Numbers 22:33

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The donkey saw me and turned aside these three times; and indeed, if she hadn't turned away from me, I would have killed you by now and saved it alive!"

Berean Standard Bible:

The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”

American Standard Version:

and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the ass^{H860} saw^{H7200} me, and turned^{H5186} from me^{H6440} these three^{H7969} times^{H7272}: unless^{H194} she had turned^{H5186} from me^{H6440}, surely now also I had slain^{H2026} thee, and saved her alive^{H2421}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Numbers 22:33

Numbers 22:33 is part of the narrative concerning Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, and his talking donkey. In this verse, the donkey speaks to Balaam, revealing that she has seen the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword, which Balaam himself could not see. The donkey turns away from the angel three times to avoid a confrontation, thus saving Balaam's life, as the angel was there to oppose Balaam's journey. This event is set within the broader context of Balaam's being hired by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites.

The themes present in this verse include the sovereignty of God, as the Lord intervenes in Balaam's journey to ensure that His will is done. It also touches on the concept of divine communication through unexpected means, as God uses a donkey to speak to Balaam. Additionally, it highlights the idea of divine protection, as the donkey's actions, guided by the angel, prevent Balaam's untimely death. The historical context is the period of the Israelites' wanderings in the wilderness, as they are poised to enter the Promised Land, and the surrounding nations, such as Moab, are grappling with how to respond to the Israelites' presence.

In summary, Numbers 22:33 captures a unique moment where divine intervention, through a speaking animal, confronts human ignorance and presumption, reinforcing the biblical theme that God's plans cannot be thwarted and that He can use even the most unlikely agents to accomplish His purposes.

*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: 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7200
   There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָאָה
   Transliteration: râʼâh
   Pronunciation: raw-aw'
   Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions.
   
3. Strong's Number: H5186
   There are 207 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָטָה
   Transliteration: nâṭâh
   Pronunciation: naw-taw'
   Description: a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application; [phrase] afternoon, apply, bow (down, -ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down, be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched, overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread (out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away), wrest, cause to yield.
   
4. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7969
   There are 381 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁלוֹשׁ
   Transliteration: shâlôwsh
   Pronunciation: shaw-loshe'
   Description: or שָׁלֹשׁ; masculine שְׁלוֹשָׁה; or שְׁלֹשָׁה; a primitive number; three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice; [phrase] fork, [phrase] often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, [phrase] thrice. Compare שָׁלִישׁ.
   
6. Strong's Number: H7272
   There are 232 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רֶגֶל
   Transliteration: regel
   Pronunciation: reh'-gel
   Description: from רָגַל; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda; [idiom] be able to endure, [idiom] according as, [idiom] after, [idiom] coming, [idiom] follow, (broken-)foot(-ed, -stool), [idiom] great toe, [idiom] haunt, [idiom] journey, leg, [phrase] piss, [phrase] possession, time.
   
7. Strong's Number: H194
   There are 98 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אוּלַי
   Transliteration: ʼûwlay
   Pronunciation: oo-lah'ee
   Description: or (shortened) אֻלַי; from אוֹ; if not; hence perhaps; if so be, may be, peradventure, unless.
   
8. 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.
   
9. Strong's Number: H2421
   There are 235 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָיָה
   Transliteration: châyâh
   Pronunciation: khaw-yaw'
   Description: a primitive root (compare חָוָה, חָיָה); to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive; keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole.