Numbers 23 3

Numbers 23:3 kjv

And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he showeth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.

Numbers 23:3 nkjv

Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go; perhaps the LORD will come to meet me, and whatever He shows me I will tell you." So he went to a desolate height.

Numbers 23:3 niv

Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you." Then he went off to a barren height.

Numbers 23:3 esv

And Balaam said to Balak, "Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you." And he went to a bare height,

Numbers 23:3 nlt

Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offerings, and I will go to see if the LORD will respond to me. Then I will tell you whatever he reveals to me." So Balaam went alone to the top of a bare hill,

Numbers 23 verses

Numbers 23 3 Meaning

Numbers 23:3 describes Balaam's initial action as he begins his divining attempt for Balak. Balaam instructs Balak to remain with the burnt offering while he goes to a solitary place to seek a word from the LORD. He expresses the intention to relay faithfully whatever God reveals to him. This verse highlights Balaam's methodology as a diviner, his recognition of Yahweh's authority, and the anticipation of divine encounter.

Numbers 23 3 Context

Numbers 23 occurs at a critical juncture in Israel's journey, just before they enter the promised land, encamped on the plains of Moab (Num 22:1). Balak, king of Moab, deeply fears the numerous Israelites (Num 22:3-4) and seeks to weaken them through a supernatural curse. He hires Balaam, a renowned diviner from Mesopotamia, to pronounce a curse. The chapter initiates Balaam's first oracle. This verse sets the stage for Balaam to attempt to contact a divine entity to gain power for cursing, reflecting the common pagan practice of seeking omens or revelations to manipulate outcomes. However, the true significance lies in the revelation that follows: despite Balaam's intentions and pagan methodology, it is the LORD (Yahweh), the God of Israel, who intervenes and dictates the message, ultimately turning curses into blessings.

Numbers 23 3 Word analysis

• And Balaam said to Balak, 'Stand here beside your burnt offering,

  • Balaam (Hebrew: בִּלְעָם, Bilʿām): A non-Israelite diviner/prophet from Pethor in Mesopotamia. His involvement highlights God's sovereignty over nations and even those outside His covenant people, demonstrating His power extends universally.
  • Balak (Hebrew: בָּלָק, Bālāq): King of Moab. He represents the enemy trying to counteract God's plan for Israel, embodying fear and hostility towards the chosen people.
  • Stand here beside your burnt offering (Hebrew: הִתְיַצֵּב עַל־עֹלָתֶךָ, hityaṣṣēb ʿal-ʿōlātekā): Balaam's instruction reveals his understanding of pagan ritual where a supplicant would remain with the sacrifice, providing focus and intent for the diviner's work. It reflects Balak's deep desire for an effective curse and willingness to participate in cultic acts.
  • burnt offering (Hebrew: עֹלָה, ʿōlāh): A whole burnt offering, common in ancient Near Eastern religions, including Israelite worship (Lev 1). Its purpose was often propitiation or invoking a deity's favor. Here, Balak intends it to influence his god(s) against Israel, but God intervenes.

• and I will go. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me, and whatever He shows me I will tell you.'

  • and I will go (Hebrew: אֵלְכָה, ’ēlkāh): Balaam separates himself, a common practice for prophets or diviners to achieve isolation for clearer communication with the divine.
  • Perhaps (Hebrew: אוּלַי, ’ūlay): This word conveys uncertainty or possibility. Balaam isn't guaranteeing an encounter but expressing a hope or a standard part of his procedure, acknowledging that divine communication is not entirely under his control. This hints at his limited authority compared to the true prophets of Yahweh.
  • the LORD (Hebrew: יְהוָה, YHWH or Yahweh): The covenant name of the God of Israel. It is significant that Balaam refers to Israel's God by His distinct name, rather than a generic deity, indicating either prior encounters or a recognition of Yahweh's supreme power over the fate of nations.
  • will come to meet me (Hebrew: יִקָּרֵה לִקְרָאתִי, yiqqārēh liqra’tî): "will cause Himself to meet" or "will grant an encounter." This passive form emphasizes that the divine encounter is ultimately initiated by God, not forced by Balaam's rituals. It implies a direct, unmediated communication from God.
  • whatever He shows me I will tell you: Balaam sets the expectation of faithfully transmitting the message, acknowledging himself as a mere mouthpiece. This commitment is crucial, as it implies God's words cannot be manipulated by the messenger.

• And he went to a bare height.

  • bare height (Hebrew: שֶׁפִי, shĕfî): This refers to an exposed, solitary, or desolate high place. Such locations were commonly used for cultic activity, seeking omens, or achieving isolation for divine encounters. The term suggests a place where nothing obscures the view or the spiritual communication, perhaps implying an "open" place. In this context, it aligns with pagan divination practices, yet it is where the God of Israel sovereignly chooses to reveal Himself.

Numbers 23 3 Bonus section

• The passage highlights a biblical polemic against the efficacy of pagan divination when confronted with the will of Yahweh. While Balaam attempts divination, it is not his method that secures revelation, but Yahweh's choice to speak. This stands in stark contrast to human-manipulated attempts to extract divine will.
• Balaam, despite his spiritual knowledge and experience with God, does not have the kind of relationship with the LORD that Israel's true prophets do. He approaches God using divinatory practices, yet God sovereignly chooses to use him, transforming a potential instrument of curse into a mouthpiece of blessing, for His own purposes and for Israel's protection.
• The use of "bare height" for divine communication can be contrasted with the established "high places" for illicit worship (1 Kgs 11:7). While physically similar, the nature of the communication, in this case from Yahweh directly for His redemptive plan, differentiates it significantly from standard pagan ritual.

Numbers 23 3 Commentary

Numbers 23:3 encapsulates the profound tension between pagan expectation and divine sovereignty. Balaam, a diviner-for-hire, employs the typical rituals of his trade: burnt offerings, specific locations, and solitary meditation to invoke a deity. His words "Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me" are not just a casual hope but reveal a crucial truth about God's revelation: it is sovereignly given. Balaam understands that he cannot compel Yahweh but must wait for His initiative. Despite Balaam's mercenary motives and the pagan context, God chooses to engage directly with him, not to empower his divination against Israel, but to demonstrate His supreme authority. God's message, not Balaam's ritual, will determine the outcome. This moment sets the stage for Yahweh to turn intended curses into blessings, profoundly showcasing His unwavering faithfulness to Israel and His control over all earthly powers and prophecies.