Numbers 23:18 kjv
And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
Numbers 23:18 nkjv
Then he took up his oracle and said: "Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me, son of Zippor!
Numbers 23:18 niv
Then he spoke his message: "Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor.
Numbers 23:18 esv
And Balaam took up his discourse and said, "Rise, Balak, and hear; give ear to me, O son of Zippor:
Numbers 23:18 nlt
This was the message Balaam delivered: "Rise up, Balak, and listen!
Hear me, son of Zippor.
Numbers 23 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 22:38 | Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you! Now, have I any power to speak anything... except what God puts in my mouth?" | Balaam's constraint by God's word. |
| Num 23:3 | And Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offering while I go..." | Balaam instructs Balak to wait. |
| Num 23:5 | And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth... | God is the source of the message. |
| Num 23:7 | Then he took up his utterance and said: "From Aram Balak has brought me..." | Introduction to the first oracle. |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said...? | God's faithfulness and unchanging word. |
| Deut 5:27 | "Go near and hear all that the Lord our God will say; and speak to us..." | The command to listen to God's word. |
| Deut 18:18 | "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth..." | God speaking through prophets. |
| Judg 3:20 | Ehud came to him... and Ehud said, "I have a word from God for you." And he arose from his seat. | Command to arise for divine word. |
| 1 Sam 3:9 | So Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’" | Readiness to hear God. |
| 2 Sam 23:2 | "The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue." | God's word through human instrumentality. |
| 1 Kgs 22:19 | "Hear therefore the word of the Lord..." | Command to hear prophetic word. |
| Isa 1:10 | Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God... | Prophetic call for rulers to listen. |
| Isa 55:11 | so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty... | Efficacy and power of God's word. |
| Jer 1:12 | Then the Lord said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it." | God ensures His word is fulfilled. |
| Jer 23:29 | "Is not my word like fire," declares the Lord, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?" | The powerful impact of God's word. |
| Ezek 2:7 | "And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear..." | Prophets must deliver God's word faithfully. |
| Amos 7:16 | "Now therefore hear the word of the Lord..." | Command to hear the prophetic message. |
| Hos 5:1 | Hear this, O priests! Pay attention, O house of Israel! Give ear, O house of the king... | Prophetic call for various groups to listen. |
| Mal 2:7 | For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth... | The authority of one speaking God's word. |
| Mt 7:24 | "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man..." | Importance of hearing and obeying Christ's words. |
| Jn 5:24 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me..." | Spiritual life through hearing God's word. |
| Jn 8:47 | "Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." | Discernment in hearing God's voice. |
| Heb 3:7 | Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice..." | Call to respond to God's immediate voice. |
Numbers 23 verses
Numbers 23 18 Meaning
This verse serves as the solemn preamble to Balaam's second divine oracle delivered to King Balak. It signifies a pivotal moment where the prophet, having received a word from the Lord, commands Balak to arise and give diligent attention. Balaam's instruction is not merely polite address but a forceful declaration demanding full engagement, indicating that the forthcoming message is not his own invention but a weighty word from the Most High God, directed at the king who sought to oppose God's chosen people, Israel.
Numbers 23 18 Context
Numbers chapter 23 recounts Balaam's second attempt to curse Israel at the behest of Balak, King of Moab. Balak, deeply frustrated that Balaam's first oracle (Num 23:7-10) turned into a blessing for Israel, transports Balaam to another vantage point, the field of Zophim, on the top of Pisgah, hoping a change of scenery might prompt a different outcome. Balaam again follows the ritual of preparing seven altars and offering sacrifices (Num 23:14). It is after this preparation that the Lord meets Balaam again, puts a word in his mouth (Num 23:16), and Balaam returns to Balak, setting the stage for the powerful divine utterance that follows. Verse 18 is Balaam's direct, commanding address to Balak, demanding his full attention before delivering God's second, even more profound, blessing on Israel. The historical context involves Israel camped on the plains of Moab, poised to enter the Promised Land, facing hostility from Moab.
Numbers 23 18 Word analysis
- Then he took up (וַיִּשָּׂא, vayyisa): From the Hebrew verb nasa (נָשָׂא), meaning "to lift," "to carry," or "to take up." Here, it signifies a deliberate, authoritative initiation of a weighty declaration, as one would lift up a weighty burden.
- his utterance (מְשָׁלוֹ, meshalo): From mashal (מָשָׁל), which can mean "proverb," "parable," "riddle," or, as here, a "prophetic oracle" or "solemn declaration." It implies a profound, divinely-inspired speech that is often poetic, insightful, or authoritative, containing truth not immediately obvious or originating from human thought. It is Balaam's, but only as a channel for God's word.
- and said (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayyomer): Standard verb for speech.
- "Arise (קוּם, qum): An imperative from the verb qum (קוּם), meaning "to stand up," "to rise." It is a strong command often used to signify an immediate and focused readiness for an important event or communication. It suggests moving from a relaxed or passive posture to one of attentive listening.
- Balak, (בָּלָק, Balak): The King of Moab, who initiated the encounter with Balaam, seeking to curse Israel. The direct address underscores that the message is for him, despite his desires.
- and hear; (וּשְׁמַע, u-shema): An imperative from the verb shama (שָׁמַע), meaning "to hear," "to listen," and often implicitly, "to obey" or "to heed." It implies not just physical hearing but an intellectual and spiritual reception of the message.
- listen to me, (הַאֲזִינָה אֵלַי, ha'azina elay): From the verb azan (אָזַן), meaning "to give ear," "to listen closely," "to attend." It is a stronger, more emphatic command to listen than shema, suggesting a leaning in, keen attention, or deep contemplation of what is being said. The accompanying elay ("to me") further personalizes the command for Balak to heed Balaam's words.
- O son of Zippor!" (בֶּן צִפּוֹר, ben Tsippor): A patronymic identifying Balak by his lineage. This formal address emphasizes Balak's identity and perhaps subtly reminds him of his position as king, who bears responsibility for listening to this profound divine pronouncement.
Words-Group Analysis:
- Then he took up his utterance: This phrase highlights that the ensuing words are not mere conversational remarks but a divinely inspired and significant pronouncement (a mashal). Balaam acts as an instrument, channeling a message originating from a higher power. It's a formal and solemn introduction, preparing the listener for words of considerable import and weight, indicative of a prophecy.
- "Arise, Balak, and hear; listen to me, O son of Zippor!": This complete command functions as an authoritative summons. The repetition of "hear" and "listen" with different Hebrew verbs (shema and azan) emphasizes the urgent need for Balak to give full, concentrated, and receptive attention. The address to "Balak, O son of Zippor" is a formal, almost challenging, way to capture the king's undivided attention, underlining that despite Balak's authority, he is now commanded by the very source of power, Yahweh, through His chosen, though reluctant, mouthpiece.
Numbers 23 18 Bonus section
The repeated command for Balak to "arise," "hear," and "listen" serves not only as an imperative for the immediate oracle but also prefigures a common prophetic pattern where true receptivity to God's word involves active engagement, not passive hearing. The "utterance" (mashal) can carry a sense of hidden meaning or a deeper truth beyond its surface words, inviting deeper contemplation from the listener, whether or not Balak was prepared to do so. This is part of the overarching biblical theme that God can turn curses into blessings (as seen repeatedly in Num 22-24) and utilize even unlikely figures or hostile situations to fulfill His sovereign plans for His people.
Numbers 23 18 Commentary
Numbers 23:18 is the potent overture to Balaam's second prophetic declaration, illustrating God's sovereignty over human intentions. Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet driven by mercenary desires, is here fully under divine constraint, forced to articulate God's unchanging will. The command to "arise" (קוּם) signifies the immediacy and gravity of the moment, demanding Balak's full engagement rather than a casual listen. The dual imperatives "hear" (שָׁמַע) and "listen attentively" (אָזַן) escalate the demand for reception; it’s not just about the physical act of hearing, but absorbing, processing, and heeding the message. God uses Balaam, despite his personal inclination, to deliver words that bless Israel and reinforce His covenant faithfulness. This scene profoundly demonstrates that God’s word prevails regardless of human opposition or the character of the messenger.