Deu 1:28 | NETfull | STEP | What is going to happen to us? Our brothers have drained away our courage by describing people who are more numerous and taller than we are, and great cities whose defenses appear to be as high as heaven itself! Moreover, they said they saw Anakites there.”

Deuteronomy 1:28

28 What is going to happen to us? Our brothers have drained away our courage ^{▼▼ Heb “have caused our hearts to melt.”} by describing people who are more numerous ^{▼▼ Heb “greater.” Many English versions understand this to refer to physical size or strength rather than numbers (cf. “stronger,” NAB, NIV, NRSV; “bigger,” NASB).} and taller than we are, and great cities whose defenses appear to be as high as heaven ^{▼▼ Or “as the sky.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.} itself! Moreover, they said they saw ^{▼▼ Heb “we have seen.”} Anakites ^{▼▼ Heb “the sons of the Anakim.”} ^{▼▼ Anakites were giant people (Num 13:33; Deut 2:10, 21; 9:2) descended from a certain Anak whose own forefather Arba founded the city of Kiriath Arba, i.e., Hebron (Josh 21:11).} there.”