Numbers 22:4

Numbers 22:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
• New International Version (NIV)The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Moab said to the elders of Midian, "This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field." So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

Context of Numbers 22:4

2Balak son of Zippor saw all that the Israelites had done to the Amorites. 3And the Moabites were greatly afraid of the people, because they were so numerous. The Moabites were sick with fear because of the Israelites. So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “Now this mass of people will lick up everything around us, as the bull devours the grass of the field. Now Balak son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at this time. 5And he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates River in the land of Amaw, to summon him, saying, “Look, a nation has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are settling next to me. 6So now, please come and curse this nation for me, for they are too powerful for me. Perhaps I will prevail so that we may conquer them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”

Numbers 22:4 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מוֹאָ֜ב אֶל־זִקְנֵ֣י מִדְיָ֗ן עַתָּ֞ה יְלַחֲכ֤וּ הַקָּהָל֙ אֶת־כָּל־סְבִ֣יבֹתֵ֔ינוּ כִּלְחֹ֣ךְ הַשּׁ֔וֹר אֵ֖ת יֶ֣רֶק הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּבָלָ֧ק בֶּן־צִפּ֛וֹר מֶ֥לֶךְ לְמוֹאָ֖ב בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִֽוא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Moabמוֹאָבmô'âb · MoabH4124
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto the eldersזָקֵןzâqên · old: elderH2205
• of Midianמִדְיָןmidyân · MidianH4080
• Now shall this companyקָהָלqâhâl · assemblyH6951
• lick upלָחַךְlâchak · to lickH3897
• round aboutסָבִיבsâbîyb sebîybâh · aroundH5439
• us, as the oxשׁוֹרshôr · cattleH7794
• the grassיֶ֫רֶקyereq · greenH3418
• of the fieldשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
• And Balakבָּלָקbâlâq · BalakH1111
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Zipporצִפּוֹרtsippôr · ZipporH6834
• kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• at that timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256

Cross-references for Numbers 22:4

• Numbers 22:7So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fee for divination in their hand. They came to Balaam and reported to him the words of Balak.
• Numbers 25:15The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi daughter of Zur. He was a leader over the people of a clan of Midian.
• Numbers 31:8They killed the kings of Midian in addition to those slain – Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba – five Midianite kings. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.
• Joshua 13:21It encompassed all the cities of the plain and the whole realm of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon. Moses defeated him and the Midianite leaders Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba (they were subjects of Sihon and lived in his territory).
• Numbers 24:17‘I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not close at hand. A star will march forth out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab, and the heads of all the sons of Sheth.
• Jeremiah 48:38On all the housetops in Moab and in all its public squares there will be nothing but mourning. For I will break Moab like an unwanted jar. I, the Lord, affirm it!
• Numbers 22:2Balak son of Zippor saw all that the Israelites had done to the Amorites.
• Judges 11:25Are you really better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he dare to quarrel with Israel? Did he dare to fight with them?

Commentaries on Numbers 22:4

• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Midian: This desert people descended from Abraham (Genesis 25:1–2; Exodus 2:15–16). Their agreement with Moab started their conflicts with Israel (Numbers 22:7; see 25:6, 14–18; 31:2–10; Judges 6–8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. elders of Midian--called kings (Nu 31:8) and princes (Jos 13:21). The Midianites, a distinct people on the southern frontier of Moab, united with them as confederates against Israel, their common enemy.Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 22:4

• Balak
• Government
• Moabites
• Zippor

In the dictionaries

• Midian
• Moab
• Midian; Midianites
• Moab; Moabites
• Midian, Midianite
• Moab, Moabite
• Balak
• Crush
• Curse
• Lick

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