Numbers 24:21

Numbers 24:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.
• New International Version (NIV)Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message: “Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock;
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, "Enduring is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then he looked on the Kenites, and he took up his oracle and said: “Firm is your dwelling place, And your nest is set in the rock;

Context of Numbers 24:21

19He will rule from Jacob and destroy whoever is left in their cities.” 20Then Balaam saw the Amalekites and delivered this message: “Amalek was first among the nations, but in the end it will be destroyed.” Then he saw the Kenites and delivered this message: “You have a permanent place to live. Your nest is built in a rock. 22But it is destined to be burned, you ⌞descendants of⌟ Cain, when Assyria takes you as prisoners of war.” 23He delivered this message: “Oh no! Who will live when God decides to do this?

Numbers 24:21 word by word

וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־הַקֵּינִ֔י וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֵיתָן֙ מֽוֹשָׁבֶ֔ךָ וְשִׂ֥ים בַּסֶּ֖לַע קִנֶּֽךָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he lookedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• on the Kenitesקֵינִיqêynîy qîynîy · KeniteH7017
• and took upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: loudH5375
• his parableמָשָׁלmâshâl · proverbH4912
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Strongאֵיתָן'êythân · strongH386
• is thy dwellingplaceמוֹשָׁבmôshâb môshâb · seatH4186
• and thou puttestשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• thy nestקֵןqên · nestH7064
• in a rockסֶ֫לַעsela‛ · cragH5553

Cross-references for Numbers 24:21

• Genesis 10:11He went from that land to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah,
• Ezra 4:2they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families. They told them, “We want to help you build because we worship the same God you worship. We have been sacrificing to him since the time of King Esarhaddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”
• Psalms 83:8Even Assyria has joined them. They helped the descendants of Lot. Selah
• Hosea 14:3Assyria cannot save us. We won’t ride on horses anymore. We will never again say that the things our hands have made are our gods. You love orphans.”

Commentaries on Numbers 24:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21He looked on the Kenites - Commentators are not well agreed who the Kenites were. Dr. Dodd's opinion is, I think, nearest to the truth. Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, is called a priest or prince of Midian, Exodus 3:1, and in Judges 1:16; he is called a Kenite; we may infer, therefore, says he, that the Kenites and the Midianites were the same, or at least that the Kenites and the Midianites were confederate tribes. Some of these we learn from Judges…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21The Kenites - First mentioned Genesis 15:19 as one of the tribes whose territory was promised to Abraham. In Judges 1:16, where we read of them as moving with the children of Judah, to establish themselves in the pastures south of Arad, Moses‘ father-in-law is spoken of as a Kenite (compare Judges 4:11). It appears therefore, since Moses‘ father-in-law was a prince or priest of Midian (Exodus 2:15 ff), that the Kenites must have been of Midianite…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. 21-22Assyria would destroy the Kenites, a desert people living in the same areas as the Amalekites and Midianites. Moses married a Kenite (Judges 1:16; 4:11; compare Numbers 10:29–32). The Kenites were mostly friendly with Israel after that time (for example, 1 Samuel 15:6; 27:10; 30:27–30).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Kenites ... nest in a rock--Though securely established among the clefts in the high rocks of En-gedi towards the west, they should be gradually reduced by a succession of enemies till the Assyrian invader carried them into captivity (Jud 1:16; 4:11, 16, 17; also 2Ki 15:29; 17:6).Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 24:21

• Kenites
• Nest

In the dictionaries

• Advertise
• Cain
• Cave
• Coast
• Rise
• Tabernacle
• Abel-Shittim
• Balaam
• Balak
• Charm

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