Numbers 24:8

God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce [them] through with his arrows.

God {H410} brought him forth {H3318} out of Egypt {H4714}; he hath as it were the strength {H8443} of an unicorn {H7214}: he shall eat up {H398} the nations {H1471} his enemies {H6862}, and shall break {H1633} their bones {H6106}, and pierce {H4272} them through with his arrows {H2671}.

God, who brought them out of Egypt, gives them the strength of a wild ox. They will devour the nations opposing them, break their bones, pierce them with their arrows.

God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.

God bringeth him forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, And shall break their bones in pieces, And smite them through with his arrows.

Commentary

Numbers 24:8 is a powerful declaration from Balaam's third prophecy, revealing God's unwavering commitment to Israel and their future strength.

Context

This verse is part of a series of oracles delivered by Balaam, a Mesopotamian prophet, who was hired by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the advancing Israelites. However, God intervened, supernaturally compelling Balaam to utter blessings instead of curses. This particular prophecy underscores God's mighty hand in Israel's past deliverance and their future victories. It highlights the futility of human attempts to thwart God's divine plan for His people.

Key Themes

  • Divine Deliverance and Protection: The opening phrase, "God brought him forth out of Egypt," immediately grounds the prophecy in the foundational event of Israel's history – the Exodus. This emphasizes God's active role as their deliverer and protector, a theme central to Israel's identity and hope. It reminds us of God's power to fight for His people.
  • Supernatural Strength and Victory: The vivid imagery of Israel having "the strength of a unicorn" and consuming nations speaks to a formidable, divinely endowed power. This strength is not inherent to Israel but is a gift from God, enabling them to overcome all opposition. It foreshadows their successful conquest of Canaan and future triumphs.
  • Judgment on Enemies: The violent metaphors – "eat up the nations his enemies," "break their bones," and "pierce them through with his arrows" – illustrate the decisive and complete victory Israel would achieve over those who opposed them. This reflects God's righteous judgment against nations hostile to His chosen people.

Linguistic Insights

The term "unicorn" in the King James Version (KJV) translates the Hebrew word re'em (רְא֡ם). While modern readers might picture a mythical single-horned horse, the re'em was very likely a powerful, wild bovine, such as the now-extinct aurochs, known for its immense strength, ferocity, and formidable horns. This translation choice highlights Israel's untamed and overwhelming strength, not as a mystical creature, but as a mighty force of nature, divinely empowered.

Practical Application

Numbers 24:8 offers profound insights for believers today. It reinforces the truth of God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises and His people. Just as God empowered Israel to overcome formidable enemies, He empowers believers through the Holy Spirit to face spiritual battles and life's challenges. We can draw confidence from the fact that if God is for us, who can be against us? This verse encourages us to trust in God's strength, not our own, for victory in every sphere of life, knowing that He is our ultimate deliverer and defender.

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 β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 45:5

    Thine arrows [are] sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; [whereby] the people fall under thee.

  • Numbers 14:9

    Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they [are] bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD [is] with us: fear them not.

  • Psalms 2:9

    Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

  • Numbers 23:24

    Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat [of] the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.

  • Jeremiah 50:17

    Israel [is] a scattered sheep; the lions have driven [him] away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.

  • Numbers 23:22

    God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

  • Jeremiah 50:9

    ΒΆ For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows [shall be] as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.
← Back