Numbers 22:31

Numbers 22:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
• New International Version (NIV)Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.

Context of Numbers 22:31

29Balaam answered, “You’ve made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I’d kill you right now.” 30The donkey said to Balaam, “I’m your own donkey. You’ve always ridden me. Have I ever done this to you before?” “No,” he answered. Then the Lord let Balaam see the Messenger of the Lord who was standing in the road with his sword drawn. So Balaam knelt, bowing with his face touching the ground. 32The Messenger of the Lord asked him, “Why have you hit your donkey three times like this? I’ve come here to stop you because the trip you’re taking is evil. 33The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away from me, I would certainly have killed you by now but spared the donkey.”

Numbers 22:31 word by word

וַיְגַ֣ל יְהוָה֮ אֶת־עֵינֵ֣י בִלְעָם֒ וַיַּ֞רְא אֶת־מַלְאַ֤ךְ יְהוָה֙ נִצָּ֣ב בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְחַרְבּ֥וֹ שְׁלֻפָ֖ה בְּיָד֑וֹ וַיִּקֹּ֥ד וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לְאַפָּֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• openedגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: uncoverH1540
• the eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• of Balaamבִּלְעָםbil‛âm · BalaamH1109
• and he sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• the angelמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messenger: angelH4397
• standingנָצַבnâtsab · to standH5324
• in the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
• and his swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
• drawnשָׁלַףshâlaph · to drawH8025
• in his handיָדyâd · handH3027
• and he bowed downקָדַדqâdad · to bowH6915
• his head, and fell flatשָׁחָהshâchâh · to bowH7812
• on his faceאַף'aph · faceH639

Cross-references for Numbers 22:31

• Numbers 24:4This is the message of the one who hears God’s words, has a vision from the Almighty, and falls ⌞into a trance⌟ with his eyes open:
• Genesis 21:19God opened her eyes. Then she saw a well. She filled the container with water and gave the boy a drink.
• 2 Kings 6:17Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes so that he may see.” The Lord opened the servant’s eyes and let him see. The mountain around Elisha was full of fiery horses and chariots.
• 1 Chronicles 21:16When David looked up, he saw the Messenger of the Lord standing between heaven and earth. The Messenger had a sword in his hand and stretched it over Jerusalem. David and the leaders were dressed in sackcloth. They bowed down with their faces touching the ground.
• Luke 24:16Although they saw him, they didn’t recognize him.
• Acts 26:18You will open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from Satan’s control to God’s. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and a share among God’s people who are made holy by believing in me.’
• Exodus 34:8Immediately, Moses knelt, bowing with his face touching the ground.
• Psalms 9:20Strike them with terror, O Lord. Let the nations know that they are ⌞only⌟ mortal. Selah
• John 18:6When Jesus told them, “I am he,” the crowd backed away and fell to the ground.

Commentaries on Numbers 22:31

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-35Verses 22-35 We must not think, that because God does not always by his providence restrain men from sin, therefore he approves of it, or that it is not hateful to him. The holy angels oppose sin, and perhaps are employed in preventing it more than we are aware. This angel was an adversary to Balaam, because Balaam counted him his adversary; those are really our best friends, and we ought so to reckon them, who stop our progress in sinful ways. Balaam has…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 28-31The only similar event in Scripture is the serpent talking to Eve (Genesis 3:1–5). God used the donkey to correct the foolish diviner (2 Peter 2:15–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-4121. Balaam ... saddled his ass--probably one of the white sprightly animals which persons of rank were accustomed to ride. The saddle, as usually in the East, would be nothing more than a pad or his outer cloak.Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 22:31

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Animals
• Ass (Donkey)
• Balaam
• Repentance

In the dictionaries

• Balaam
• Angel of the Lord
• Crush
• Curse
• Lick
• Promote
• Abel-Shittim
• Adoration
• Angel
• Ass

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