King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Bil'am said to Balak, "Stand by your burnt offering while I go off; maybe ADONAI will come and meet me; and whatever he shows me I will tell you." He went off to a bare hill.
Berean Standard Bible:
“Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone,” Balaam said to Balak. “Perhaps the LORD will meet with me. And whatever He reveals to me, I will tell you.” So Balaam went off to a barren height,
American Standard Version:
And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt-offering, and I will go: peradventure Jehovah will come to meet me; and whatsoever he showeth me I will tell thee. And he went to a bare height.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Balaam{H1109} said{H559} unto Balak{H1111}, Stand{H3320} by thy burnt offering{H5930}, and I will go{H3212}: peradventure the LORD{H3068} will come{H7136} to meet{H7125} me: and whatsoever{H1697} he sheweth{H7200} me I will tell{H5046} thee. And he went{H3212} to an high place{H8205}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 23:15
- And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet [the LORD] yonder.
Genesis 22:2
- And he said, Take now thy son, thine only [son] Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Numbers 24:1
- ¶ And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
Genesis 22:7
- And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here [am] I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where [is] the lamb for a burnt offering?
Genesis 22:8
- And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
Numbers 22:31
- Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
Numbers 22:35
- And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
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Commentary for Numbers 23:3
Numbers 23:3 is part of the narrative involving Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, and Balak, the king of Moab. The Moabites were concerned about the Israelites, who were camped nearby after their exodus from Egypt, and they feared the potential power and influence of this growing nation. In an attempt to curse the Israelites, Balak summoned Balaam, hoping that his prophetic powers could be used to weaken the Israelite threat.
In the verse, Balaam instructs Balak to stand by his burnt offering, a common form of worship and sacrifice in the ancient Near East, while Balaam goes to meet with the Lord. The phrase "peradventure the LORD will come to meet me" reflects Balaam's understanding that his prophetic insight is contingent upon divine favor and revelation. Balaam is open to whatever message or vision God might impart to him, committing to relay that message back to Balak. The verse underscores the theme of divine sovereignty, as Balaam acknowledges that his ability to prophesy is entirely dependent on God's willingness to communicate with him.
The historical context of this passage is set during the Israelites' journey towards the Promised Land. The Moabites, descendants of Lot and thus relatives of the Israelites, are depicted as fearful of the Israelites' numbers and God's favor towards them. Balak's attempt to employ Balaam to curse Israel is a reflection of the political and spiritual tensions between the nations.
Balaam's subsequent actions and words, as recorded in the following chapters, reveal a complex character who, despite his initial willingness to seek God's will, becomes entangled in the temptation to satisfy Balak's wishes for personal gain. This narrative arc highlights themes of obedience, the integrity of prophecy, and the futility of opposing God's chosen people through curses or other means. Despite human machinations, God's plans cannot be thwarted, and His blessings for Israel prevail over the curses intended by their enemies.
*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: 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. - 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: 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: H3320
There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָצַב
Transliteration: yâtsab
Pronunciation: yaw-tsab'
Description: a primitive root; to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue; present selves, remaining, resort, set (selves), (be able to, can, with-) stand (fast, forth, -ing, still, up). - 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: 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. - 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: H7136
There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָרָה
Transliteration: qârâh
Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
Description: a primitive root; to light upon (chiefly by accident); causatively, to bring about; specifically, to impose timbers (for roof or floor); appoint, lay (make) beams, befall, bring, come (to pass unto), floor, (hap) was, happen (unto), meet, send good speed. - Strong's Number: H7125
There are 117 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קִרְאָה
Transliteration: qirʼâh
Pronunciation: keer-aw'
Description: from קָרָא; an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite); [idiom] against (he come), help, meet, seek, [idiom] to, [idiom] in the way. - Strong's Number: H1697
There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּבָר
Transliteration: dâbâr
Pronunciation: daw-baw'
Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work. - 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. - Strong's Number: H5046
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָגַד
Transliteration: nâgad
Pronunciation: naw-gad'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise; bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter. - Strong's Number: H8205
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁפִי
Transliteration: shᵉphîy
Pronunciation: shef-ee'
Description: from שָׁפָה; bareness; concretely, a bare hill or plain; high place, stick out.