Numbers 24 16

Numbers 24:16 kjv

He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

Numbers 24:16 nkjv

The utterance of him who hears the words of God, And has the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open:

Numbers 24:16 niv

the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

Numbers 24:16 esv

the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered:

Numbers 24:16 nlt

the message of one who hears the words of God,
who has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who bows down with eyes wide open:

Numbers 24 verses

Numbers 24 16 Meaning

Numbers 24:16 presents Balaam's authoritative declaration, affirming the divine source and authenticity of his forthcoming prophetic utterance. It describes his unique and intimate access to the Almighty, emphasizing that he has directly "heard the words of God," "knew the knowledge of the Most High," and "saw the vision of the Almighty," all while in a profound prophetic state, "falling into a trance, but having his eyes open." This verse validates the prophetic message that follows as a direct revelation from the sovereign God, rather than a mere human interpretation or conjuring.

Numbers 24 16 Context

Numbers chapter 24 is part of the broader narrative of Balaam, a diviner from Mesopotamia whom King Balak of Moab hired to curse the Israelites as they approached the land of Canaan. Despite Balak's persistent efforts and Balaam's initial inclinations towards gain, God sovereignly intervened, putting blessings into Balaam's mouth instead of curses. This specific verse, Numbers 24:16, serves as the prologue to Balaam's fourth and final oracle. Having previously failed to curse Israel three times, Balaam now offers a final, unrequested prophecy, focusing on the future destiny of Israel and culminating in the powerful Messianic prophecy of the Star and Sceptre (Num 24:17). By declaring his unparalleled access to divine knowledge and vision, Balaam validates the absolute authority and certainty of the ensuing prophecy, framing it as direct divine revelation rather than personal speculation or a hired curse.

Numbers 24 16 Word analysis

• He hath said (נְאֻם, ne'um): This Hebrew term is a highly significant prophetic formula. It denotes an authoritative declaration, usually from God, and here spoken by Balaam but attributed to divine origin. It often introduces an oracle, signifying "the utterance of" or "the pronouncement of," particularly when used by prophets to introduce a divine message (e.g., "The Lord has said").
• which heard (שֹׁמֵעַ, shomea'): This participle indicates an active and continuous act of hearing. It signifies direct auditory reception, implying Balaam received the divine words not as a distant whisper but as a clear and personal communication.
• the words of God (אִמְרֵי־אֵל, imrei-'El): "Words" (imrei) refers to the divine pronouncements or commands. "God" (El) is a generic, powerful Semitic term for deity, often used to emphasize God's might and transcendence. Its use here highlights that the source is divine, a potent god, universally recognized as powerful, not specific to Israel's covenant name YHWH, potentially catering to a broader, ancient Near Eastern audience.
• and knew (וְיֹדֵעַ, v'yode'a'): This implies not just cognitive awareness but a deep, experiential, and intimate understanding, often bordering on fellowship. It suggests a profound insight into divine truths, beyond mere intellectual apprehension.
• the knowledge of the Most High (דַּעַת עֶלְיוֹן, da'at 'Elyon): "Knowledge" (da'at) is an understanding rooted in experience. "Most High" ('Elyon) is a divine title emphasizing God's supreme sovereignty, elevated position, and unmatched power over all creation and all other gods. It underlines God's ultimate authority, which Balaam has uniquely understood. This specific title would resonate in the ancient world, affirming the supremacy of the God giving the oracle.
• which saw (מַחֲזֵה... יֶחֱזֶה, machazeih... yechezeh): The repeated root "see" (חזה) used for "vision" (machazeih) and "he sees" (yechezeh) stresses a direct, visual, supernatural experience. This is not imagination but a divine manifestation granted to Balaam, enabling him to perceive things not visible to normal sight.
• the vision of the Almighty (שַׁדַּי, Shaddai): "Almighty" (Shaddai) is a profound divine name, often translated as "God Almighty" or "the All-Sufficient One." It conveys God's boundless power, His capacity to fulfill His promises, and His unstoppable might. Balaam saw the direct manifestation of this all-powerful being, making his message absolutely irrefutable.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the Most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty": This series of phrases builds a crescendo of divine revelation, moving from auditory reception ("heard") to deep intellectual and spiritual comprehension ("knew knowledge") to direct visual apprehension ("saw vision"). The progression from El (generic God), to 'Elyon (God Most High, sovereign ruler), to Shaddai (God Almighty, all-powerful one) also signifies an increasing depth and comprehensiveness of the divine source being invoked. It asserts the complete and undeniable authority behind Balaam's prophecy.
• "falling into a trance, but having his eyes open" (נֹפֵל וּגְלוּי עֵינָיִם, nofel u'glui einayim): This critical phrase describes Balaam's state during his revelation. "Falling" suggests a surrender of his normal faculties, a divinely induced physical posture of reverence or prostration, or even collapse under the weight of the divine presence. The paradoxical "with open eyes" does not imply seeing physically, but rather an unusual state of heightened spiritual perception where worldly senses might recede, yet his spiritual awareness and sight are acutely activated and focused on the divine vision. It distinguishes his experience from an unconscious state or mere slumber, confirming divine revelation while his faculties remain alert to spiritual realities. This validates the clarity and authenticity of the received message.

Numbers 24 16 Bonus section

The profound declaration of Numbers 24:16 is noteworthy because it presents a non-Israelite, potentially hostile diviner with a level of divine revelation akin to, and perhaps in some respects exceeding, many Israelite prophets described elsewhere in the Old Testament. This phenomenon underscores God's absolute sovereignty and His ability to use any means or individual to accomplish His purposes and reveal His truth, even compelling an unwilling servant. It implicitly offers a polemic against common ancient Near Eastern divinatory practices, where human conjuring sought to manipulate or discern the will of lesser deities. Balaam's experience, in contrast, demonstrates that the God of Israel is in complete control, even forcing an enemy to speak blessings rather than curses. This narrative highlights that true prophecy originates solely from the sovereign will of the one true God, not from human efforts or occult practices, affirming God's power over all other claims of supernatural ability.

Numbers 24 16 Commentary

Numbers 24:16 serves as a powerful declaration of prophetic authority and the inarguable divine origin of Balaam's final oracles. Despite Balaam's personal moral failures and mercenary motivations—a point emphasized in later New Testament passages (2 Pet 2:15, Jude 1:11, Rev 2:14)—this verse highlights the paradox of God's sovereignty. God used a deeply flawed, non-Israelite diviner to communicate undeniable truth, illustrating that divine revelation is not contingent on the human vessel's inherent righteousness but solely on God's will and power.

Balaam's triple claim of hearing, knowing, and seeing (the "words of God," the "knowledge of the Most High," the "vision of the Almighty") establishes an ascending ladder of profound spiritual intimacy and direct communication from the ultimate divine source. The use of different divine titles—El, Elyon, and Shaddai—underscores God's multifaceted power, sovereignty, and omnipotence, adding layers of authoritative weight to his pronouncements in the ancient Near Eastern context. This would have been particularly significant for Balak and others accustomed to pagan diviners, demonstrating that the God of Israel (whom Balaam also acknowledges through these universal terms) is uniquely supreme and powerful beyond measure.

His "trance with open eyes" signifies a divinely imposed state of consciousness that bypasses normal human perception. It emphasizes that what Balaam "saw" and "knew" was not of his own making, a product of human craft or divination techniques, but an unhindered, supernaturally clear transmission from God. This ensures the veracity and immutability of the prophecy, most notably the Star and Sceptre of Jacob (Num 24:17), which speaks directly of Israel's future glory and, ultimately, of the coming Messiah. The verse thus stands as a foundational assurance of the divine authorship of Balaam's prophecy, confirming that what follows is God's word, irrespective of Balaam's personal character.