Numbers 23:18

Numbers 23:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
• New International Version (NIV)Then he spoke his message: “Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Balaam took up his discourse and said, "Rise, Balak, and hear; give ear to me, O son of Zippor:
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then he took up his oracle and said: “Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me, son of Zippor!

Context of Numbers 23:18

16And the LORD met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and speak what I tell you.” 17So he returned to Balak, who was standing there by his burnt offering with the princes of Moab. “What did the LORD say?” Balak asked. Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Arise, O Balak, and listen; give ear to me, O son of Zippor. 19God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill? 20I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.

Numbers 23:18 word by word

וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר ק֤וּם בָּלָק֙ וּֽשֲׁמָ֔ע הַאֲזִ֥ינָה עָדַ֖י בְּנ֥וֹ צִפֹּֽר׃Read the interlinear

• Then Balaam lifted upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: loudH5375
• an oracleמָשָׁלmâshâl · proverbH4912
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Ariseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• O Balakבָּלָקbâlâq · BalakH1111
• and listenשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• giveאָזַן'âzan · to listenH238
• ear to meעַד‛ad · tillH5704
• O sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Zipporצִפּוֹרtsippôr · ZipporH6834

Cross-references for Numbers 23:18

• Judges 3:20Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in the coolness of his upper room. “I have a word from God for you,” Ehud said, and the king rose from his seat.

Commentaries on Numbers 23:18

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-30Verses 11-30 Balak was angry with Balaam. Thus a confession of God's overruling power is extorted from a wicked prophet, to the confusion of a wicked prince. A second time the curse is turned into a blessing; and this blessing is both larger and stronger than the former. Men change their minds, and break their words; but God never changes his mind, and therefore never recalls his promise. And when in Scripture he is said to repent, it does not mean any…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-24This message emphasizes God’s faithfulness to his people. He would remain with them and keep all the promises he had made. Nothing would cause him to abandon his word or turn away from Israel.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-1918-19. Rise up--As Balak was already standing (Nu 23:17), this expression is equivalent to "now attend to me." The counsels and promises of God respecting Israel are unchangeable; and no attempt to prevail on Him to reverse them will succeed, as they may with a man.Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 23:18

• Pisgah
• Zippor

In the dictionaries

• Count
• Abel-Shittim
• Balaam
• Balak
• Charm
• Divination
• Genealogy
• Magic; Magician
• Numbers, Book of
• Poetry, Hebrew

Commentaries on Numbers 23

• 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