New English Translation
Numbers 24:16
16the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, and who knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with 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
14And now, I am about to go back to my own people. Come now, and I will advise you as to what this people will do to your people in the future.” 15Then he uttered this oracle: “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor; the oracle of the man whose eyes are open; the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, and who knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with eyes open: 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. 18Edom will be a possession, Seir, his enemies, will also be a possession; but Israel will act valiantly.
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 19:25As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that as the last he will stand upon the earth.
- Zechariah 12:10“I will pour out on the kingship of David and the population of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication so that they will look to me, the one they have pierced. They will lament for him as one laments for an only son, and there will be a bitter cry for him like the bitter cry for a firstborn.
- Jude 1:11Woe to them! For they have traveled down Cain’s path, and because of greed have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error; hence, they will certainly perish in Korah’s rebellion.
- Revelation 1:7(Look! He is returning with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes on the earth will mourn because of him. This will certainly come to pass! Amen.)
- Matthew 2:2saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
- Luke 1:78Because of our God’s tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high
- 2 Peter 1:19Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
- Revelation 22:16“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star!”
- Genesis 49:10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs; the nations will obey him.
- Psalms 45:6Your throne, O God, is permanent. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.
- Psalms 78:70He chose David, his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds.
- Psalms 110:2The Lord extends your dominion from Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies!
- Isaiah 9:7His dominion will be vast and he will bring immeasurable prosperity. He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom, establishing it and strengthening it by promoting justice and fairness, from this time forward and forevermore. The Lord’s intense devotion to his people will accomplish this.
- Luke 1:32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
- Hebrews 1:8but of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.
- 1 Samuel 14:38Then Saul said, “All you leaders of the army come here. Find out how this sin occurred 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
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