Numbers 22 26

Numbers 22:26 kjv

And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

Numbers 22:26 nkjv

Then the Angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

Numbers 22:26 niv

Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left.

Numbers 22:26 esv

Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.

Numbers 22:26 nlt

Then the angel of the LORD moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all.

Numbers 22 verses

Numbers 22 26 Meaning

Numbers 22:26 describes the Angel of the LORD further intensifying His obstruction of Balaam's journey. By standing in a passage so narrow that Balaam had no alternative path, either right or left, God completely blocked his progress. This escalation ensured that Balaam was utterly confined, forcing a direct confrontation with the divine will he was stubbornly defying.

Numbers 22 26 Context

Numbers chapter 22 recounts King Balak of Moab's fear of the Israelites, who had defeated the Amorites and were now encamped near Moab. Desperate, Balak sends for Balaam, a renowned diviner/prophet from Mesopotamia, to curse Israel. God initially tells Balaam not to go, but after persistent pressure from Balak's envoys and Balaam's desire for reward, God permits him to go, but strictly warns him to speak only what He commands. Despite the conditional permission, Balaam's intent seems rooted in self-interest rather than God's will. God's anger burns as Balaam sets off, leading the Angel of the LORD to repeatedly block his path. This verse details the third, most severe, and utterly inescapable obstruction.

Numbers 22 26 Word analysis

• "And the angel of the LORD": (וּמַלְאַךְ יְהוָה - u'mal'akh YHWH)

  • Mal'akh means "messenger" or "angel." YHWH is the personal, covenant name of God.
  • This title frequently refers to a divine manifestation, often understood as a Christophany or a special representation of God Himself.
  • Significance: It's God directly intervening with absolute authority, not a mere delegate, underscoring the seriousness of the encounter.

• "went further": (וַיּוֹסֶף מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה לַעֲבֹר - vayyoseph mal'akh YHWH la'avor)

  • Literally "added to pass over" or "continued to pass."
  • Implies an escalation and repetition of divine intervention.
  • Significance: This was not the first warning but a more determined and severe intervention, highlighting God's persistence in confronting Balaam's rebellion.

• "and stood": (וַיַּעֲמֹד - vayya'amod)

  • From the root "to stand," signifying a firm, fixed, and resolute position.
  • Significance: The angel wasn't merely appearing; he took a decisive, unyielding stance, actively blocking the way.

• "in a narrow place": (בְּמָקוֹם צָר - b'maqom tsar)

  • Maqom means "place." Tsar means "narrow," "restricted," "tight," or "distressed."
  • Significance: This physically confined location symbolically represents Balaam's predicament—no physical or spiritual room for escape. It contrasts with previous wider settings.

• "where there was no way to turn": (אֵין דֶּרֶךְ לִנְטוֹת - ein derekh lintot)

  • Ein - "no," derekh - "way" or "path," lintot - "to turn aside," "to incline."
  • Significance: Emphasizes the complete absence of alternatives or escape routes, ensuring direct confrontation.

• "either to the right hand or to the left": (יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול - yamin u'smol)

  • A common Hebrew idiom meaning in any direction whatsoever, encompassing all possibilities.
  • Significance: Reinforces the total blockage; Balaam was completely hemmed in, unable to deviate from the direct line of the angel's obstruction.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood": This phrase demonstrates divine patience combined with escalating judgment. God provides multiple warnings, each more intense, ensuring His intervention is unmistakably clear and cannot be bypassed. The active "stood" signifies deliberate and immovable opposition.
  • "in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left": This powerfully illustrates God's ability to perfectly constrain those who oppose His will. The physical constriction ("narrow place") serves as a metaphor for the moral corner Balaam had backed himself into by his avarice. God engineered the situation to strip away all options, compelling Balaam to finally face the divine truth he was resisting. It underscores the futility of trying to evade God's purposes.

Numbers 22 26 Bonus section

• This third intervention shows God's progressive stripping away of Balaam's options, moving from an open field (where the donkey could turn) to a walled path (limited deviation), and finally to a completely enclosed passage, escalating the pressure until a direct encounter became unavoidable.
• The dramatic irony is strong: the donkey, an unthinking animal, possessed more spiritual perception than the prophet Balaam, who was supposedly in tune with divine communication but was blinded by greed.
• The divine intent was corrective, not solely punitive. God sought to stop Balaam's unholy mission and protect Israel, but also to bring Balaam to a point of spiritual realization, as evidenced by the subsequent conversation (Num 22:34-35).
• The entire sequence highlights that no path devised by human will or selfish ambition can circumvent the determined purpose of the Almighty God.

Numbers 22 26 Commentary

Numbers 22:26 marks the critical juncture where God's active opposition to Balaam's journey reached its absolute peak. The Angel of the LORD strategically positioned himself in an utterly inescapable location, eliminating all of Balaam's potential detours. This was not merely an angelic warning but a direct, divine roadblock designed to compel Balaam to confront his disobedience. The "narrow place" symbolizes the confined spiritual state Balaam found himself in due to his desire for personal gain over God's express command. This physical impasse forced a spiritual reckoning, illustrating God's unyielding commitment to protect His covenant people and to arrest anyone who opposes His divine plan, ultimately bringing the disobedient into unavoidable confrontation with His sovereign will.