Numbers 23:27

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Balak said to Bil'am, "Come, I will take you now to another place; maybe it will please God for you to curse them for me from there."

Berean Standard Bible:

“Please come,” said Balak, “I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you curse them for me from there.”

American Standard Version:

And Balak said unto Balaam, Come now, I will take thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Balak^{H1111} said^{H559} unto Balaam^{H1109}, Come^{H3212}, I pray thee, I will bring^{H3947} thee unto another^{H312} place^{H4725}; peradventure it will please^{{H3474}{H5869}} God^{H430} that thou mayest curse^{H6895} me them from thence.

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Commentary for Numbers 23:27

1. Themes:
- Divine Sovereignty: The narrative emphasizes that God's will cannot be manipulated or changed by human desires or actions. Balaam can only speak the blessings that God puts in his mouth, highlighting God's control over the situation.
- Faith and Obedience: Balak's insistence on trying to get Balaam to curse Israel, despite previous failures, reflects a lack of faith and disobedience to God's clear intentions.
- Blessing and Curse: The verse touches on the theme of God's protection over His people, Israel, and the inability of enemies to prevail against them through curses or other means.

2. Historical Context:
- The verse is set during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness toward the Promised Land. Balak, the king of Moab, sees the vast number of Israelites as a threat and fears they will overpower his land.
- Seeking to use supernatural means to overcome this threat, Balak sends for Balaam, a renowned diviner, to curse the Israelites. This is an attempt to weaken or nullify the perceived threat posed by the Israelites' presence.
- The events unfold in the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, where the Israelites are encamped. Despite Balak's efforts and Balaam's initial willingness to accept the commission, Balaam can only bless Israel as directed by God.
- This episode reflects the broader historical context of the ancient Near East, where divination and the power of curses and blessings were taken seriously and were part of the strategic considerations of rulers like Balak.

*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: 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.
   
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: 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.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3212
   There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַךְ
   Transliteration: yâlak
   Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
   Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3947
   There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָקַח
   Transliteration: lâqach
   Pronunciation: law-kakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
   
6. Strong's Number: H312
   There are 271 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַחֵר
   Transliteration: ʼachêr
   Pronunciation: akh-air'
   Description: from אָחַר; properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc.; (an-) other man, following, next, strange.
   
7. Strong's Number: H4725
   There are 379 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָקוֹם
   Transliteration: mâqôwm
   Pronunciation: maw-kome'
   Description: or מָקֹם; also (feminine) מְקוֹמָה; or מְקֹמָה; from קוּם; properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind); country, [idiom] home, [idiom] open, place, room, space, [idiom] whither(-soever).
   
8. Strong's Number: H3474
   There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָשַׁר
   Transliteration: yâshar
   Pronunciation: yaw-shar'
   Description: a primitive root; to be straight or even; figuratively, to be (causatively, to make) right, pleasant, prosperous; direct, fit, seem good (meet), [phrase] please (will), be (esteem, go) right (on), bring (look, make, take the) straight (way), be upright(-ly).
   
9. Strong's Number: H5869
   There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַיִן
   Transliteration: ʻayin
   Pronunciation: ah'-yin
   Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves).
   
10. Strong's Number: H430
    There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
    Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
    Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
    Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
    
11. Strong's Number: H6895
    There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָבַב
    Transliteration: qâbab
    Pronunciation: kaw-bab'
    Description: a primitive root; to scoop out, i.e. (figuratively) to malign or execrate (i.e. stab with words); [idiom] at all, curse.