🔢WEB · Numbers 13:14
What does Numbers 13:14 mean?
"Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi."
— Numbers 13:14 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
Of the tribe of Joseph, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.
Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.
Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.
Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.
Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.
These are the names of the men who Moses sent to spy out the land. Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua.
Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way by the South, and go up into the hill country.
Explanation
Numbers 13:14 is a single entry in a list of names — specifically, it identifies Nahbi son of Vophsi as the representative chosen from the tribe of Naphtali. In plain language, the verse is simply record-keeping: it tells us who was selected to represent one of the twelve tribes of Israel for a specific mission. The text gives no additional details about Nahbi's character, actions, or fate beyond this identification.
The context is Numbers 13, where Moses, acting on God's instruction, selects one leader from each of the twelve tribes of Israel to scout out the land of Canaan before Israel's planned conquest of it. This chapter records the sending of the twelve spies, and verses 4 through 15 list each man by name and tribe — Nahbi is the representative from Naphtali, one of the sons of Jacob through Bilhah. Moses wrote or compiled this account (traditionally understood as the author of the Pentateuch), addressing the Israelite community as part of the larger narrative of their journey from Egypt toward the Promised Land. The purpose of this list was likely to give the account historical credibility and to make clear that every tribe had a stake and a voice in the
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