Numbers 23:17

Numbers 23:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the Lord spoken?
• New International Version (NIV)So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, "What has the Lord spoken?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)So he came to him, and there he was, standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab were with him. And Balak said to him, “What has the Lord spoken?”

Context of Numbers 23:17

15Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet with God over there.” 16The Lord came to Balaam and told him, “Go back to Balak, and give him my message.” He came to Balak and found him standing beside his burnt offering with the princes of Moab. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?” 18Then Balaam delivered this message: “Stand up, Balak, and listen! Hear me, son of Zippor! 19God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn’t change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it.

Numbers 23:17 word by word

וַיָּבֹ֣א אֵלָ֗יו וְהִנּ֤וֹ נִצָּב֙ עַל־עֹ֣לָת֔וֹ וְשָׂרֵ֥י מוֹאָ֖ב אִתּ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ בָּלָ֔ק מַה־דִּבֶּ֖ר יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And when he cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to him, behold, he stoodנָצַבnâtsab · to standH5324
• by his burnt offeringעֹלָה‛ôlâh ‛ôlâh · burnt offeringH5930
• and the princesשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of Moabמוֹאָבmô'âb · MoabH4124
• with him. And Balakבָּלָקbâlâq · BalakH1111
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto him, What hath the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• spokenדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696

Cross-references for Numbers 23:17

• Numbers 23:26Balaam answered, “Didn’t I tell you that I must do whatever the Lord says?”
• 1 Samuel 3:17“What did the Lord tell you?” he asked. “Please don’t hide anything from me. May God strike you dead if you hide anything he told you from me.”
• Jeremiah 37:17Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah, and the king asked him privately in the palace, “Is there any message from the Lord?” Jeremiah answered, “Yes! There is a message from the Lord. You will be handed over to the king of Babylon.”

Commentaries on Numbers 23:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17What hath the Lord spoken? - Balak himself now understood that Balaam was wholly under the influence of Jehovah, and would say nothing but what God commanded him; but not knowing Jehovah as Balaam did, he hoped that he might be induced to change his mind, and curse a people whom he had hitherto determined to bless.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-30Verses 11-30 Balak was angry with Balaam. Thus a confession of God's overruling power is extorted from a wicked prophet, to the confusion of a wicked prince. A second time the curse is turned into a blessing; and this blessing is both larger and stronger than the former. Men change their minds, and break their words; but God never changes his mind, and therefore never recalls his promise. And when in Scripture he is said to repent, it does not mean any…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-26Balak hoped for different results by changing the location. The exact location of the plateau of Zophim on Pisgah Peak is unknown. Yet, Pisgah is part of the ridge that is above the plains of Moab (Deuteronomy 34:1). It is near Bamoth-baal and Mount Peor (Numbers 22:41; 23:28).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-301. Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars--Balak, being a heathen, would naturally suppose these altars were erected in honor of Baal, the patron deity of his country. It is evident, from Nu 23:4 that they were prepared for the worship of the true God; although in choosing the high places of Baal as their site and rearing a number of altars (2Ki 18:22; Is 17:8; Jr 11:13; Ho 8:11; 10:1), instead of one only, as God had appointed, Balaam blended…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 23:17

• Pisgah

In the dictionaries

• Moab
• Moab; Moabites
• Moab, Moabite
• Burnt offering
• Count
• Abel-Shittim
• Balaam
• Balak
• Charm
• Divination

Commentaries on Numbers 23

• 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