The Meaning of Numbers 14:23 Explained

Numbers 14:23

KJV: Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

YLT: they see not the land which I have sworn to their fathers, yea, none of those despising Me see it;

Darby: shall in no wise see the land which I did swear unto their fathers: none of them that despised me shall see it.

ASV: surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that despised me see it:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Surely they shall not  see  the land  which I sware  unto their fathers,  neither shall any of them that provoked  me see  it: 

What does Numbers 14:23 Mean?

Study Notes

Surely
Kadesh-barnea is, by the unbelief of Israel there, and the divine comment on that unbelief Numbers 14:22-38 ; Deuteronomy 1:19-40 ; 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 ; Hebrews 3:12-19 invested with immense spiritual significance. The people had faith to sprinkle the blood of atonement Exodus 12:28 and to come out of Egypt (the world), but had not faith to enter their Canaan rest. Therefore, though redeemed, they were a forty years' grief to Jehovah. The spiritual application is made in Hebrews 6:3-11 :
.
impossible
Hebrews 6:4-8 presents the case of Jewish professed believers who halt short of faith in Christ after advancing to the very threshold of salvation, even "going along with" the Holy Spirit in His work of enlightenment and conviction. John 16:8-10 . It is not said that they had faith. This supposed person is like the spies at Kadesh-barnea Deuteronomy 1:19-26 who saw the land and had the very fruit of it in their hands, and yet turned back.
partakers (Greek - ἱλάσκομαι ," going along with).

Context Summary

Numbers 14:13-25 - Pardon By Moses' Intercession
Moses was free from selfish ambition. His one thought was for the glory of God. When for a moment the suggestion presented itself to his mind that his own seed should take the place of this rebellious race he instantly dismissed it. It was not to be entertained for a moment, lest the Egyptians make capital of it. He had no desire to be the ancestor of a great nation, if it would tarnish the divine honor. He would rather be consigned to oblivion himself than that one jewel in the glorious galaxy of God's glory should be bedimmed.
There were three arguments in his intercession: God's reputation, God's consistency with Himself and God's mercy. Methinks I hear the voice of the Supreme Mediator these pleadings! His prayer was heard, but the generation that believed not could not enter the land. You may escape Egypt and yet miss Canaan. See Hebrews 3:12-19. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Numbers 14:23 mean?

not they shall see surely the land of which I swore to their fathers and any of those who rejected Me nor shall see it
אִם־ יִרְאוּ֙ אֶת־ הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתִּי לַאֲבֹתָ֑ם וְכָל־ מְנַאֲצַ֖י לֹ֥א יִרְאֽוּהָ

יִרְאוּ֙  they  shall  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶת־  surely 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאָ֔רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  of  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתִּי  I  swore 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
לַאֲבֹתָ֑ם  to  their  fathers 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וְכָל־  and  any  of  those 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מְנַאֲצַ֖י  who  rejected  Me 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: נָאַץ  
Sense: to spurn, contemn, despise, abhor.
לֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִרְאֽוּהָ  shall  see  it 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person feminine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.