King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken?
Complete Jewish Bible:
He came to him and stood by his burnt offering, with all the princes of Mo'av. Balak asked him, "What did ADONAI say?"
Berean Standard Bible:
So he returned to Balak, who was standing there by his burnt offering with the princes of Moab. “What did the LORD say?” Balak asked.
American Standard Version:
And he came to him, and, lo, he was standing by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath Jehovah spoken?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And when he came{H935} to him, behold, he stood{H5324} by his burnt offering{H5930}, and the princes{H8269} of Moab{H4124} with him. And Balak{H1111} said{H559} unto him, What hath the LORD{H3068} spoken{H1696}?
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 23:26
- But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?
Jeremiah 37:17
- Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there [any] word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.
1 Samuel 3:17
- And he said, What [is] the thing that [the LORD] hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide [it] not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide [any] thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 23:17
**Numbers 23:17 Summary:**
**Themes:**
- Divine Encounter: The passage emphasizes the divine encounter between Balaam and God, highlighting that Balaam is not initiating curses according to his own plans but is speaking the words that God puts in his mouth.
- Prophetic Revelation: The theme of prophetic revelation is central, as Balaam is portrayed as a prophet who communicates the will of God, despite his initial reluctance and the expectations of King Balak.
- Sovereignty of God: The verse underscores the sovereignty of God over human affairs and the inability of human beings, even a king like Balak, to manipulate divine favor or bend the will of God to their own desires.
- Blessing vs. Cursing: The broader narrative in which this verse is situated deals with the tension between Balak's desire for Balaam to curse the Israelites and Balaam's pronouncement of blessings upon them, as directed by God.
**Historical Context:**
- The Israelites' Journey: Numbers 23:17 is part of the story of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. They are encamped on the plains of Moab, posing a perceived threat to the Moabites.
- Balak's Fear: King Balak of Moab, fearing the Israelites, seeks to hire the seer Balaam to curse them, hoping to weaken or defeat them.
- Balaam's Role: Balaam, initially intending to comply with Balak's request, is redirected by God to bless Israel instead of cursing it. Despite Balak's insistence and multiple attempts to secure a curse, Balaam can only speak the blessings that God ordains.
- Moabite Leadership: The princes of Moab accompanying Balak signify the importance of the situation and the collective concern of the Moabite leadership regarding the presence of the Israelites.
In essence, Numbers 23:17 captures a moment in the narrative where Balak confronts Balaam, expecting a curse against the Israelites, but Balaam, standing by his burnt offering (a sign of his readiness to obey God), can only relay the words that the Lord has spoken, which turn out to be blessings upon Israel, much to Balak's dismay. This event illustrates the futility of opposing God's will and the ultimate triumph of God's plans over human machinations.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H5324
There are 75 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָצַב
Transliteration: nâtsab
Pronunciation: naw-tsab'
Description: a primitive root; to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively); appointed, deputy, erect, establish, [idiom] Huzzah (by mistake for a proper name), lay, officer, pillar, present, rear up, set (over, up), settle, sharpen, establish, (make to) stand(-ing, still, up, upright), best state. - Strong's Number: H5930
There are 262 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֹלָה
Transliteration: ʻôlâh
Pronunciation: o-law'
Description: or עוֹלָה; feminine active participle of עָלָה; a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke); ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to. See also עֶוֶל. - Strong's Number: H8269
There are 368 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שַׂר
Transliteration: sar
Pronunciation: sar
Description: from שָׂרַר; a head person (of any rank or class); captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward. - Strong's Number: H4124
There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוֹאָב
Transliteration: Môwʼâb
Pronunciation: mo-awb
Description: from a prolonged form of the prepositional prefix m-and אָב; from (her (the mother's)) father; Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants; Moab. - Strong's Number: H1111
There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּלָק
Transliteration: Bâlâq
Pronunciation: baw-lawk'
Description: from בָּלַק; waster; Balak, a Moabitish king; Balak. - 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. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H1696
There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָבַר
Transliteration: dâbar
Pronunciation: daw-bar'
Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.