Numbers

Numbers 22:22–27

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.

²³When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path.

²⁴Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side. ²⁵And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her once again.

²⁶And the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left. ²⁷When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.

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 22:22

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

Numbers 22:23

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When the donkey	הָאָתוֹן֩	hā·’ā·ṯō·wn	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H860 she-ass
saw	וַתֵּ֣רֶא	wat·tê·re	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7200 see
the angel	מַלְאַ֨ךְ	mal·’aḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4397 messenger
of the LORD	יְהוָ֜ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
standing	נִצָּ֣ב	niṣ·ṣāḇ	Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular	H5324 take one's stand, stand
in the road	בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ	bad·de·reḵ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
with a drawn	שְׁלוּפָה֙	šə·lū·p̄āh	Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular	H8025 draw out, off
sword	וְחַרְבּ֤וֹ	wə·ḥar·bōw	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H2719 sword
in his hand	בְּיָד֔וֹ	bə·yā·ḏōw	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3027 hand
she	הָֽאָתוֹן֙	hā·’ā·ṯō·wn	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H860 she-ass
turned	וַתֵּ֤ט	wat·têṭ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H5186 stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
off	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the path	הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ	had·de·reḵ	Article; Noun - common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
and went	וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ	wat·tê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
into a field	בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה	baś·śā·ḏeh	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H7704 id.
So Balaam	בִּלְעָם֙	bil·‘ām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1109 Balaam
beat	וַיַּ֤ךְ	way·yaḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5221 smite
her	הָ֣אָת֔וֹן	hā·’ā·ṯō·wn	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H860 she-ass
to return her	לְהַטֹּתָ֖הּ	lə·haṭ·ṭō·ṯāh	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; third person feminine singular	H5186 stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
to the path	הַדָּֽרֶךְ׃	had·dā·reḵ	Article; Noun - common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner

Numbers 22:24

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the angel	מַלְאַ֣ךְ	mal·’aḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4397 messenger
of the LORD	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
stood	וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙	way·ya·‘ă·mōḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5975 take one's stand, stand
in a narrow passage	בְּמִשְׁע֖וֹל	bə·miš·‘ō·wl	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H4934 hollow way
between two vineyards	הַכְּרָמִ֑ים	hak·kə·rā·mîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H3754 vineyard
with walls	גָּדֵ֥ר	gā·ḏêr	Noun - masculine singular	H1447 wall
on either side	מִזֶּ֖ה	miz·zeh	Preposition-m; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that

Numbers 22:25

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And the donkey	הָאָת֜וֹן	hā·’ā·ṯō·wn	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H860 she-ass
saw	וַתֵּ֨רֶא	wat·tê·re	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7200 see
the angel	מַלְאַ֣ךְ	mal·’aḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4397 messenger
of the LORD	יְהוָ֗ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
and pressed herself	וַתִּלָּחֵץ֙	wat·til·lā·ḥêṣ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3905 squeeze, press
against	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the wall	הַקִּ֔יר	haq·qîr	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H7023 wall
crushing	וַתִּלְחַ֛ץ	wat·til·ḥaṣ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3905 squeeze, press
Balaam’s	בִּלְעָ֖ם	bil·‘ām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1109 Balaam
foot	רֶ֥גֶל	re·ḡel	Noun - feminine singular construct	H7272 foot
against	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
it	הַקִּ֑יר	haq·qîr	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H7023 wall
So he beat her	לְהַכֹּתָֽהּ׃	lə·hak·kō·ṯāh	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; third person feminine singular	H5221 smite
once again	וַיֹּ֖סֶף	way·yō·sep̄	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3254 add

Numbers 22:26

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And the angel	מַלְאַךְ־	mal·’aḵ-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4397 messenger
of the LORD	יְהוָ֖ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
moved	עֲב֑וֹר	‘ă·ḇō·wr	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
on ahead	וַיּ֥וֹסֶף	way·yō·w·sep̄	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3254 add
and stood	וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙	way·ya·‘ă·mōḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5975 take one's stand, stand
in a narrow	צָ֔ר	ṣār	Adjective - masculine singular	H6862 narrow, tight
place	בְּמָק֣וֹם	bə·mā·qō·wm	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular	H4725 standing, spot, condition
where	אֲשֶׁ֛ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
there was no	אֵֽין־	’ên-	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
room	דֶּ֥רֶךְ	de·reḵ	Noun - common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
to turn	לִנְט֖וֹת	lin·ṭō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H5186 stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
to the right	יָמִ֥ין	yā·mîn	Noun - feminine singular	H3225 right hand
or left	וּשְׂמֹֽאול׃	ū·śə·mō·wl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H8040 the left

Numbers 22:27

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When the donkey	הָֽאָתוֹן֙	hā·’ā·ṯō·wn	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H860 she-ass
saw	וַתֵּ֤רֶא	wat·tê·re	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7200 see
the angel	מַלְאַ֣ךְ	mal·’aḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4397 messenger
of the LORD	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
she lay down	וַתִּרְבַּ֖ץ	wat·tir·baṣ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7257 stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out
under	תַּ֣חַת	ta·ḥaṯ	Preposition	H8478 the under part
Balaam	בִּלְעָ֑ם	bil·‘ām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1109 Balaam
and	בִּלְעָ֔ם	bil·‘ām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1109 Balaam
became furious	וַיִּֽחַר־	way·yi·ḥar-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H2734 burn, be kindled
and beat	וַיַּ֥ךְ	way·yaḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5221 smite
with his staff	בַּמַּקֵּֽל׃	bam·maq·qêl	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4731 rod, staff