Numbers 24:15

ยถ And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

And he took up {H5375} his parable {H4912}, and said {H559}, Balaam {H1109} the son {H1121} of Beor {H1160} hath said {H5002}, and the man {H1397} whose eyes {H5869} are open {H8365} hath said {H5002}:

So he made his pronouncement: "This is the speech of Bil'am, son of B'or; the speech of the man whose eyes have been opened;

Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, โ€œThis is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith;

Commentary

Context

Numbers 24:15 introduces Balaam's third (or fourth, depending on the count) major prophetic oracle, delivered on the plains of Moab. King Balak of Moab had repeatedly hired Balaam, a Mesopotamian diviner, to curse the advancing Israelites. However, each attempt resulted in Balaam, under divine compulsion, blessing Israel instead. This particular oracle begins with Balaam reasserting his unique spiritual authority and insight, setting the stage for one of his most significant prophecies concerning the future of Israel.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation and Sovereignty: The verse highlights that Balaam's words are not his own but divinely inspired. Despite his mercenary motives and moral failings, God uses him as an instrument to declare His sovereign will and blessing upon Israel. This underscores God's absolute control over prophecy and His ability to work through unexpected channels.
  • Balaam's Claim to Spiritual Insight: Balaam emphasizes his prophetic credentials, describing himself as "the man whose eyes are open." This phrase suggests a direct and profound perception of divine realities, contrasting with his prior spiritual blindness that was only overcome when his donkey supernaturally saw the angel of the Lord before he did. It sets the stage for the powerful visions he is about to declare.
  • Irrevocable Blessing: This introduction reinforces the core message of the Balaam narrative: God's plans for Israel are immutable. No human or demonic force, including the king of Moab or Balaam himself, can thwart the divine decree to bless His chosen people.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "took up his parable" translates the Hebrew word mashal (ืžึธืฉึธืืœ), which often means a proverb or a similitude. However, in this prophetic context, it signifies a solemn, weighty utterance or oracle, often poetic in form and carrying significant spiritual meaning. It implies a profound, divinely inspired declaration rather than a simple saying.

The expression "the man whose eyes are open" is translated from the Hebrew shetum ha'ayin (ืฉึฐืืชึปื ื”ึธืขึทื™ึดืŸ). While the King James Version interprets this as "open," implying spiritual insight and vision, other interpretations suggest "closed" or "pierced" eyes, possibly referring to a physical disability but paired with spiritual perception. The KJV's rendering, however, emphasizes Balaam's claim to a unique, direct spiritual sight, enabling him to receive and convey divine messages, including the notable prophecy of a Star out of Jacob.

Practical Application

Numbers 24:15 reminds us that God's sovereignty extends over all things, even using individuals with questionable character to accomplish His purposes. It teaches us that divine truth is not dependent on the purity of the messenger but on the authority of the Sender. For believers today, it encourages us to trust in God's unchanging promises and His ultimate control over history. Just as God ensured His blessing upon Israel, He remains faithful to His covenant with His people, working all things according to His perfect plan.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 23:7

    And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, [saying], Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.

  • Numbers 24:3

    And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

  • Numbers 24:4

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

  • Job 27:1

    ยถ Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

  • Numbers 23:18

    And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:

  • Matthew 13:35

    That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
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