Numbers 22 6

Numbers 22:6 kjv

Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

Numbers 22:6 nkjv

Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."

Numbers 22:6 niv

Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed."

Numbers 22:6 esv

Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."

Numbers 22:6 nlt

Please come and curse these people for me because they are too powerful for me. Then perhaps I will be able to conquer them and drive them from the land. I know that blessings fall on any people you bless, and curses fall on people you curse."

Numbers 22 verses

Numbers 22 6 Meaning

Numbers 22:6 details the urgent request of Balak, King of Moab, to Balaam, a renowned diviner. Balak desperately pleads with Balaam to utter a curse upon the Israelite nation. His motivation stems from profound fear of the Israelites, perceiving them as an overwhelmingly mighty force threatening his land and people. He expresses his hope that by means of Balaam’s curse, he will gain the necessary strength to defeat Israel and drive them out of his territory. Balak's request is underpinned by his firm belief in Balaam’s powerful spiritual influence: that whomever Balaam blesses is indeed blessed, and whomever he curses is cursed. This verse reveals Balak’s reliance on magical or prophetic efficacy and his understanding of spiritual warfare as a primary means of defense against a numerically superior foe.

Numbers 22 6 Context

This verse appears early in the narrative of Balak and Balaam in Numbers chapter 22. The Israelites, having traversed the wilderness and defeated the Amorite kings Sihon and Og, are now camped on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, poised to enter the promised land. Balak, the king of Moab, along with the Midianites, becomes acutely terrified by the sheer size and recent military successes of the Israelites. Instead of engaging in conventional warfare, which he recognizes as futile against such a powerful force, Balak resorts to spiritual means. He believes in the potent, effective nature of curses pronounced by individuals known to have spiritual power. Therefore, he sends for Balaam, a famous prophet/diviner from Pethor near the Euphrates, known far and wide for his ability to effect blessings and curses. Balak's request underscores his profound fear and his conviction that a spoken curse by someone like Balaam can alter the divine will and lead to the defeat of a nation. It sets the stage for a conflict not of armies, but of divine sovereignty and the true source of spiritual power.

Numbers 22 6 Word analysis

• Come now therefore: An urgent, pleading appeal, indicating Balak's desperate state and his conviction that this is his only viable solution.
• please curse: The Hebrew word here is קָבַב (qāḇaḇ). This verb specifically means "to curse" in a deep, potent, or binding sense, implying a pronouncement meant to bring about harm or ruin, often with a magical or supernatural connotation. It suggests an action intended to effect divine displeasure and negative outcomes, distinct from more general terms for swearing or blasphemy. Balak seeks an effective, debilitating curse.
• this people: Refers to the Israelites. Balak identifies them as a unified, formidable threat, emphasizing their corporate identity.
• for me: Indicates the personal nature of Balak’s request; he wants the curse to benefit him and his kingdom.
• for they are too mighty for me: Explicitly states Balak’s core motivation: Israel's overwhelming numerical and military superiority. This acknowledges his helplessness against them through conventional means.
• Perhaps I may be able to defeat them: The use of "perhaps" (אוּלַי, ʾûlay) reveals Balak's uncertainty and the hopeful but not guaranteed nature of his plan. His trust is placed solely in the power of the curse.
• and drive them out of the land: Balak's ultimate objective: to remove the Israelite threat entirely from his territory, securing his kingdom.
• for I know: Highlights Balak's perceived certainty about Balaam's powers. He has heard and believes in Balaam's reputation. This demonstrates the ancient Near Eastern belief in the efficacy of such curses.
• that he whom you bless is blessed: Balak attributes divine power directly to Balaam’s pronouncements, believing Balaam is an agent through whom blessings flow, making them effective and undeniable. This perception makes Balaam highly valuable.
• and he whom you curse is cursed: Likewise, Balak believes Balaam’s curses are potent and bring about negative, destined outcomes. This statement reveals a core aspect of ancient magical beliefs, where the spoken word, especially by a diviner, carries inherent power and changes reality. This is the central tenet driving Balak's appeal.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me.": This phrase establishes the primary purpose of Balaam’s invocation and Balak’s fear. It encapsulates the core tension between Moab’s military weakness and Israel’s perceived strength, leading to the desperate appeal for spiritual intervention.
  • "Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land": This segment outlines Balak's strategic goal and his acknowledgment of his current inability to achieve it without supernatural aid. It shows a king resorting to extraordinary measures in the face of perceived overwhelming odds.
  • "for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.": This is the theological lynchpin of Balak’s understanding of Balaam. It underscores Balak's belief in Balaam's renowned spiritual authority and efficacy, attributing to him a power akin to divine decree. This crucial insight sets up the narrative’s unfolding tension, where Balaam's actual subservience to Yahweh's will will be starkly revealed, counteracting Balak’s assumptions.

Numbers 22 6 Bonus section

The phrase "too mighty for me" reflects not only Balak’s numerical assessment but possibly a spiritual one, fearing the God who fought for Israel, though he likely attributes this success to general divine favor rather than specifically Yahweh. The entire episode serves as a powerful theological statement against divination and magic. God's turning of the intended curse into blessing (Deut 23:5, Neh 13:2) demonstrates His ultimate sovereignty and protection over His people, even against powerful, spiritually charged efforts to harm them. The episode critiques the common ancient Near Eastern idea that a nation's fate could be determined by foreign religious figures through curses, showing that God's plan cannot be overridden. This also subtly points to the prophetic tradition in Israel, where a true prophet speaks only what God puts in his mouth, unlike mercenary diviners.

Numbers 22 6 Commentary

Numbers 22:6 is the quintessential expression of Balak's terror and his pagan worldview concerning spiritual authority. Faced with Israel's overwhelming might, he avoids direct confrontation and turns to Balaam, recognizing a powerful, independent spiritual force in him. Balak believes Balaam’s words carry intrinsic, effectual power, stemming from his supposed connection to deities. This common ancient Near Eastern belief in the automatic efficacy of curses and blessings spoken by powerful seers sets up a dramatic foil to the ensuing narrative, which emphatically demonstrates that true power to bless or curse resides solely with the sovereign God of Israel, Yahweh. Balaam, despite his reputation, cannot operate outside God's divine will, turning intended curses into blessings. This verse powerfully illustrates a clash between pagan divination seeking to manipulate the divine for human ends and the biblical truth of God's unshakeable plan for His chosen people, which cannot be thwarted by human schemes or sorcery. Balak's actions are driven by fear of man, whereas true trust lies in God's protection.