Numbers 22:29

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Bil'am said to the donkey, "It's because you've been making a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand; I would kill you on the spot!"

Berean Standard Bible:

Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”

American Standard Version:

And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Balaam^{H1109} said^{H559} unto the ass^{H860}, Because thou hast mocked^{H5953} me: I would^{H3863} there were^{H3426} a sword^{H2719} in mine hand^{H3027}, for now would I kill^{H2026} thee.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Numbers 22:29

Numbers 22:29 is part of the narrative involving Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, and his talking donkey. The historical context of this verse is set during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt, on their way to the Promised Land. The Moabite king, Balak, fearing the Israelites, has summoned Balaam to curse them, hoping to weaken them.

In the verses leading up to 22:29, Balaam is riding his donkey to meet Balak when the angel of the Lord, invisible to Balaam but seen by the donkey, blocks their path. The donkey, seeking to avoid the angel, turns aside, crushes Balaam's foot against a wall, and finally lies down under Balaam. Each time, Balaam beats the donkey in anger, unaware of the angel's presence. In verse 29, after the donkey speaks to Balaam, questioning his treatment, Balaam replies with frustration, wishing he had a sword to kill the animal for mocking him.

The themes present in this verse include the limitation of human perception, as Balaam cannot see the angelic being that the donkey can; the idea of divine intervention, as God uses the donkey to prevent Balaam from proceeding; and the motif of a speaking animal, which serves to highlight Balaam's folly and the extraordinary nature of the event. This moment of divine revelation serves as a turning point for Balaam, leading to his eventual blessing of Israel instead of cursing them, as God had intended. The story underscores God's sovereignty over all creation, including the actions of those who do not follow the Israelite God, and illustrates that even animals can be used as instruments of divine will.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1109
   There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בִּלְעָם
   Transliteration: Bilʻâm
   Pronunciation: bil-awm'
   Description: probably from בַּל and עַם; not (of the) people, i.e. foreigner; Bilam, a Mesopotamian prophet; also a place in Palestine; Balaam, Bileam.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H860
   There are 120 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָתוֹן
   Transliteration: ʼâthôwn
   Pronunciation: aw-thone'
   Description: probably from the same as אֵיתָן (in the sense of patience); a female donkey (from its docility); (she) ass.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5953
   There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָלַל
   Transliteration: ʻâlal
   Pronunciation: aw-lal'
   Description: a primitive root; to effect thoroughly; specifically, to glean (also figuratively); by implication (in a bad sense) to overdo, i.e. maltreat, be saucy to, pain, impose (also literal); abuse, affect, [idiom] child, defile, do, glean, mock, practise, thoroughly, work (wonderfully).
   
5. Strong's Number: H3863
   There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לוּא
   Transliteration: lûwʼ
   Pronunciation: loo
   Description: or לֻא; or לוּ; a conditional particle; if; by implication (interj. as a wish) would that!; if (haply), peradventure, I pray thee, though, I would, would God (that).
   
6. Strong's Number: H3426
   There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יֵשׁ
   Transliteration: yêsh
   Pronunciation: yaysh
   Description: perhaps from an unused root meaning to stand out, or exist; entity; used adverbially or as a copula for the substantive verb (הָיָה); there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection); (there) are, (he, it, shall, there, there may, there shall, there should) be, thou do, had, hast, (which) hath, (I, shalt, that) have, (he, it, there) is, substance, it (there) was, (there) were, ye will, thou wilt, wouldest.
   
7. Strong's Number: H2719
   There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֶרֶב
   Transliteration: chereb
   Pronunciation: kheh'-reb
   Description: from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement; axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
9. Strong's Number: H2026
   There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָרַג
   Transliteration: hârag
   Pronunciation: haw-rag'
   Description: a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent; destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), [idiom] surely.