King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He saw the Keini and made this pronouncement: "Though your dwelling is firm, your nest set on rock,
Berean Standard Bible:
Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff.
American Standard Version:
And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwelling-place, And thy nest is set in the rock.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And he looked{H7200} on the Kenites{H7017}, and took up{H5375} his parable{H4912}, and said{H559}, Strong{H386} is thy dwellingplace{H4186}, and thou puttest{H7760} thy nest{H7064} in a rock{H5553}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 15:19
- The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
Judges 1:16
- And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which [lieth] in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.
Job 29:18
- ¶ Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply [my] days as the sand.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 24:21
**Numbers 24:21 Summary:**
**Themes:**
- Divine Sovereignty: The verse reflects the theme of God's sovereignty in guiding the destinies of different nations, as Balaam, under the influence of the Spirit of God, pronounces blessings or curses according to God's will.
- Blessing and Cursing: It highlights the power of words spoken by a prophet, which can have significant consequences for nations or tribes, as seen in Balaam's prophecies.
- Security and Providence: The imagery of a nest in a rock symbolizes security and divine protection, suggesting that the Kenites have a secure dwelling place due to God's provision.
**Historical Context:**
- The verse is part of the narrative where Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, is hired by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. However, each time Balaam attempts to curse them, he is compelled by God to bless them instead.
- The Kenites were a tribe descended from Cain and were often associated with the Midianites. They were nomadic or semi-nomadic metalworkers who lived in the region south of Moab.
- The Israelites were on their journey to the Promised Land and had recently defeated various kings and nations, causing concern among the neighboring peoples, including the Moabites and Kenites.
- Balaam's oracles, including the one concerning the Kenites, are part of a larger narrative showing God's protection over Israel and His sovereignty over all nations, including those on the periphery of Israel's experience, such as the Kenites.
In essence, Numbers 24:21 is a prophetic utterance by Balaam that acknowledges the Kenites' secure dwelling, likely due to their wise choice of settlement in rocky, defensible areas, and metaphorically speaks to the broader theme of God's oversight and blessings upon those who trust in Him.
*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: 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: H7017
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֵינִי
Transliteration: Qêynîy
Pronunciation: kay-nee'
Description: or קִינִי; (1 Chronicles 2:55), patronymic from קַיִן; a Kenite or member of the tribe of Kajin; Kenite. - Strong's Number: H5375
There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָשָׂא
Transliteration: nâsâʼ
Pronunciation: naw-saw'
Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield. - Strong's Number: H4912
There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָשָׁל
Transliteration: mâshâl
Pronunciation: maw-shawl'
Description: apparently from מָשַׁל in some original sense of superiority in mental action; properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse); byword, like, parable, proverb. - 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: H386
There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵיתָן
Transliteration: ʼêythân
Pronunciation: ay-thawn'
Description: or (shortened) אֵתָן ; from an unused root (meaning to continue); permanence; hence (concrete) permanent; specifically a chieftain; hard, mighty, rough, strength, strong. - Strong's Number: H4186
There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוֹשָׁב
Transliteration: môwshâb
Pronunciation: mo-shawb'
Description: or מֹשָׁב; from יָשַׁב; a seat; figuratively, a site; abstractly, a session; by extension an abode (the place or the time); by implication, population; assembly, dwell in, dwelling(-place), wherein (that) dwelt (in), inhabited place, seat, sitting, situation, sojourning. - Strong's Number: H7760
There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׂוּם
Transliteration: sûwm
Pronunciation: soom
Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work. - Strong's Number: H7064
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֵן
Transliteration: qên
Pronunciation: kane
Description: contracted from קָנַן; a nest (as fixed), sometimes including the nestlings; figuratively, a chamber or dwelling; nest, room. - Strong's Number: H5553
There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סֶלַע
Transliteration: çelaʻ
Pronunciation: seh'-lah
Description: from an unused root meaning to be lofty; a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress); (ragged) rock, stone(-ny), strong hold.