Numbers 24:21

Numbers 24:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.
• New International Version (NIV)Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message: “Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock;
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, "Enduring is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then he looked on the Kenites, and he took up his oracle and said: “Firm is your dwelling place, And your nest is set in the rock;

Context of Numbers 24:21

19Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. 20And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. 22Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. 23And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

Numbers 24:21 word by word

וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־הַקֵּינִ֔י וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֵיתָן֙ מֽוֹשָׁבֶ֔ךָ וְשִׂ֥ים בַּסֶּ֖לַע קִנֶּֽךָ׃Read the interlinear

• And he lookedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• on the Kenitesקֵינִיqêynîy qîynîy · KeniteH7017
• and took upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: loudH5375
• his parableמָשָׁלmâshâl · proverbH4912
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Strongאֵיתָן'êythân · strongH386
• is thy dwellingplaceמוֹשָׁבmôshâb môshâb · seatH4186
• and thou puttestשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• thy nestקֵןqên · nestH7064
• in a rockסֶ֫לַעsela‛ · cragH5553

Cross-references for Numbers 24:21

• Genesis 10:11Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,
• Ezra 4:2Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar–haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
• Psalms 83:8Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
• Hosea 14:3Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

Commentaries on Numbers 24:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21He looked on the Kenites - Commentators are not well agreed who the Kenites were. Dr. Dodd's opinion is, I think, nearest to the truth. Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, is called a priest or prince of Midian, Exodus 3:1, and in Judges 1:16; he is called a Kenite; we may infer, therefore, says he, that the Kenites and the Midianites were the same, or at least that the Kenites and the Midianites were confederate tribes. Some of these we learn from Judges…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21The Kenites - First mentioned Genesis 15:19 as one of the tribes whose territory was promised to Abraham. In Judges 1:16, where we read of them as moving with the children of Judah, to establish themselves in the pastures south of Arad, Moses‘ father-in-law is spoken of as a Kenite (compare Judges 4:11). It appears therefore, since Moses‘ father-in-law was a prince or priest of Midian (Exodus 2:15 ff), that the Kenites must have been of Midianite…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. 21-22Assyria would destroy the Kenites, a desert people living in the same areas as the Amalekites and Midianites. Moses married a Kenite (Judges 1:16; 4:11; compare Numbers 10:29–32). The Kenites were mostly friendly with Israel after that time (for example, 1 Samuel 15:6; 27:10; 30:27–30).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Kenites ... nest in a rock--Though securely established among the clefts in the high rocks of En-gedi towards the west, they should be gradually reduced by a succession of enemies till the Assyrian invader carried them into captivity (Jud 1:16; 4:11, 16, 17; also 2Ki 15:29; 17:6).Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 24:21

• Kenites
• Nest

In the dictionaries

• Advertise
• Cain
• Cave
• Coast
• Rise
• Tabernacle
• Abel-Shittim
• Balaam
• Balak
• Charm

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