Numbers

Numbers 22:12–18

12But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”

13So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

14And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

15Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers. 16They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”

18But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.

Read all of Numbers 22

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Numbers 22:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But Godאֱלֹהִים֙’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil·‘āmNoun - proper - masculine singularH1109 Balaam
Do notלֹ֥אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
goתֵלֵ֖ךְṯê·lêḵVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH1980 go, come, walk
with themעִמָּהֶ֑ם‘im·mā·hemPreposition; third person masculine pluralH5973 with
You are notלֹ֤אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
to curseתָאֹר֙ṯā·’ōrVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH779 curse
this peopleהָעָ֔םhā·‘āmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
forכִּ֥יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
theyהֽוּא׃hūPronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
are blessedבָר֖וּךְḇā·rūḵVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularH1288 kneel, bless

Numbers 22:13

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So Balaamבִּלְעָם֙bil·‘āmNoun - proper - masculine singularH1109 Balaam
got upוַיָּ֤קָםway·yā·qāmConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6965 arise, stand up, stand
the next morningבַּבֹּ֔קֶרbab·bō·qerPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH1242 morning
and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙way·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Balak’sבָלָ֔קḇā·lāqNoun - proper - masculine singularH1111 Balak
princesשָׂרֵ֣יśā·rêNoun - masculine plural constructH8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
Go backלְכ֖וּlə·ḵūVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralH1980 go, come, walk
toאֶֽל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
your homelandאַרְצְכֶ֑ם’ar·ṣə·ḵemNoun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine pluralH776 earth, land
becauseכִּ֚יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
has refusedמֵאֵ֣ןmê·’ênVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularH3985 refuse
to let meלְתִתִּ֖יlə·ṯit·tîPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; first person common singularH5414 give, put, set
goלַהֲלֹ֥ךְla·hă·lōḵPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH1980 go, come, walk
with youעִמָּכֶֽם׃‘im·mā·ḵemPreposition; second person masculine pluralH5973 with

Numbers 22:14

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And the princesשָׂרֵ֣יśā·rêNoun - masculine plural constructH8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmō·w·’āḇNoun - proper - feminine singularH4124 Moab
aroseוַיָּק֙וּמוּ֙way·yā·qū·mūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH6965 arise, stand up, stand
returnedוַיָּבֹ֖אוּway·yā·ḇō·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Balakבָּלָ֑קbā·lāqNoun - proper - masculine singularH1111 Balak
and saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּway·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
Balaamבִּלְעָ֖םbil·‘āmNoun - proper - masculine singularH1109 Balaam
refusedמֵאֵ֥ןmê·’ênVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularH3985 refuse
to comeהֲלֹ֥ךְhă·lōḵVerb - Qal - Infinitive constructH1980 go, come, walk
with usעִמָּֽנוּ׃‘im·mā·nūPreposition; first person common pluralH5973 with

Numbers 22:15

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Balakבָּלָ֑קbā·lāqNoun - proper - masculine singularH1111 Balak
sentשְׁלֹ֣חַšə·lō·aḥVerb - Qal - Infinitive constructH7971 send
otherוַיֹּ֥סֶףway·yō·sep̄Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3254 add
princesשָׂרִ֔יםśā·rîmNoun - masculine pluralH8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
more numerousרַבִּ֥יםrab·bîmAdjective - masculine pluralH7227 much, many, great
and more distinguishedוְנִכְבָּדִ֖יםwə·niḵ·bā·ḏîmConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralH3513 be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honoured
than theמֵאֵֽלֶּה׃mê·’êl·lehPreposition-m; Pronoun - common pluralH428 these

Numbers 22:16

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
They cameוַיָּבֹ֖אוּway·yā·ḇō·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Balaamבִּלְעָ֑םbil·‘āmNoun - proper - masculine singularH1109 Balaam
and saidוַיֹּ֣אמְרוּway·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
This is whatכֹּ֤הkōhAdverbH3541 thus, here
Balakבָּלָ֣קbā·lāqNoun - proper - masculine singularH1111 Balak
sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Zipporצִפּ֔וֹרṣip·pō·wrNoun - proper - masculine singularH6834 Tsippor
saysאָמַר֙’ā·marVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Pleaseנָ֥אnāInterjectionH4994 I (we) pray, now
let nothingאַל־’al-AdverbH408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
hinderתִמָּנַ֖עṯim·mā·na‘Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH4513 withhold, hold back
you from comingמֵהֲלֹ֥ךְmê·hă·lōḵPreposition-m; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH1980 go, come, walk
to meאֵלָֽי׃’ê·lāyPreposition; first person common singularH413 motion to

Numbers 22:17

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
forכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
I will honor youכַבֵּ֤דḵab·bêḏVerb - Piel - Infinitive absoluteH3513 be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honoured
richlyמְאֹ֔דmə·’ōḏAdverbH3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
and doאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֑ה’e·‘ĕ·śehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH6213 do, make
whateverוְכֹ֛לwə·ḵōlConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH3605 the whole, all
you sayתֹּאמַ֥רtō·marVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH559 utter, say
So pleaseנָּא֙nāInterjectionH4994 I (we) pray, now
comeוּלְכָה־ū·lə·ḵāh-Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singularH1980 go, come, walk
and put a curseקָֽבָה־qā·ḇāh-Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singularH6895 utter a curse against, curse
on thisהַזֶּֽה׃haz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
people for meהָעָ֥םhā·‘āmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people

Numbers 22:18

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But Balaamבִּלְעָ֗םbil·‘āmNoun - proper - masculine singularH1109 Balaam
repliedוַיַּ֣עַןway·ya·‘anConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6030 answer, respond
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the servantsעַבְדֵ֣י‘aḇ·ḏêNoun - masculine plural constructH5650 slave, servant
of Balakבָלָ֔קḇā·lāqNoun - proper - masculine singularH1111 Balak
Ifאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
Balakבָלָ֛קḇā·lāqNoun - proper - masculine singularH1111 Balak
were to giveיִתֶּן־yit·ten-Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
meלִ֥יlîPreposition; first person common singular
his houseבֵית֖וֹḇê·ṯōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH1004 house
fullמְלֹ֥אmə·lōNoun - masculine singular constructH4393 fulness, that which fills
of silverכֶּ֣סֶףke·sep̄Noun - masculine singularH3701 silver, money
and goldוְזָהָ֑בwə·zā·hāḇConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH2091 gold
I couldאוּכַ֗ל’ū·ḵalVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH3201 be able, have power, prevail, endure
notלֹ֣אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
doלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla·‘ă·śō·wṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH6213 do, make
anything smallקְטַנָּ֖הqə·ṭan·nāhAdjective - feminine singularH6996 small, young, unimportant
orא֥וֹ’ōwConjunctionH176 or
greatגְדוֹלָֽה׃ḡə·ḏō·w·lāhAdjective - feminine singularH1419 great
to go beyondלַעֲבֹר֙la·‘ă·ḇōrPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
the commandפִּי֙pîNoun - masculine singular constructH6310 mouth
of the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
my Godאֱלֹהָ֔י’ĕ·lō·hāyNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common singularH430 God

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Numbers 22:12 Deuteronomy 23:5 · Ephesians 1:3 · Romans 11:29 · Genesis 12:2 · Numbers 23:19–20 · Deuteronomy 33:29 · Romans 4:6–7 · Psalm 146:5 · Numbers 23:23 · Numbers 22:19–20 · Micah 6:5 · Genesis 22:16–18

Numbers 22:17 Numbers 24:11

Numbers 22:18 Numbers 24:13 · 2 Chronicles 18:13 · 1 Kings 22:14 · Numbers 23:26 · Numbers 22:38

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.