Numbers

Numbers 22:15–22

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. ¹⁹So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”

²⁰That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.” ²¹So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

²²Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel^b of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

Footnotes

b 22:22 Or Angel; here through the rest of chapter 22; corresponding pronouns may also be capitalized.

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 22:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then Balak	בָּלָ֑ק	bā·lāq	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1111 Balak
sent	שְׁלֹ֣חַ	šə·lō·aḥ	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7971 send
other	וַיֹּ֥סֶף	way·yō·sep̄	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3254 add
princes	שָׂרִ֔ים	śā·rîm	Noun - masculine plural	H8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
more numerous	רַבִּ֥ים	rab·bîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H7227 much, many, great
and more distinguished	וְנִכְבָּדִ֖ים	wə·niḵ·bā·ḏîm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural	H3513 be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honoured
than the	מֵאֵֽלֶּה׃	mê·’êl·leh	Preposition-m; Pronoun - common plural	H428 these

Numbers 22:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
They came	וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ	way·yā·ḇō·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Balaam	בִּלְעָ֑ם	bil·‘ām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1109 Balaam
and said	וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
This is what	כֹּ֤ה	kōh	Adverb	H3541 thus, here
Balak	בָּלָ֣ק	bā·lāq	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1111 Balak
son	בֶּן־	ben-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1121 son
of Zippor	צִפּ֔וֹר	ṣip·pō·wr	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6834 Tsippor
says	אָמַר֙	’ā·mar	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Please	נָ֥א	nā	Interjection	H4994 I (we) pray, now
let nothing	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
hinder	תִמָּנַ֖ע	ṯim·mā·na‘	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H4513 withhold, hold back
you from coming	מֵהֲלֹ֥ךְ	mê·hă·lōḵ	Preposition-m; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1980 go, come, walk
to me	אֵלָֽי׃	’ê·lāy	Preposition; first person common singular	H413 motion to

Numbers 22:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
for	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
I will honor you	כַבֵּ֤ד	ḵab·bêḏ	Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute	H3513 be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honoured
richly	מְאֹ֔ד	mə·’ōḏ	Adverb	H3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
and do	אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֑ה	’e·‘ĕ·śeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H6213 do, make
whatever	וְכֹ֛ל	wə·ḵōl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H3605 the whole, all
you say	תֹּאמַ֥ר	tō·mar	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
So please	נָּא֙	nā	Interjection	H4994 I (we) pray, now
come	וּלְכָה־	ū·lə·ḵāh-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and put a curse	קָֽבָה־	qā·ḇāh-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H6895 utter a curse against, curse
on this	הַזֶּֽה׃	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
people for me	הָעָ֥ם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people

Numbers 22:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But Balaam	בִּלְעָ֗ם	bil·‘ām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1109 Balaam
replied	וַיַּ֣עַן	way·ya·‘an	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6030 answer, respond
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the servants	עַבְדֵ֣י	‘aḇ·ḏê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H5650 slave, servant
of Balak	בָלָ֔ק	ḇā·lāq	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1111 Balak
If	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
Balak	בָלָ֛ק	ḇā·lāq	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1111 Balak
were to give	יִתֶּן־	yit·ten-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
me	לִ֥י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
his house	בֵית֖וֹ	ḇê·ṯōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1004 house
full	מְלֹ֥א	mə·lō	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4393 fulness, that which fills
of silver	כֶּ֣סֶף	ke·sep̄	Noun - masculine singular	H3701 silver, money
and gold	וְזָהָ֑ב	wə·zā·hāḇ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H2091 gold
I could	אוּכַ֗ל	’ū·ḵal	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H3201 be able, have power, prevail, endure
not	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
do	לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת	la·‘ă·śō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6213 do, make
anything small	קְטַנָּ֖ה	qə·ṭan·nāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H6996 small, young, unimportant
or	א֥וֹ	’ōw	Conjunction	H176 or
great	גְדוֹלָֽה׃	ḡə·ḏō·w·lāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H1419 great
to go beyond	לַעֲבֹר֙	la·‘ă·ḇōr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
the command	פִּי֙	pî	Noun - masculine singular construct	H6310 mouth
of the LORD	יְהוָ֣ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
my God	אֱלֹהָ֔י	’ĕ·lō·hāy	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H430 God

Numbers 22:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So now	וְעַתָּ֗ה	wə·‘at·tāh	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H6258 now
please	נָ֥א	nā	Interjection	H4994 I (we) pray, now
stay	שְׁב֨וּ	šə·ḇū	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
here	בָזֶ֛ה	ḇā·zeh	Preposition-b; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
overnight	הַלָּ֑יְלָה	hal·lā·yə·lāh	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3915 twist, night, adversity
as the others did	גַּם־	gam-	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
that I may find out	וְאֵ֣דְעָ֔ה	wə·’ê·ḏə·‘āh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular	H3045 know
what	מַה־	mah-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
else	יֹּסֵ֥ף	yō·sêp̄	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular	H3254 add
the LORD	יְהוָ֖ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
has to tell me	דַּבֵּ֥ר	dab·bêr	Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H1696 speak

Numbers 22:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
That night	לַיְלָה֒	lay·lāh	Noun - masculine singular	H3915 twist, night, adversity
God	אֱלֹהִ֥ים׀	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
came	וַיָּבֹ֨א	way·yā·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Balaam	בִּלְעָם֮	bil·‘ām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1109 Balaam
and said	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Since	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
these men	הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים	hā·’ă·nā·šîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
have come	בָּ֣אוּ	bā·’ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to summon	לִקְרֹ֤א	liq·rō	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7121 call, proclaim, read
you	לְךָ֙	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
get up	ק֖וּם	qūm	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
and go	לֵ֣ךְ	lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
with them	אִתָּ֑ם	’it·tām	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H854 with
but you must only	וְאַ֗ךְ	wə·’aḵ	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H389 surely
do	תַעֲשֶֽׂה׃	ṯa·‘ă·śeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
what	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
I tell you	אֲדַבֵּ֥ר	’ă·ḏab·bêr	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular	H1696 speak

Numbers 22:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So in the morning	בַּבֹּ֔קֶר	bab·bō·qer	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1242 morning
Balaam	בִּלְעָם֙	bil·‘ām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1109 Balaam
got up	וַיָּ֤קָם	way·yā·qām	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
saddled	וַֽיַּחֲבֹ֖שׁ	way·ya·ḥă·ḇōš	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H2280 bind, bind on, bind up
his donkey	אֲתֹנ֑וֹ	’ă·ṯō·nōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H860 she-ass
and went	וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ	way·yê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
with	עִם־	‘im-	Preposition	H5973 with
the princes	שָׂרֵ֥י	śā·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
of Moab	מוֹאָֽב׃	mō·w·’āḇ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4124 Moab

Numbers 22:22

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then God’s	אֱלֹהִים֮	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
anger	אַ֣ף	’ap̄	Noun - masculine singular construct	H639 nostril, nose, face, anger
was kindled	וַיִּֽחַר־	way·yi·ḥar-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H2734 burn, be kindled
because	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
Balaam	הוּא֒	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
was going along	הוֹלֵ֣ךְ	hō·w·lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and the angel	מַלְאַ֧ךְ	mal·’aḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4397 messenger
of the LORD	יְהוָ֛ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
stood	וַיִּתְיַצֵּ֞ב	way·yiṯ·yaṣ·ṣêḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3320 set or station oneself, take one's stand
in the road	בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ	bad·de·reḵ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
to oppose	לְשָׂטָ֣ן	lə·śā·ṭān	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H7854 adversary
him	ל֑וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
Balaam	וְהוּא֙	wə·hū	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
was riding	רֹכֵ֣ב	rō·ḵêḇ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H7392 mount and ride, ride
his donkey	אֲתֹנ֔וֹ	’ă·ṯō·nōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H860 she-ass
and his two	וּשְׁנֵ֥י	ū·šə·nê	Conjunctive waw; Number - masculine dual construct	H8147 two
servants	נְעָרָ֖יו	nə·‘ā·rāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H5288 a shaking, scattering
were with him	עִמּֽוֹ׃	‘im·mōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H5973 with