Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all the lands,
Parallel translations
- WEB Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;
- KJV Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;
- BSB Moreover, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands—
- NKJV So I also raised My hand in an oath to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, ‘flowing with milk and honey,’ the glory of all lands,
- NLT But I took a solemn oath against them in the wilderness. I swore I would not bring them into the land I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful place on earth.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God swore in the wilderness that the rebellious generation would not enter the promised land. Their unbelief barred them from the inheritance.
Overview
This recalls the judgment after the spies' report, when that generation was condemned to die in the wilderness (Numbers 14). The 'glory of all lands' they forfeited was the very blessing God had sworn to give. Their exclusion is a sober warning that persistent unbelief shuts people out of God's rest (Hebrews 3:18-19).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Ps 95:11Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They won’t enter into my rest.”
- Ps 106:26Therefore he swore to them that he would overthrow them in the wilderness,
- Deut 1:34–35Yahweh heard the voice of your words, and was angry, and swore, saying,
- Heb 4:3For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest”; although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
- Num 14:23–30surely they shall not see the land which I swore to their fathers, neither shall any of those who despised me see it.
- Heb 3:11as I swore in my wrath, ‘They will not enter into my rest.’”
- Ezek 20:23Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries;
- Num 26:64–65But among these there was not a man of them who were counted by Moses and Aaron the priest, who counted the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.
- Heb 3:18To whom did he swear that they wouldn’t enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient?
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 20:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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