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:

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}:

and 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;

and he 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

Numbers 24:3 introduces the third prophetic oracle delivered by Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet from Pethor. This verse sets the stage for a powerful divine message, emphasizing its authoritative and divinely inspired origin, not merely human wisdom.

Context

This verse is part of a series of oracles (or prophecies) delivered by Balaam at the behest of Balak, the King of Moab. Balak had hired Balaam to curse the Israelites, who were encamped in the plains of Moab, causing great fear among the Moabites (see Numbers 22:5). However, despite Balak's persistent efforts and Balaam's initial willingness to comply for reward, God repeatedly intervened, turning Balaam's intended curses into blessings for Israel (as seen in Numbers 23:8). This third oracle further solidifies the theme of God's unwavering blessing upon His chosen people, delivered through the very prophet hired to curse them.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty: The verse highlights that God's plan cannot be thwarted by human or even demonic intentions. Balaam is merely a vessel through whom God's own words are spoken.
  • Authenticity of Prophecy: Despite Balaam's questionable character and motivations (he later advises Balak on how to corrupt Israel, see Numbers 31:16), the message itself is presented as directly from God. This emphasizes that the truth of a prophecy rests on its divine origin, not solely on the moral standing of the messenger.
  • Divine Revelation: The phrase "the man whose eyes are open" powerfully conveys that Balaam's insights are not natural wisdom but a direct, supernatural revelation granted by God.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translates the Hebrew word mashal (ืžึธืฉึธืืœ) as "parable." While mashal can mean a proverb or riddle, in this context, it refers to a weighty, authoritative utterance or a prophetic discourse. It implies a profound statement of truth, often with poetic or figurative language.

The phrase "the man whose eyes are open" (Hebrew: shatum ha'ayin, ืฉึฐืืชึปื ื”ึธืขึธื™ึดืŸ) is a point of scholarly discussion. While the KJV interprets it as "open" (suggesting clear, divinely given insight), some scholars suggest it could mean "closed" or "shut," implying one who has had their eyes shut to worldly distractions, thereby enabling them to see spiritual realities, or perhaps one whose eyes were once closed but have now been divinely opened. Regardless, the intent is to underscore that Balaam's vision and words are not his own, but a direct, supernatural insight from God.

Significance and Application

Numbers 24:3 reminds us that God is sovereign over all circumstances and individuals. Even when people try to work against His purposes, God can use them to accomplish His will, often in ways that defy human expectation. It reinforces the truth that God's blessings upon His people are irrevocable and cannot be overturned by any curse or human scheme. For believers today, this verse offers comfort in knowing that God's plans for them are steadfast, and His word, when truly from Him, carries undeniable authority, regardless of the messenger's personal flaws. It calls us to discern the message's source, recognizing when God Himself is speaking.

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 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:

  • 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 24:4

    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:

  • Numbers 23:18

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

  • 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.
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