Christian Standard Bible
Numbers 22:4
4So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us like an ox eats up the green plants in the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was Moab’s king at that time,
Numbers 22:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
- New International Version (NIV)The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Moab said to the elders of Midian, "This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field." So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
- New King James Version (NKJV)So Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
Context of Numbers 22:4
2Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous, and Moab dreaded the Israelites. So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us like an ox eats up the green plants in the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was Moab’s king at that time, 5he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. Balak said to him, “Look, a people has come out of Egypt; they cover the surface of the land and are living right across from me. 6Please come and put a curse on these people for me because they are more powerful than I am. I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed.”
Read all of Numbers 22Numbers 22:4 word by word
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מוֹאָ֜ב אֶל־זִקְנֵ֣י מִדְיָ֗ן עַתָּ֞ה יְלַחֲכ֤וּ הַקָּהָל֙ אֶת־כָּל־סְבִ֣יבֹתֵ֔ינוּ כִּלְחֹ֣ךְ הַשּׁ֔וֹר אֵ֖ת יֶ֣רֶק הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּבָלָ֧ק בֶּן־צִפּ֛וֹר מֶ֥לֶךְ לְמוֹאָ֖ב בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִֽוא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Moabמוֹאָבmô'âb · MoabH4124
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto the eldersזָקֵןzâqên · old: elderH2205
- of Midianמִדְיָןmidyân · MidianH4080
- Now shall this companyקָהָלqâhâl · assemblyH6951
- lick upלָחַךְlâchak · to lickH3897
- round aboutסָבִיבsâbîyb sebîybâh · aroundH5439
- us, as the oxשׁוֹרshôr · cattleH7794
- the grassיֶ֫רֶקyereq · greenH3418
- of the fieldשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
- And Balakבָּלָקbâlâq · BalakH1111
- the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Zipporצִפּוֹרtsippôr · ZipporH6834
- kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- at that timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
Cross-references for Numbers 22:4
- Numbers 22:7The elders of Moab and Midian departed with fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and reported Balak’s words to him.
- Numbers 25:15The name of the slain Midianite woman was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, a tribal head of a family in Midian.
- Numbers 31:8Along with the others slain by them, they killed the Midianite kings — Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.
- Joshua 13:21all the cities of the plateau, and all the kingdom of King Sihon of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. Moses had killed him and the chiefs of Midian — Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba — the princes of Sihon who lived in the land.
- Numbers 24:17I see him, but not now; I perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will smash the forehead of Moab and strike down all the Shethites.
- Jeremiah 48:38On all the rooftops of Moab and in her public squares, everyone is mourning because I have shattered Moab like a jar no one wants.” This is the Lord’s declaration.
- Numbers 22:2Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
- Judges 11:25Now are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel or fight against them?
Commentaries on Numbers 22:4
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Midian: This desert people descended from Abraham (Genesis 25:1–2; Exodus 2:15–16). Their agreement with Moab started their conflicts with Israel (Numbers 22:7; see 25:6, 14–18; 31:2–10; Judges 6–8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. elders of Midian--called kings (Nu 31:8) and princes (Jos 13:21). The Midianites, a distinct people on the southern frontier of Moab, united with them as confederates against Israel, their common enemy.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 22:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 22
- 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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