bring  some 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
מִפְּרִ֣י  of  the  fruit 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פְּרִי  
Sense: fruit.
הָאָ֑רֶץ  of  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וְהַ֨יָּמִ֔ים  And  the  time  [was] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
יְמֵ֖י  the  season 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
בִּכּוּרֵ֥י  of  the  first  ripe 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בִּכּוּרִים  
Sense: first-fruits.
עֲנָבִֽים  grapes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֵנָב  
Sense: grape(s).