Numbers 22 27

Numbers 22:27 kjv

And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

Numbers 22:27 nkjv

And when the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam's anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

Numbers 22:27 niv

When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff.

Numbers 22:27 esv

When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

Numbers 22:27 nlt

This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff.

Numbers 22 verses

Numbers 22 27 Meaning

Numbers 22:27 describes a pivotal moment where the donkey, after previously veering off the path twice to avoid the unseen Angel of the Lord, collapses entirely under Balaam. This final act of desperation by the animal sparks Balaam's extreme wrath, leading him to violently beat his donkey with a stick, unaware that she is preventing him from facing divine judgment.

Numbers 22 27 Context

Numbers chapter 22 introduces Balaam, a famous diviner from Pethor, whom Balak, the king of Moab, summons to curse the approaching Israelites. Despite God initially forbidding Balaam to go, He later permits it with strict conditions, reiterating that Balaam must only speak what God tells him. This permission is immediately followed by the Angel of the LORD positioning himself as an adversary on the road, unseen by Balaam but clearly visible to his donkey. The donkey's repeated attempts to avoid the angel by veering off the path, pressing Balaam's foot, and then lying down, are protective acts, though Balaam perceives them as stubborn disobedience. Each act of the donkey is met with Balaam's increasing rage and physical abuse. This verse marks the third and most dramatic of these encounters, where the donkey's complete collapse underscores the severity of the unseen threat and serves as a desperate last warning before the Lord opens Balaam's eyes and speaks through the donkey. The entire episode highlights God's sovereign protection over Israel, even through the means of a common animal, and His unwavering opposition to those who seek to harm His people, despite Balaam's reputation as a powerful prophet/diviner.

Numbers 22 27 Word analysis

• When the donkey (הָאָתוֹן - hā’ātôn) saw (רָאֲתָה - rā’ăṯâ): The word for "donkey" specifically refers to a female donkey, highlighting her protective maternal instinct or simply identifying the particular animal. "Saw" implies a direct visual perception, signifying that the donkey possessed a spiritual discernment entirely lacking in Balaam, who despite his prophetic calling, remained spiritually blind to the divine presence directly before him. This introduces a striking irony: an animal seeing what the "seer" could not.
• the angel of the LORD (מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה - mal’akh YHWH): This precise phrase ("the messenger of Yahweh") denotes a special divine envoy, often understood in Old Testament theology as a manifestation of God Himself (a Christophany) or His direct, powerful agent. The Angel of the LORD is portrayed with divine authority and capable of directly thwarting human plans. His presence alone is sufficient to instill terror and paralyze the animal.
• she lay down (וַתִּרְבַּץ - wat-tirbaṣ) under Balaam: The verb "lay down" (rābaṣ) indicates lying prostrate, to couch, or crouch low, conveying an extreme act of submission or exhaustion, likely due to terror. The donkey is no longer merely avoiding but is completely incapacitated by the overwhelming presence of the Angel. Lying "under Balaam" suggests a collapse so complete it disrupts his ride entirely, preventing further forward movement. This is a definitive physical barrier erected by divine influence.
• and Balaam's anger (אַף - 'ap) was kindled (וַיִּחַר - way-yiḥar): This is a common Hebrew idiom, literally "his nostril burned," signifying intense, uncontrolled wrath. It demonstrates Balaam's human frustration and lack of understanding escalating to furious, misdirected anger. His wrath is a contrast to the donkey's fear and the Angel's holy presence, revealing his true character: short-tempered, arrogant, and impatient when thwarted.
• and he struck (וַיַּךְ - way-yak) the donkey with a stick (בַּמַּקֵּל - bam-maqqēl): "Struck" (nāḵāh) signifies a violent blow. Balaam resorted to immediate physical abuse, illustrating his carnal reaction to a spiritual problem. The "stick" is a common, accessible tool for discipline, making his action seem natural from his blinded perspective, yet entirely wrong from the divine perspective. This is the third recorded beating, indicating his persistence in folly.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD" vs. "Balaam's anger was kindled": This juxtaposition powerfully highlights the spiritual paradox. The "unwise" animal perceives and reacts correctly to a profound spiritual reality, whereas the acclaimed "seer" remains utterly oblivious, reacting with human frustration and anger rather than discernment. It's a vivid illustration of spiritual blindness in the face of manifest divine intervention.
• "she lay down...and he struck the donkey": The donkey's passive, terrified act of complete submission to the divine obstacle is met with Balaam's active, aggressive, and misdirected violence. This contrast underscores the futility and sinfulness of human resistance against God's will, even when unwitting. The donkey's action is an act of preservation for Balaam, while Balaam's reaction is an act of foolish oppression.

Numbers 22 27 Bonus section

• The narrative serves as a powerful allegory for spiritual discernment, illustrating that external religious titles or reputations (like "prophet") do not guarantee spiritual insight, and sometimes the humblest creatures can possess greater spiritual sensitivity than acclaimed religious figures.
• This specific event also highlights God's protective nature over His covenant people, Israel. Even before Balaam curses them, God actively intervenes, stopping the source of the potential curse, ensuring Israel's security from spiritual attack.
• The Angel of the LORD's successive blockades—each more disruptive—demonstrates divine patience and escalating warnings before direct confrontation, giving ample opportunity for Balaam to understand and turn back. Balaam's persistent blindness requires extreme measures from the divine.

Numbers 22 27 Commentary

Numbers 22:27 serves as the climax of the pre-revelation narrative concerning Balaam and his donkey. This verse lays bare Balaam's spiritual blindness and his unrighteous anger. Despite two prior warnings signaled by his donkey, Balaam's focus on proceeding with his journey—motivated by potential gain—eclipses any sense of divine caution or discernment. His violent reaction to the donkey collapsing reveals a prophet enslaved by his own will and external motivations rather than divine guidance. The donkey's physical act of lying down is her final, most desperate warning to Balaam, driven by a profound, primal terror of the holy. God uses this humble, often-abused creature as a direct instrument to not only prevent Balaam's destructive path but also to expose the prophet's own "madness" (as 2 Pet 2:16 puts it)—his irrationality and lack of spiritual sight. This event emphasizes God's sovereign control, His patience with human foolishness, and His willingness to employ unexpected means to achieve His purposes and protect His people. It ultimately sets the stage for Balaam's eyes to be supernaturally opened, enabling him to finally see what has been obvious to his animal.