Numbers 24 23

Numbers 24:23 kjv

And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

Numbers 24:23 nkjv

Then he took up his oracle and said: "Alas! Who shall live when God does this?

Numbers 24:23 niv

Then he spoke his message: "Alas! Who can live when God does this?

Numbers 24:23 esv

And he took up his discourse and said, "Alas, who shall live when God does this?

Numbers 24:23 nlt

Balaam concluded his messages by saying: "Alas, who can survive
unless God has willed it?

Numbers 24 verses

Numbers 24 23 Meaning

Numbers 24:23 is a profound prophetic lament delivered by Balaam. It introduces a solemn phase of his oracles, foretelling a future era of intense tribulation and divine judgment. The rhetorical question, "Alas, who shall live?", conveys deep despair, implying that very few, if any, will be able to endure or survive when God, by His sovereign will, orchestrates and brings forth these dreadful events. This verse highlights the absolute power and decisive action of God in unfolding His purposes, especially in the context of global judgment.

Numbers 24 23 Context

Numbers 24:23 is positioned at a crucial juncture in the prophecies of Balaam. After being repeatedly hired by Balak, King of Moab, to curse Israel, Balaam is consistently compelled by God to utter blessings instead. Having just concluded a powerful oracle (Num 24:15-19) proclaiming the future triumph and kingly lineage of Israel, climaxing in the "Star out of Jacob" and "Scepter out of Israel," Balaam's perspective widens. This verse introduces his final, deeply significant set of oracles that extends beyond Israel to the fate of the surrounding nations and, ultimately, to an overarching, future divine judgment on the world. The lamenting tone of this verse sets the stage for a period of immense suffering and warns of the universal consequence when God directly acts in judgment, emphasizing His ultimate authority over all peoples and historical epochs.

Numbers 24 23 Word analysis

• And he took up (וַיִּשָּׂא֙ - Vayyiśśāʾ): Literally "and he lifted up." This verb choice denotes a solemn, weighty, and divinely compelled pronouncement, distinguishing it from casual speech. Balaam is not speaking of his own volition but delivering a burden from the Lord.
• his parable (מְשָׁל֔וֹ - məšālōw): From mashal, meaning a proverb, allegorical saying, or weighty discourse. It suggests a profound and often enigmatic utterance, deeply significant and pointing to truths beyond the immediate.
• and said (וַיֹּאמַ֑ר - vayyōʾmer): A common phrase used to introduce direct speech, indicating Balaam is about to articulate the specific content of his divinely given mashal.
• Alas (א֚וֹי - ʾôy): A Hebrew interjection expressing deep lament, woe, sorrow, or dire warning. It powerfully conveys the terrifying and tragic nature of the events foreseen, signaling a period of severe distress and judgment.
• who shall live (מִֽי־יִחְיֶ֔ה - mî-yiḥyeh): A rhetorical question that anticipates extreme devastation. It implies that very few will physically or ethically endure the forthcoming events, highlighting the unprecedented severity of God's action. Survival during this period is presented as an exceptional, divinely enabled outcome.
• when God doeth (בְּשׂוּם־אֵ֖ל - bəśûm-ʾēl): "when God places/appoints/establishes." The verb śûm (שׂוּם) signifies God's active, intentional, and sovereign decree. It emphasizes that these future events are not random but directly orchestrated by the Almighty. El (אֵל), a common Semitic name for God, highlights His power, might, and supreme authority as the ultimate disposer of all things.
• this (זֹֽאת׃ - zōʾt): A demonstrative pronoun that points directly to the specific dreadful events and judgments that Balaam is about to describe concerning other nations (Amalek, Kenite, Asshur, Eber). More broadly, it prophetically encompasses the ultimate, universal cosmic judgments of God on the whole world in the eschatological future.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And he took up his parable, and said": This phrasing establishes Balaam as a mouthpiece for divine revelation, underscoring that his words are not personal observations but a solemn, divinely inspired prophetic utterance.
• "Alas, who shall live": This is a profound lament and a rhetorical question that magnifies the scale of coming calamity. It conveys the immense suffering and potential near-extinction of humanity in the face of God's wrath, raising concerns about both physical survival and the ethical capacity to stand before such an awesome display of divine power.
• "when God doeth this!": This declaration decisively attributes the forewarned cataclysms directly to God's deliberate and sovereign will. It emphasizes that the future judgments are not random events but the precise working out of God's ordained plan, linking the specific judgments on nations Balaam is about to detail with the broader, final judgments on a rebellious world.

Numbers 24 23 Bonus section

This verse's profound despair and rhetorical question about survival position it as a key transition point in biblical prophecy. It forecasts an era distinct from previous judgments, pointing to a culmination of God's justice that anticipates the "Day of the Lord" found throughout the prophetic books of the Old Testament and the tribulation described in the New Testament. Balaam, a foreign prophet, serves as an instrument for this universal declaration, showcasing that God's authority and revelatory power extend beyond the covenant people of Israel to all nations. The use of "El," a more general term for God emphasizing His raw power and might, further underscores the universal, formidable nature of the divine actions foretold, applicable to all of humanity and not solely Israel. It hints at the difficult birth pains preceding the establishment of the messianic kingdom, wherein only those marked by God's grace will endure.

Numbers 24 23 Commentary

Numbers 24:23 marks a dramatic shift in Balaam's prophecies, moving from blessings for Israel to a solemn lament about universal judgment. The exclamatory "Alas!" combined with the rhetorical "who shall live?" underscores the unparalleled severity of a coming divine intervention in human affairs. This is not mere historical turmoil but a period when God actively "doeth this" — initiating and orchestrating events so profoundly devastating that mere survival becomes a profound question. It reveals God's unyielding commitment to justice and His absolute sovereignty over all nations. While it immediately sets the stage for Balaam's specific judgments against peoples like Amalek and the Kenite, its scope transcends these immediate prophecies, pointing towards a culminating period of tribulation before the establishment of God's ultimate kingdom, echoing through biblical narratives of final judgment and the desperate cry of humanity facing the Holy One.

• Example 1: This verse reminds us that genuine fear of the Lord is rooted in acknowledging His power to orchestrate cataclysmic judgments.
• Example 2: It encourages vigilance and preparedness for a future when all will stand before God's unfolding will.
• Example 3: It illustrates God's sovereign control over even a prophet who initially opposed His will, compelling him to declare divine truth.