English Standard Version
Numbers 24:6
6Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the Lord has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.
Numbers 24:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
- New International Version (NIV)“Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens by the riverside, Like aloes planted by the Lord, Like cedars beside the waters.
- New Living Translation (NLT)They spread before me like palm groves, like gardens by the riverside. They are like tall trees planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters.
Context of Numbers 24:6
4the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: 5How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the Lord has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters. 7Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters; his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. 8God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces and pierce them through with his arrows.
Read all of Numbers 24Numbers 24:6 word by word
כִּנְחָלִ֣ים נִטָּ֔יוּ כְּגַנֹּ֖ת עֲלֵ֣י נָהָ֑ר כַּאֲהָלִים֙ נָטַ֣ע יְהוָ֔ה כַּאֲרָזִ֖ים עֲלֵי־מָֽיִם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- As the valleysנַ֫חַלnachal nachlâh nachălâh · palm-treeH5158
- are they spread forthנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186
- as gardensגַּנָּהgannâh · gardenH1593
- by the river’s sideנָהָרnâhâr · riverH5104
- as the trees of lign aloesאָהָל'ăhâlîym 'ăhâlôth · aloeH174
- which the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- hath plantedנָטַעnâţa‛ · to plantH5193
- as cedar treesאֶ֫רֶז'erez · cedarH730
- beside the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
Cross-references for Numbers 24:6
- Psalms 68:26"Bless God in the great congregation, the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!"
- Proverbs 5:16Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets?
- Isaiah 48:1Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and who came from the waters of Judah, who swear by the name of the Lord and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right.
- Psalms 93:3The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring.
- Jeremiah 51:13O you who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come; the thread of your life is cut.
- Revelation 17:1Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters,
- Ezra 4:20And mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were paid.
- Psalms 2:6"As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill."
- Psalms 18:43You delivered me from strife with the people; you made me the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me.
- John 1:49Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
- Philippians 2:10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
- Revelation 19:16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
- 1 Samuel 15:8And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword.
- 2 Samuel 5:12And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
- 1 Kings 4:21Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
- 1 Chronicles 14:2And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.
Commentaries on Numbers 24:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Lign aloes which the Lord hath planted - Or, as the tents which the Lord hath pitched; for it is the same word, אהלים ohalim, which is used in the 5th verse. But from other parts of Scripture we find that the word also signifies a species of tree, called by some the sandal tree, and by others the lignum or wood aloes. This tree is described as being eight or ten feet high, with very large leaves growing at the top; and it is supposed that a forest of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6As gardens by the river‘s side - Balaam‘s language reflects the famous artificial gardens along the banks of his own river, the Euphrates. As the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted - The latter words contain an apparent reference to Paradise (compare Genesis 2:8). The aloe, imported from China and the far distant east, furnished to the ancients one of the most fragrant and precious of spices; compare Psalm 45:8; Proverbs 7:17, As cedar trees…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-7The Lord’s favor is shown by comparing Israel to groves and gardens that have plenty of water. In a dry land, water brings life and growth. This picture shows how God was caring for his people. Israel’s growing population also showed God’s blessing (24:7; as mentioned in 23:10). This growth would become even clearer in the second census recorded in chapter 26.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-75-7. How goodly are thy tents, ... O Israel!--a fine burst of admiration, expressed in highly poetical strains. All travellers describe the beauty which the circular area of Bedouin tents impart to the desert. How impressive, then, must have been the view, as seen from the heights of Abarim, of the immense camp of Israel extended over the subjacent plains.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 24:6
In the dictionaries
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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