God’s Word Translation
Numbers 22:3
3The Moabites were very afraid because there were so many Israelites. Besides, the Moabites couldn’t stand these people.
Numbers 22:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
- New International Version (NIV)and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel.
Context of Numbers 22:3
1Then the Israelites moved and set up camp across from Jericho, on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan River. 2Balak, son of Zippor, saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. The Moabites were very afraid because there were so many Israelites. Besides, the Moabites couldn’t stand these people. 4So the Moabites said to the leaders of Midian, “All those people will eventually eat up everything around us the same way an ox eats up the grass in a field.” At that time Balak, son of Zippor, was king of Moab. 5He sent messengers to summon Balaam, son of Beor, who was at Pethor, on the Euphrates River, in the land where his people lived. Balak’s message was, “A nation has just come here from Egypt. They’ve spread out all over the countryside and are setting up their camp here in front of me.
Read all of Numbers 22Numbers 22:3 word by word
וַיָּ֨גָר מוֹאָ֜ב מִפְּנֵ֥י הָעָ֛ם מְאֹ֖ד כִּ֣י רַב־ה֑וּא וַיָּ֣קָץ מוֹאָ֔ב מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Moabמוֹאָבmô'âb · MoabH4124
- was soreמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
- afraidגּוּרgûr · to dreadH1481
- ofפָּנֶהpânîym · face: becauseH6440
- the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- manyרַבrab · manyH7227
- was distressedקוּץqûts · to loatheH6973
- the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
Cross-references for Numbers 22:3
- Exodus 15:15The tribal leaders of Edom will be terrified. The powerful men of Moab will tremble. The people of Canaan will be deathly afraid.
- Deuteronomy 2:25Today I will start to make all the people under heaven terrified of you. When they hear about you, they will tremble and shake because of you.”
- Joshua 2:10We’ve heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea in front of you when you left Egypt. We’ve also heard what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites, who ruled east of the Jordan River. We’ve heard how you destroyed them for the Lord.
- Joshua 9:24They answered Joshua, “We were told that the Lord your God commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and destroy all who live there. We deceived you because we feared for our lives.
- Psalms 53:5There they are—panic-stricken— ⌞but⌟ there was no reason to panic, because God has scattered the bones of those who set up camp against you. You put them to shame. After all, God has rejected them.
- Isaiah 23:5When the news reaches Egypt, the Egyptians will shudder over the news about Tyre.
Commentaries on Numbers 22:3
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3There is no mention of Balak outside of this event (Joshua 24:9; Judges 11:25; Micah 6:5; Revelation 2:14). Sihon, the Amorite king, had taken over his territory (Numbers 21:26). Israel had just defeated Sihon (21:21–31). Balak might have thought his small kingdom would be next.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-201. Israel ... pitched in the plains of Moab--so called from having formerly belonged to that people, though wrested from them by Sihon. It was a dry, sunken, desert region on the east of the Jordan valley, opposite Jericho.Read the comment
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries