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.

Then the LORD {H3068} opened {H1540} the eyes {H5869} of Balaam {H1109}, and he saw {H7200} the angel {H4397} of the LORD {H3068} standing {H5324} in the way {H1870}, and his sword {H2719} drawn {H8025} in his hand {H3027}: and he bowed down {H6915} his head, and fell flat {H7812} on his face {H639}.

Then ADONAI opened Bil'am's eyes, so that he could see the angel of ADONAI standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, and he bowed his head and fell on his face.

Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.

Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.

Commentary

Numbers 22:31 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Balaam, the diviner hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. This verse describes the dramatic instant when God supernaturally opens Balaam's eyes, allowing him to see the Angel of the LORD (also known as the Angel of Yahweh) who had been obstructing his path, unseen by Balaam but clearly visible to his donkey.

Context

The preceding verses describe Balaam's journey, his persistent desire to go to Balak despite God's initial prohibition, and the remarkable three-fold resistance of his donkey. The donkey's unusual behavior, including speaking, was a direct result of it seeing the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with a drawn sword, while Balaam remained oblivious. Balaam's anger and physical abuse of the donkey underscore his spiritual blindness and stubbornness. This verse, Numbers 22:31, is the climax of this encounter, revealing the divine intervention that prevented Balaam from proceeding against God's will. God had warned Balaam not to go, as detailed in Numbers 22:12, yet Balaam's greed led him to persist.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation: The verse vividly portrays God's power to reveal truth to those who are spiritually blind. Balaam's eyes were "opened" by the LORD, signifying a supernatural act of discernment, allowing him to perceive the spiritual reality previously hidden from him.
  • Spiritual Blindness vs. Physical Sight: Balaam, a prophet, was unable to see what his donkey could. This narrative powerfully illustrates the concept of spiritual blindness, where the prophet's eyes were closed to divine reality even as his animal saw clearly, a theme echoed in passages like 2 Kings 6:17 where Elisha's servant's eyes were opened to see the heavenly host.
  • Divine Intervention and Protection: The Angel of the LORD's presence with a drawn sword highlights God's active and protective intervention. This was not merely a warning but a direct barrier, demonstrating God's commitment to protecting His people, Israel, from curses and harm.
  • Humility and Repentance: Upon seeing the angel, Balaam's immediate reaction is to bow down and fall flat on his face, indicating a posture of immediate fear, humility, and recognition of divine authority. This is a common response when encountering God's presence, as seen with other biblical figures.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the Angel of the LORD" (Hebrew: Malakh Yahweh) is significant. In many Old Testament contexts, this figure is understood not merely as an ordinary angel but as a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ, or a divine messenger acting with the full authority and presence of God Himself. The angel's role in this passage as an agent of divine judgment and protection reinforces this understanding.

Significance and Application

Numbers 22:31 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths. Firstly, God can use the most unexpected means, even a talking animal, to communicate His will and prevent us from going astray. It challenges us to remain open to divine guidance, even when it comes in unconventional ways or contradicts our own desires and plans. Secondly, it warns against spiritual blindness, especially when driven by selfish motives like greed or ambition. Balaam's focus on reward obscured his vision of God's clear will. We are called to pray for spiritual discernment (Ephesians 1:18) to perceive God's hand in our lives and to recognize His warnings. Finally, the passage assures believers of God's unwavering protection. Even when we are unaware of the spiritual battles being fought on our behalf, God actively intervenes to guard His purposes and His people.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 21:19

    And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

  • Acts 26:18

    To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

  • Luke 24:16

    But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

  • Luke 24:31

    And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

  • Exodus 34:8

    And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.

  • Numbers 24:16

    He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, [which] saw the vision of the Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open:

  • Psalms 9:20

    Put them in fear, O LORD: [that] the nations may know themselves [to be but] men. Selah.
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