Numbers 23:18 - Forerunner Commentary

Numbers 23:18

16 Then the Lord met Balaam, and ^aput a word in his mouth, and said, “Go back to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”

17 So he came to him, and there he was, standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab were with him. And Balak said to him, “What has the Lord spoken?”

18 Then he took up his oracle and said:
^a“Rise up, Balak, and hear!
Listen to me, son of Zippor!

19 “God^a is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He ^bsaid, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

20 Behold, I have received a command to bless;
^aHe has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.

21 “He^a has not observed iniquity in Jacob,
Nor has He seen¹ wickedness in Israel.
The Lord his God is with him,
^bAnd the shout of a King is among them.

22 ^aGod brings them out of Egypt;
He has ^bstrength like a wild ox.

23 “For there is no¹ sorcery against Jacob,
Nor any¹ divination against Israel.
It now must be said of Jacob
And of Israel, ‘Oh, ^awhat God has done!’

24 Look, a people rises ^alike a lioness,
And lifts itself up like a lion;
^bIt shall not lie down until it devours the prey,
And drinks the blood of the slain.”

25 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all!”

26 So Balaam answered and said to Balak, “Did I not tell you, saying, ^a‘All that the Lord speaks, that I must do’?”

Verse Comparison: Numbers 23:18

<< Numbers 23:17

Numbers 23:19 >>

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

Amplified® Bible
Balaam took up his [figurative] discourse and said: Rise up, Balak, and hear; listen [closely] to me, son of Zippor.

Contemporary English Version
Balaam answered: "Pay close attention to my words--

Darby English Version
Then he took up his parable and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear! hearken unto me, son of Zippor!

Good News Bible
and Balaam uttered this prophecy: "Come, Balak son of Zippor, And listen to what I have to say.

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

New American Standard Bible
Then he took up his discourse and said, "Arise, O Balak, and hear; Give ear to me, O son of Zippor!

New International Version
Then he uttered his oracle:
"Arise, Balak, and listen;
hear me, son of Zippor.

New King James Version
Then he took up his oracle and said:
“Rise up, Balak, and hear!
Listen to me, son of Zippor!

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Then he took up his discourse and said, "Arise, O Balak, and hear; Give ear to me, O son of Zippor!

Revised Standard Version
And Balaam took up his discourse, and said, "Rise, Balak, and hear; hearken to me, O son of Zippor:

Young's Literal Translation
And he taketh up his simile, and saith: `Rise, Balak, and hear; Give ear unto me, son of Zippor!

<< Numbers 23:17

Numbers 23:19 >>

Join 137,084+ readers

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning

Consistent Bible study is hard to start.

The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.

Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning