New International Version
Numbers 24:17
17“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
Numbers 24:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.
- New Living Translation (NLT)I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the heads of Moab’s people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth.
Context of Numbers 24:17
15Then he spoke his message: “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly, 16the 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: “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth. 18Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong. 19A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”
Read all of Numbers 24Numbers 24:17 word by word
אֶרְאֶ֙נּוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א עַתָּ֔ה אֲשׁוּרֶ֖נּוּ וְלֹ֣א קָר֑וֹב דָּרַ֨ךְ כּוֹכָ֜ב מִֽיַּעֲקֹ֗ב וְקָ֥ם שֵׁ֙בֶט֙ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמָחַץ֙ פַּאֲתֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב וְקַרְקַ֖ר כָּל־בְּנֵי־שֵֽׁת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- I shall seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- him, but not now: I shall beholdשׁוּרshûr · to seeH7789
- him, but not nighקָרֹבqârôb qârôb · nearH7138
- there shall comeדָּרַךְdârak · to treadH1869
- a Starכּוֹכָבkôkâb · starH3556
- out of Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
- and a Sceptreשֵׁ֫בֶטshêbeţ · tribe: staffH7626
- shall riseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
- out of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- and shall smiteמָחַץmâchats · to woundH4272
- the cornersפֵּאָהpê'âh · sideH6285
- of Moabמוֹאָבmô'âb · MoabH4124
- and destroyקָרַרqûr · to destroyH6979
- all the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Shethשֵׁתshêth · ShethH8351
- of Shethשֵׁתshêth · SethH8352
Cross-references for Numbers 24:17
- Genesis 27:29May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed.”
- 2 Samuel 8:14He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
- Psalms 60:1You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us; you have been angry—now restore us!
- Psalms 8:1Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.
- Psalms 9:1I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
- Psalms 10:1Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
- Psalms 11:1In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain.
- Psalms 12:1Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
- Isaiah 34:5My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgment on Edom, the people I have totally destroyed.
- Isaiah 63:1Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.”
- Amos 9:12so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name,” declares the Lord, who will do these things.
Commentaries on Numbers 24:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17I shall see him, but not now - Or, I shall see him, but he is not now. I shall behold him, but not nigh - I shall have a full view of him, but the time is yet distant. That is, The person of whom I am now prophesying does not at present exist among these Israelites, nor shall he appear in this generation. There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel - a person eminent for wisdom, and formidable for strength and power, shall…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Render, I see him, though he be not now: I behold him, though he be not near. Balaam here describes what is actually before him in inward vision. Him - i. e., the prince, represented in the succeeding words by the Star and Scepter. The star has among all nations served as a symbol of regal power and splendour: and the birth and future glory of great monarchs were believed by the ancients to be heralded by the appearance of stars or comets: compare also…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. 17A star symbolized a king (see Isaiah 14:12; Matthew 2:1–10). A scepter symbolized power and majesty (see Genesis 49:10; Psalm 45:6). Historically, King David fits this description. The Moabites, whose defeat Numbers 24:17 mentions, were among the many peoples he conquered during David's rule (2 Samuel 8:2). Yet, Moab remained a threat to Israel after David's time (see 2 Kings 3:1–27; Isaiah 15–16; Jeremiah 48). Many interpreters have extended this image…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. I shall see him--rather, "I do see" or "I have seen him"--a prophetic sight, like that of Abraham (Joh 8:56). him--that is, Israel. there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel--This imagery, in the hieroglyphic language of the East, denotes some eminent ruler--primarily David; but secondarily and pre-eminently, the Messiah (see on Ge 49:10). corners--border, often used for a whole country (Ex 8:2; Psa 74:17). children…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 24:17
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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