Numbers 24:17

Numbers 24:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
• New International Version (NIV)“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.

Context of Numbers 24:17

15He took up his [fourth] discourse (oracle) and said: “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, The oracle of the man whose eye is opened, 16The oracle of him who hears the words of God And knows the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered: I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A star shall come forth from [the descendants of] Jacob, A scepter shall rise out of [the descendants of] Israel And shall crush the forehead of Moab And destroy all the sons of Sheth. 18Edom shall be [taken as] a possession, [Mount] Seir, Israel’s enemies, also will be a possession, While Israel performs valiantly. 19One from [the descendants of] Jacob shall have dominion And will destroy the remnant from the city.”

Numbers 24:17 word by word

אֶרְאֶ֙נּוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א עַתָּ֔ה אֲשׁוּרֶ֖נּוּ וְלֹ֣א קָר֑וֹב דָּרַ֨ךְ כּוֹכָ֜ב מִֽיַּעֲקֹ֗ב וְקָ֥ם שֵׁ֙בֶט֙ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמָחַץ֙ פַּאֲתֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב וְקַרְקַ֖ר כָּל־בְּנֵי־שֵֽׁת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I shall seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• him, but not now: I shall beholdשׁוּרshûr · to seeH7789
• him, but not nighקָרֹבqârôb qârôb · nearH7138
• there shall comeדָּרַךְdârak · to treadH1869
• a Starכּוֹכָבkôkâb · starH3556
• out of Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
• and a Sceptreשֵׁ֫בֶטshêbeţ · tribe: staffH7626
• shall riseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• out of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• and shall smiteמָחַץmâchats · to woundH4272
• the cornersפֵּאָהpê'âh · sideH6285
• of Moabמוֹאָבmô'âb · MoabH4124
• and destroyקָרַרqûr · to destroyH6979
• all the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Shethשֵׁתshêth · ShethH8351
• of Shethשֵׁתshêth · SethH8352

Cross-references for Numbers 24:17

• Genesis 27:29May peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you; Be lord and master over your brothers, And may your mother’s sons bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, And may those who bless you be blessed.”
• 2 Samuel 8:14He put garrisons in Edom; in all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the Lord helped him wherever he went.
• Psalms 60:1O God, You have rejected us and cast us off. You have broken [down our defenses and scattered] us; You have been angry; O restore us and turn again to us.
• Psalms 8:1O Lord, our Lord, How majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth! You have displayed Your splendor above the heavens.
• Psalms 9:1I will give thanks and praise the Lord, with all my heart; I will tell aloud all Your wonders and marvelous deeds.
• Psalms 10:1Why do You stand far away, O Lord? Why do You hide [Yourself, veiling Your eyes] in times of trouble?
• Psalms 11:1In the Lord I take refuge [and put my trust]; How can you say to me, “Flee like a bird to your mountain;
• Psalms 12:1Save and help and rescue, Lord, for godly people cease to be, For the faithful vanish from among the sons of men.
• Isaiah 34:5For My sword is satiated [with blood] in heaven; Indeed, it will come down for judgment on Edom And on the people whom I have doomed for destruction.
• Isaiah 63:1Who is this who comes from Edom, With crimson-stained garments from Bozrah [in Edom], This One (the Messiah) who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His might? “It is I, [the One] who speaks in righteousness [proclaiming vindication], mighty to save.”
• Amos 9:12That they may possess the remnant of Edom (ancient enemies) And all the nations that are called by My name,” Says the Lord who does this.

Commentaries on Numbers 24:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17I shall see him, but not now - Or, I shall see him, but he is not now. I shall behold him, but not nigh - I shall have a full view of him, but the time is yet distant. That is, The person of whom I am now prophesying does not at present exist among these Israelites, nor shall he appear in this generation. There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel - a person eminent for wisdom, and formidable for strength and power, shall…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Render, I see him, though he be not now: I behold him, though he be not near. Balaam here describes what is actually before him in inward vision. Him - i. e., the prince, represented in the succeeding words by the Star and Scepter. The star has among all nations served as a symbol of regal power and splendour: and the birth and future glory of great monarchs were believed by the ancients to be heralded by the appearance of stars or comets: compare also…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-25Verses 15-25 Under the powerful influence of the Spirit of prophecy, Balaam foretold the future prosperity and extensive dominion of Israel. Balaam boasts that his eyes are open. The prophets were in old times called seers. He had heard the words of God, which many do who neither heed them, nor hear God in them. He knew the knowledge of the Most High. A man may be full of the knowledge of God, yet utterly destitute of the grace of God. He calls God the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17A star symbolized a king (see Isaiah 14:12; Matthew 2:1–10). A scepter symbolized power and majesty (see Genesis 49:10; Psalm 45:6). Historically, King David fits this description. The Moabites, whose defeat Numbers 24:17 mentions, were among the many peoples he conquered during David's rule (2 Samuel 8:2). Yet, Moab remained a threat to Israel after David's time (see 2 Kings 3:1–27; Isaiah 15–16; Jeremiah 48). Many interpreters have extended this image…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. I shall see him--rather, "I do see" or "I have seen him"--a prophetic sight, like that of Abraham (Joh 8:56). him--that is, Israel. there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel--This imagery, in the hieroglyphic language of the East, denotes some eminent ruler--primarily David; but secondarily and pre-eminently, the Messiah (see on Ge 49:10). corners--border, often used for a whole country (Ex 8:2; Psa 74:17). children…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 24:17

• David
• Jesus Continued
• Scepter (Sceptre)
• Sheth
• Stars

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Jacob
• Moab
• Sheth
• Moab; Moabites
• Seth; Sheth
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Moab, Moabite
• Advertise

Commentaries on Numbers 24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings