Numbers 22 31

Numbers 22:31 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.

Numbers 22:31 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.

Numbers 22:31 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.

Numbers 22:31 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.

Numbers 22:31 nlt

Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.

Numbers 22 verses

Numbers 22 31 Meaning

Numbers 22:31 reveals the climax of divine intervention in Balaam's journey, where God supernaturally opens Balaam's eyes to perceive the previously unseen "Angel of the LORD" who was obstructing his path. This revelation exposes Balaam's spiritual blindness and fear, leading him to an act of profound submission and recognition of divine authority. It signifies a pivotal moment where direct divine truth pierces through human error and a diviner's misplaced intentions.

Numbers 22 31 Context

Numbers chapter 22 begins with King Balak of Moab, fearful of the advancing Israelites, seeking to hire Balaam, a renowned diviner, to curse Israel. Despite initial divine prohibitions, Balaam eventually sets out with Balak's envoys, compelled by desire for reward. God's anger burns against Balaam's disobedience and his pursuit of gain. The narrative then shifts to God's direct intervention through an unseen "Angel of the LORD" who stands as an adversary in Balaam's path. Balaam's donkey miraculously perceives the angel and avoids confrontation, while Balaam, oblivious, beats the donkey for its strange behavior. The donkey's unexpected speech highlights Balaam's spiritual dullness. Verse 31 is the dramatic culmination where the divine intervention becomes visible to Balaam, exposing his prior spiritual blindness and leading to his humbling realization of the severe peril he was in.

Numbers 22 31 Word Analysis

• Then (וַיִּפְקַ֤ח - vayifqach): This is a consecutive verb, indicating an immediate consequence. It connects directly to the preceding dialogue with the donkey, signifying that only after the donkey spoke did God act to open Balaam's eyes.
• the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The sacred covenant name of God, indicating that the divine action is intentional, personal, and stemming from the true God of Israel, not any other deity Balaam might have invoked.
• opened (פָּקַח - paqach): Implies an active, deliberate action to grant sight where it was previously lacking. It refers to a supernatural opening, revealing spiritual reality.
• the eyes (עֵינֵי - einey): Refers to physical vision, but in this context, it symbolizes spiritual discernment. Balaam could physically see, but not the spiritual obstacle. This act reveals his spiritual blindness to God's presence and will.
• of Balaam (בִּלְעָ֛ם - Bil'am): The diviner who was hired to curse Israel. His inability to see the Angel of the LORD demonstrates his spiritual dullness and contrasts sharply with the animal's clear vision, highlighting God's sovereignty over those who claim spiritual insight for gain.
• and he saw (וַיַּ֗רְא - vayyar'): Consequence of God opening his eyes. From complete spiritual ignorance, Balaam gains a direct and undeniable perception of the divine messenger.
• the angel of the LORD (מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה - malakh YHWH): A specific divine messenger, often considered a theophanic or Christophanic appearance, representing God's own presence and authority. This Angel frequently appears as a direct agent of God's will, judgment, or revelation. His presence signals ultimate divine intervention.
• standing in the way (נִצָּ֖ב בַּדֶּ֑רֶךְ - nitssav baderech): Implies opposition and obstruction. The Angel's position directly blocks Balaam's intended path, symbolizing that Balaam was on a course directly contrary to God's will.
• with his drawn (שְׁלוּפָ֖ה - sh'lufah) sword (חַרְבּ֣וֹ - charbo): A powerful symbol of imminent judgment, divine wrath, and hostile intent. The sword is unsheathed, ready for action, conveying immediate danger and demonstrating the severity of God's anger at Balaam's disobedience.
• in his hand (בְּיָד֑וֹ - b'yado): Signifies active agency and power. The threat is not distant but held directly and poised.
• and he bowed down (וַיִּקֹּ֣ד - vayyiqqod) his head (רֹאשֹׁ֔ו - ro'sho): An act of submission, reverence, and profound fear. It signifies acknowledgment of the Angel's supreme authority and Balaam's own subordinate position and culpability.
• and fell flat (וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חֲוֶה - vayyishtachaveh) on his face (לְאַפָּֽיו׃ - l'appayv): The ultimate posture of humility, terror, and submission. It represents abject surrender and worship before a superior being, revealing Balaam's terror and deep awareness of the peril he was in.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "The LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw": This phrase highlights God's sovereignty over human perception and understanding. It reverses Balaam's spiritual state, forcing him to confront a truth he actively ignored. This divine revelation is active and impactful.
• "the Angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand": This powerfully portrays divine obstruction and impending judgment. The imagery of the "drawn sword" elevates the threat from a mere obstruction to a life-threatening encounter, revealing the intensity of God's displeasure.
• "and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face": This phrase depicts Balaam's immediate and dramatic physical response to the revelation. His posture of complete prostration is not merely respectful; it conveys abject terror and acknowledgment of undeniable divine authority and his own grave transgression. It marks the complete collapse of his self-important ambition.

Numbers 22 31 Bonus Section

• The Irony of Perception: The spiritual hierarchy is inverted here: an unthinking animal sees what the prophet/diviner (Balaam) cannot. This underscores that spiritual discernment comes from God's grace, not from human reputation or practice.
• Divine Revelation in Stages: God revealed Himself progressively: first through the general prohibition (Num 22:12), then through the anger in Balaam's path (unseen, v. 22), then through the donkey's supernatural sight and speech (vv. 23-30), and finally by opening Balaam's own eyes (v. 31). This slow unveiling heightened the impact of the final revelation.
• Significance of "on the way": The Angel meets Balaam on the way, symbolizing that Balaam was literally going down a path that led to his spiritual and physical destruction. God's intervention was a critical interception to divert him from that deadly trajectory.
• A Precursor to Judgment: The imagery of the "drawn sword" is not merely illustrative; it signifies an intention to execute judgment. This prepares the reader for the subsequent interactions where Balaam's words will be utterly controlled by God, rather than used for his mercenary purpose.

Numbers 22 31 Commentary

Numbers 22:31 is a pivotal moment, shifting the narrative from a subtly unfolding divine will to a dramatic, overt confrontation. Balaam, a man of reputation in spiritual matters, is exposed as spiritually blind compared even to an animal, emphasizing the depths of his errant path. The intervention by the "Angel of the LORD," often seen as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, is direct and unyielding, signifying God's absolute commitment to protect Israel and frustrate plans against them. The drawn sword underscores the immediate danger Balaam was in due to his disobedience and greed. Balaam's prostration is not a display of true repentance at this moment, but a fearful and instinctive response to an undeniable, overwhelming divine presence and imminent judgment, shattering his presumptions of control over the spiritual realm. This moment forces Balaam into compliance with God's will, demonstrating God's sovereign control over even a defiant heart, turning curses into blessings.