Berean Standard Bible
Numbers 24:17
17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls1 of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.
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
15Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open, 16the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth. 18Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor. 19A ruler will come from Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”
Read all of Numbers 24Numbers 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
- I see himרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- but notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
- nowעַתָּ֫ה‛attâh · nowH6258
- I behold himשׁוּרshûr · to seeH7789
- nearקָרֹבqârôb qârôb · nearH7138
- A starכּוֹכָבkôkâb · starH3556
- will come forthדָּרַךְdârak · to treadH1869
- from Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
- and a scepterשֵׁ֫בֶטshêbeţ · tribe: staffH7626
- will ariseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
- from Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- He will crushמָחַץmâchats · to woundH4272
- the skullsפֵּאָהpê'âh · sideH6285
- of Moabמוֹאָבmô'âb · MoabH4124
- and strike downקָרַרqûr · to destroyH6979
- allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
- the sonsבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Shethשֵׁתshêth · ShethH8351
Cross-references for Numbers 24:17
- Genesis 27:29May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.”
- 2 Samuel 8:14He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
- Psalms 60:1You have rejected us, O God; You have broken us; You have been angry; restore us!
- Psalms 8:1O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens.
- Psalms 9:1I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will recount all Your wonders.
- Psalms 10:1Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble?
- Psalms 11:1In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain!
- Psalms 12:1Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.
- Isaiah 34:5When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, then it will come down upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction.
- Isaiah 63:1Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.”
- Amos 9:12that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear My name,” declares the LORD, who will do 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
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. Numbers 24:17 SP foreheads; Hebrew corners (of the head); LXX princes ↩
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
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