Tree of Life Version
Numbers 22:31
31Then Adonai opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of Adonai standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand. So he fell on his face.
Numbers 22:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
- New International Version (NIV)Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.
Context of Numbers 22:31
29Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you’ve made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you now!” 30The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey which you have ridden as always to this day? Have I ever been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said. Then Adonai opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of Adonai standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand. So he fell on his face. 32The angel of Adonai said to him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I came as an adversary because your way before Me is a reckless one! 33The donkey saw Me and turned away from Me these three times. If she had not turned away from Me, by now I would have killed you indeed, but let her live!”
Read all of Numbers 22Numbers 22:31 word by word
וַיְגַ֣ל יְהוָה֮ אֶת־עֵינֵ֣י בִלְעָם֒ וַיַּ֞רְא אֶת־מַלְאַ֤ךְ יְהוָה֙ נִצָּ֣ב בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְחַרְבּ֥וֹ שְׁלֻפָ֖ה בְּיָד֑וֹ וַיִּקֹּ֥ד וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לְאַפָּֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- openedגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: uncoverH1540
- the eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
- of Balaamבִּלְעָםbil‛âm · BalaamH1109
- and he sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- the angelמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messenger: angelH4397
- standingנָצַבnâtsab · to standH5324
- in the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
- and his swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
- drawnשָׁלַףshâlaph · to drawH8025
- in his handיָדyâd · handH3027
- and he bowed downקָדַדqâdad · to bowH6915
- his head, and fell flatשָׁחָהshâchâh · to bowH7812
- on his faceאַף'aph · faceH639
Cross-references for Numbers 22:31
- Numbers 24:4the oracle of one hearing God’s speech, one seeing Shaddai’s vision, one fallen down, yet with open eyes:
- Genesis 21:19Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water, and she went and filled the water skin, and gave the boy a drink.
- 2 Kings 6:17Then Elisha prayed and said, “Adonai, please open his eyes that he may see.” Then Adonai opened the eyes of the young man and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
- 1 Chronicles 21:16David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of Adonai standing between the earth and the heaven with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.
- Luke 24:16But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.
- Acts 26:18to open their eyes—so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of satan to God, that they may receive release from sins as well as a place among those who are made holy through trusting in Me.’
- Exodus 34:8Then Moses quickly bowed his head down to the earth and worshipped.
- Psalms 9:20Arise, Adonai, do not let man triumph. Let the nations be judged before You.
- John 18:6So when Yeshua said to them, “I am,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Commentaries on Numbers 22:31
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-35Verses 22-35 We must not think, that because God does not always by his providence restrain men from sin, therefore he approves of it, or that it is not hateful to him. The holy angels oppose sin, and perhaps are employed in preventing it more than we are aware. This angel was an adversary to Balaam, because Balaam counted him his adversary; those are really our best friends, and we ought so to reckon them, who stop our progress in sinful ways. Balaam has…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 28-31The only similar event in Scripture is the serpent talking to Eve (Genesis 3:1–5). God used the donkey to correct the foolish diviner (2 Peter 2:15–16).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-4121. Balaam ... saddled his ass--probably one of the white sprightly animals which persons of rank were accustomed to ride. The saddle, as usually in the East, would be nothing more than a pad or his outer cloak.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 22:31
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 22
- 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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Commentaries