New Living Translation
Numbers 24:17
17I 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.
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.
- New International Version (NIV)“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.
- 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.
Context of Numbers 24:17
15This is the message Balaam delivered: “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, 16the message of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: 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. 18Edom will be taken over, and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered, while Israel marches on in triumph. 19A ruler will rise in Jacob who will destroy the survivors of Ir.”
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 many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you. May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed.”
- 2 Samuel 8:14He placed army garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. In fact, the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.
- Psalms 60:1You have rejected us, O God, and broken our defenses. You have been angry with us; now restore us to your favor.
- Psalms 8:1O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.
- Psalms 9:1I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
- Psalms 10:1O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble?
- Psalms 11:1I trust in the Lord for protection. So why do you say to me, “Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!
- Psalms 12:1Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!
- Isaiah 34:5And when my sword has finished its work in the heavens, it will fall upon Edom, the nation I have marked for destruction.
- Isaiah 63:1Who is this who comes from Edom, from the city of Bozrah, with his clothing stained red? Who is this in royal robes, marching in his great strength? “It is I, the Lord, announcing your salvation! It is I, the Lord, who has the power to save!”
- Amos 9:12And Israel will possess what is left of Edom and all the nations I have called to be mine.” The Lord has spoken, and he 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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