God’s Word Translation
Numbers 24:16
16This is the message of the one who hears God’s words, receives knowledge from the Most High, has a vision from the Almighty, and falls ⌞into a trance⌟ with his eyes open:
Numbers 24:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
- New International Version (NIV)the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
- English Standard Version (ESV)the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered:
- New King James Version (NKJV)The utterance of him who hears the words of God, And has the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open:
Context of Numbers 24:16
14Even though I’m going back to my people, I’ll give you some advice. I’ll tell you what these people will do to your people in the days to come.” 15Then Balaam delivered this message: “This is the message of Balaam, son of Beor. This is the message of the man whose eyesight is clear. This is the message of the one who hears God’s words, receives knowledge from the Most High, has a vision from the Almighty, and falls ⌞into a trance⌟ with his eyes open: 17I see someone who is not here now. I look at someone who is not nearby. A star will come from Jacob. A scepter will rise from Israel. He will crush the heads of the Moabites and destroy all the people of Sheth. 18Edom will be conquered, and Seir, his enemy, will be conquered. So Israel will become wealthy.
Read all of Numbers 24Numbers 24:16 word by word
נְאֻ֗ם שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ אִמְרֵי־אֵ֔ל וְיֹדֵ֖עַ דַּ֣עַת עֶלְי֑וֹן מַחֲזֵ֤ה שַׁדַּי֙ יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה נֹפֵ֖ל וּגְל֥וּי עֵינָֽיִם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- He hath saidנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
- which heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- the wordsאֵמֶר'êmer · wordH561
- of Godאֵל'êl · GodH410
- and knewיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- the knowledgeדַּ֫עַתda‛ath · knowledgeH1847
- of the most Highעֶלְיוֹן‛elyôn · Most HighH5945
- sawחָזָהchâzâh · to seeH2372
- the visionמַחֲזֶהmachăzeh · visionH4236
- of the Almightyשַׁדַּיshadday · AlmightyH7706
- fallingנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
- but having his eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
- openגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: uncoverH1540
Cross-references for Numbers 24:16
- Job 19:25But I know that my defender lives, and afterwards, he will rise on the earth.
- Zechariah 12:10“I will pour out the Spirit of blessing and mercy on David’s family and on those who live in Jerusalem. They will look at me, whom they have stabbed. Then they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son, and they will cry bitterly for him as one cries for a firstborn son.
- Jude 1:11How horrible it will be for them! They have followed the path of Cain. They have rushed into Balaam’s error to make a profit. They have rebelled like Korah and destroyed themselves.
- Revelation 1:7Look! He is coming in the clouds. Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. Every tribe on earth will mourn because of him. This is true. Amen.
- Matthew 2:2They asked, “Where is the one who was born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star rising and have come to worship him.”
- Luke 1:78A new day will dawn on us from above because our God is loving and merciful.
- 2 Peter 1:19So we regard the words of the prophets as confirmed beyond all doubt. You’re doing well by paying attention to their words. Continue to pay attention as you would to a light that shines in a dark place as you wait for day to come and the morning star to rise in your hearts.
- Revelation 22:16“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give this testimony to you for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David. I am the bright morning star.”
- Genesis 49:10A scepter will never depart from Judah nor a ruler’s staff from between his feet until Shiloh comes and the people obey him.
- Psalms 45:6Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter in your kingdom is a scepter for justice.
- Psalms 78:70He chose his servant David. He took him from the sheep pens.
- Psalms 110:2The Lord will extend your powerful scepter from Zion. Rule your enemies who surround you.
- Isaiah 9:7His government and peace will have unlimited growth. He will establish David’s throne and kingdom. He will uphold it with justice and righteousness now and forever. The Lord of Armies is determined to do this!
- Luke 1:32He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
- Hebrews 1:8But God said about his Son, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter in your kingdom is a scepter for justice.
- 1 Samuel 14:38So Saul ordered all the leaders of the troops, “Come here! Find out what sin was committed today.
Commentaries on Numbers 24:16
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16And knew, the knowledge of the Most High - With the addition of these words, which point to the greater importance and the more distinctly predictive character of what follows, the introduction to this last parable is the same as the introduction to the preceding parable.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-25Verses 15-25 Under the powerful influence of the Spirit of prophecy, Balaam foretold the future prosperity and extensive dominion of Israel. Balaam boasts that his eyes are open. The prophets were in old times called seers. He had heard the words of God, which many do who neither heed them, nor hear God in them. He knew the knowledge of the Most High. A man may be full of the knowledge of God, yet utterly destitute of the grace of God. He calls God the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-25This prophecy gives more specific details than the first three messages. It is based on another vision from God (the Most High, 24:16). It also predicts the appearance of a great leader who will play a major role in these military victories (24:17).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-251. to seek for--that is, to use enchantments. His experience on the two former occasions [Nu 23:3, 15] had taught him that these superstitious accompaniments of his worship were useless, and therefore he now simply looked towards the camp of Israel, either with a secret design to curse them, or to await the divine afflatus.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 24:16
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries