New Living Translation
Numbers 24:6
6They spread before me like palm groves, like gardens by the riverside. They are like tall trees planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters.
Numbers 24:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
- New International Version (NIV)“Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the Lord has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens by the riverside, Like aloes planted by the Lord, Like cedars beside the waters.
Context of Numbers 24:6
4the message of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: 5How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob; how lovely are your homes, O Israel! They spread before me like palm groves, like gardens by the riverside. They are like tall trees planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters. 7Water will flow from their buckets; their offspring have all they need. Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted. 8God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox. He devours all the nations that oppose him, breaking their bones in pieces, shooting them with arrows.
Read all of Numbers 24Numbers 24:6 word by word
כִּנְחָלִ֣ים נִטָּ֔יוּ כְּגַנֹּ֖ת עֲלֵ֣י נָהָ֑ר כַּאֲהָלִים֙ נָטַ֣ע יְהוָ֔ה כַּאֲרָזִ֖ים עֲלֵי־מָֽיִם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- As the valleysנַ֫חַלnachal nachlâh nachălâh · palm-treeH5158
- are they spread forthנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186
- as gardensגַּנָּהgannâh · gardenH1593
- by the river’s sideנָהָרnâhâr · riverH5104
- as the trees of lign aloesאָהָל'ăhâlîym 'ăhâlôth · aloeH174
- which the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- hath plantedנָטַעnâţa‛ · to plantH5193
- as cedar treesאֶ֫רֶז'erez · cedarH730
- beside the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
Cross-references for Numbers 24:6
- Psalms 68:26Praise God, all you people of Israel; praise the Lord, the source of Israel’s life.
- Proverbs 5:16Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone?
- Isaiah 48:1“Listen to me, O family of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and born into the family of Judah. Listen, you who take oaths in the name of the Lord and call on the God of Israel. You don’t keep your promises,
- Psalms 93:3The floods have risen up, O Lord. The floods have roared like thunder; the floods have lifted their pounding waves.
- Jeremiah 51:13You are a city by a great river, a great center of commerce, but your end has come. The thread of your life is cut.
- Revelation 17:1One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. “Come with me,” he said, “and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters.
- Ezra 4:20Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and the entire province west of the Euphrates River, receiving tribute, customs, and tolls.
- Psalms 2:6For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”
- Psalms 18:43You gave me victory over my accusers. You appointed me ruler over nations; people I don’t even know now serve me.
- John 1:49Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”
- Philippians 2:10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
- Revelation 19:16On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
- 1 Samuel 15:8He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else.
- 2 Samuel 5:12And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
- 1 Kings 4:21Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt in the south. The conquered peoples of those lands sent tribute money to Solomon and continued to serve him throughout his lifetime.
- 1 Chronicles 14:2And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had greatly blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
Commentaries on Numbers 24:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Lign aloes which the Lord hath planted - Or, as the tents which the Lord hath pitched; for it is the same word, אהלים ohalim, which is used in the 5th verse. But from other parts of Scripture we find that the word also signifies a species of tree, called by some the sandal tree, and by others the lignum or wood aloes. This tree is described as being eight or ten feet high, with very large leaves growing at the top; and it is supposed that a forest of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6As gardens by the river‘s side - Balaam‘s language reflects the famous artificial gardens along the banks of his own river, the Euphrates. As the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted - The latter words contain an apparent reference to Paradise (compare Genesis 2:8). The aloe, imported from China and the far distant east, furnished to the ancients one of the most fragrant and precious of spices; compare Psalm 45:8; Proverbs 7:17, As cedar trees…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-7The Lord’s favor is shown by comparing Israel to groves and gardens that have plenty of water. In a dry land, water brings life and growth. This picture shows how God was caring for his people. Israel’s growing population also showed God’s blessing (24:7; as mentioned in 23:10). This growth would become even clearer in the second census recorded in chapter 26.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-75-7. How goodly are thy tents, ... O Israel!--a fine burst of admiration, expressed in highly poetical strains. All travellers describe the beauty which the circular area of Bedouin tents impart to the desert. How impressive, then, must have been the view, as seen from the heights of Abarim, of the immense camp of Israel extended over the subjacent plains.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 24:6
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries