Numbers 24
The full text of Numbers 24 in the Trinity Bible Version — clear modern English, translated from the original Hebrew. Free to read.
1 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.
2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him
3 and he spoke his oracle:
"The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
5 How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
your dwelling places, Israel!
6 Like valleys they spread out,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes the LORD has planted,
like cedars beside the waters.
7 Water will flow from their buckets;
their seed will have abundant water.
Their king will be greater than Agag;
their kingdom will be exalted.
8 God brought them out of Egypt;
they have the strength of a wild ox.
They devour hostile nations
and break their bones in pieces;
they pierce them with their arrows.
9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?
"May those who bless you be blessed
and those who curse you be cursed!"
10 Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times.
11 Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded."
12 Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,
13 'Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD—and I must say only what the LORD says'?
14 Now I am going back to my own people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come."
15 Then he spoke his oracle:
"The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
16 the 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:
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.
18 Edom will be conquered;
Seir, his enemy, will be conquered,
but Israel will grow strong.
19 A ruler will come out of Jacob
and destroy the survivors of the city."
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his oracle:
"Amalek was first among the nations,
but their end will be utter destruction."
21 Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his oracle:
"Your dwelling place is secure,
your nest is set in a rock;
22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed
when Ashur takes you captive."
23 Then he spoke his oracle:
"Alas! Who can survive
when God does this?
24 Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;
they will subdue Ashur and Eber,
but they too will come to ruin."
25 Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak also went his own way.
Translation notes (9)
- Numbers 24:3a The phrase 'whose eye sees clearly' translates the Hebrew shetum ha-'ayin, a rare expression that could also mean 'open of eye' or 'of unveiled eye.' The exact sense is uncertain, but the translation conveys a visionary meaning.
- Numbers 24:4a The title 'The Almighty' translates the Hebrew Shaddai, an ancient divine title whose origin is uncertain but has traditionally been understood as 'Almighty.' It is preserved consistently throughout the translation.
- Numbers 24:7a The phrase 'greater than Agag' follows the Hebrew text. However, the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, and some other ancient manuscripts read 'than Gog.' The Hebrew reading is given here, with the variant noted.
- Numbers 24:9a This closing couplet, which contains both a blessing and a curse, echoes the promise made to Abraham in Genesis 12:3. The connection is noted, but this note does not attempt to define its full theological meaning.
- Numbers 24:16a The title 'The Most High' translates the Hebrew Elyon, an ancient divine title. 'The Almighty' translates the Hebrew Shaddai (see the note at 24:4). Both titles are preserved consistently throughout the translation.
- Numbers 24:17a The phrases 'star out of Jacob' and 'scepter out of Israel' have been interpreted in many ways throughout history, including as references to David, a future deliverer, and messianically in Jewish and Christian tradition, as well as in texts found at Qumran. The Hebrew is translated faithfully here; these interpretive and messianic readings are noted but not decided upon in this note. The word 'Sheth' may refer to a people-name or, by some interpretations, 'all the sons of tumult.'
- Numbers 24:22a This verse is difficult to translate due to textual and grammatical challenges. 'Ashur' usually refers to Assyria but may here be a tribal name. The plain sense of the Kenites' eventual ruin and captivity is given, without resolving these specific difficulties.
- Numbers 24:23a The Hebrew of the opening of this final oracle is terse and uncertain, literally close to 'who will live from God's setting it.' The translation conveys the sense of a lament over God's coming judgment.
- Numbers 24:24a The word 'Cyprus' translates the Hebrew Kittim, which originally referred to Cyprus and the Mediterranean coastlands. 'Ashur and Eber' likely mean Assyria and the region or people across the river, known as the Eber. The verse is difficult, and its references are debated, but the plain sense is given.
About this translation
The Trinity Bible Version (TBV) is Trinity Bible's own modern English translation, worked directly from the original Hebrew and honest to the earliest manuscripts. It was completed in 2026 — the most modern English Bible translation — and is exclusive to Trinity Bible. Every chapter, including all of Numbers, is free to read here on the web.
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