Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, October 20th, 2024
the Week of Proper 24 / Ordinary 29
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Read the Bible

Christian Standard Bible ®

Numbers 24:4

the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God,who sees a vision from the Almighty,who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Balaam;   Prophets;   Trance;   Thompson Chain Reference - Balaam;   Trances;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Prophecy;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Prophets;   Seer;   Trance;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Balaam;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Shoshannim;   Trance;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Oracles;   Poetry;   Theophany;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Balaam;   Balak;   God;   Moab, Moabites;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Targums;   Trance;   Vision;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Almighty;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Shaaraim;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Trance;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Canaan;   Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Balaam;   Open;   Think;   Trance;   Vision;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Balaam;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Apocalypse;   Revelation;   Seer;   Targum;  

Parallel Translations

English Standard Version
the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered:
Update Bible Version
He says, who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:
English Revised Version
He saith, which heareth the words of God, Which seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:
New Century Version
this is the message of a man who hears the words of God. I see a vision from the Almighty, and my eyes are open as I fall before him.
New English Translation
the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with eyes open:
Webster's Bible Translation
He hath said, who heard the words of God, who saw the vision of the Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open:
World English Bible
He says, who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:
Amplified Bible
The oracle of one who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
the herere of Goddis wordis seide, which bihelde the reuelacioun of almyyti God, which fallith doun, and hise iyen ben openyd so, Hou faire ben thi tabernaclis,
Young's Literal Translation
An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God -- Who a vision of the Almighty seeth, Falling -- and eyes uncovered:
Berean Standard Bible
the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
Contemporary English Version
It comes from the Lord , the God All-Powerful. I bowed down to him and saw a vision of Israel.
American Standard Version
He saith, who heareth the words of God, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:
Bible in Basic English
He says, whose ears are open to the words of God, who has seen the vision of the Ruler of all, falling down, but having his eyes open:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He hath sayde whiche heareth the wordes of God, and seeth the visions of the almightie, and falleth downe with open eyes.
Complete Jewish Bible
the speech of him who hears God's words; who sees what Shaddai sees, who has fallen, yet has open eyes:
Darby Translation
He saith, who heareth the words of God, who seeth the vision of the Almighty, who falleth down, and who hath his eyes open:
Easy-to-Read Version
These are the words I heard from God. I saw what God All-Powerful showed me. I humbly tell what I clearly see.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
The saying of him who heareth the words of God, who seeth the vision of the Almighty, fallen down, yet with opened eyes:
King James Version (1611)
Hee hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almightie, falling into a trance, but hauing his eyes open:
New Life Bible
He hears the words of God. He sees what the All-powerful wants him to see. He falls down, but has his eyes open.
New Revised Standard
the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, but with eyes uncovered:
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The oracle of one hearing sayings of GOD, Who the sight of the Almighty, receiveth in vision, Who falleth down but hath unveiled eyes: -
Geneva Bible (1587)
He hath sayde, which heard the wordes of God, and sawe the vision of the Almightie, and falling in a traunce had his eyes opened:
George Lamsa Translation
He has said, who heard the word of God, who saw the vision of God, falling into a trance but having his eyes open:
Good News Translation
Who can hear what God is saying. With staring eyes I see in a trance A vision from Almighty God.
Douay-Rheims Bible
The bearer of the words of God hath said, he that hath beheld the vision of the Almighty, he that falleth, and so his eyes are opened:
Revised Standard Version
the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, but having his eyes uncovered:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
he says who hears the oracle of the Mighty One, who saw a vision of God in sleep; his eyes were opened:
Hebrew Names Version
He says, who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of Shaddai, Falling down, and having his eyes open:
King James Version
He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
Lexham English Bible
the declaration of the hearer of God's words, who sees the revelation of Shaddai, falling down but whose eyes are uncovered.
Literal Translation
the saying of him who hears the Words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, fallen down, yet with open eyes:
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thus sayeth the man whose eyes are opened: Thus sayeth he which heareth the wordes of God, which sawe the vision of ye Allmightie: which fell downe, and his eyes were opened.
THE MESSAGE
By now Balaam realized that God wanted to bless Israel. So he didn't work in any sorcery as he had done earlier. He turned and looked out over the wilderness. As Balaam looked, he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe. The Spirit of God came on him, and he spoke his oracle-message: Decree of Balaam son of Beor, yes, decree of a man with 20/20 vision; Decree of a man who hears God speak, who sees what The Strong God shows him, Who falls on his face in worship, who sees what's really going on. What beautiful tents, Jacob, oh, your homes, Israel! Like valleys stretching out in the distance, like gardens planted by rivers, Like sweet herbs planted by the gardener God , like red cedars by pools and springs, Their buckets will brim with water, their seed will spread life everywhere. Their king will tower over Agag and his ilk, their kingdom surpassingly majestic. God brought them out of Egypt, rampaging like a wild ox, Gulping enemies like morsels of meat, crushing their bones, snapping their arrows. Israel crouches like a lion and naps, king-of-the-beasts—who dares disturb him? Whoever blesses you is blessed, whoever curses you is cursed. Balak lost his temper with Balaam. He shook his fist. He said to Balaam: "I got you in here to curse my enemies and what have you done? Blessed them! Blessed them three times! Get out of here! Go home! I told you I would pay you well, but you're getting nothing. You can blame God ." Balaam said to Balak, "Didn't I tell you up front when you sent your emissaries, ‘Even if Balak gave me his palace stuffed with silver and gold, I couldn't do anything on my own, whether good or bad, that went against God 's command'? I'm leaving for home and my people, but I warn you of what this people will do to your people in the days to come." Then he spoke his oracle-message: Decree of Balaam son of Beor, decree of the man with 20/20 vision, Decree of the man who hears godly speech, who knows what's going on with the High God, Who sees what The Strong God reveals, who bows in worship and sees what's real. I see him, but not right now, I perceive him, but not right here; A star rises from Jacob a scepter from Israel, Crushing the heads of Moab, the skulls of all the noisy windbags; I see Edom sold off at auction, enemy Seir marked down at the flea market, while Israel walks off with the trophies. A ruler is coming from Jacob who'll destroy what's left in the city. Then Balaam spotted Amalek and delivered an oracle-message. He said, Amalek, you're in first place among nations right now, but you're going to come in last, ruined. He saw the Kenites and delivered his oracle-message to them: Your home is in a nice secure place, like a nest high on the face of a cliff. Still, you Kenites will look stupid when Asshur takes you prisoner. Balaam spoke his final oracle-message: Doom! Who stands a chance when God starts in? Sea-Peoples, raiders from across the sea, will harass Asshur and Eber, But they'll also come to nothing, just like all the rest. Balaam got up and went home. Balak also went on his way.
New American Standard Bible
The declaration of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered,
New King James Version
The utterance of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open:
New Living Translation
the message of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The oracle of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered,
Legacy Standard Bible
The oracle of him who hears the words of God,Who beholds the vision of the Almighty,Falling down, yet having his eyes opened,

Contextual Overview

1Since Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned toward the wilderness. 2When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him, 3and he proclaimed his poem: 4the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God,who sees a vision from the Almighty,who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:5How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,your dwellings, Israel. 6They stretch out like river valleys,like gardens beside a stream,like aloes the Lord has planted,like cedars beside the water. 7Water will flow from his buckets,and his seed will be by abundant water.His king will be greater than Agag,and his kingdom will be exalted. 8God brought him out of Egypt;he is like the horns of a wild ox for them.He will feed on enemy nationsand gnaw their bones;he will strike them with his arrows. 9He crouches, he lies down like a lionor a lioness—who dares to rouse him?Those who bless you will be blessed,and those who curse you will be cursed.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

saw: Numbers 12:6, Genesis 15:12, Psalms 89:19, Daniel 8:26, Daniel 8:27, Acts 10:10, Acts 10:19, Acts 22:17, 2 Corinthians 12:1-4

falling: Numbers 22:31, 1 Samuel 19:24, Ezekiel 1:28, Daniel 8:17, Daniel 8:18, Daniel 10:15, Daniel 10:16, Revelation 1:10, Revelation 1:17

Reciprocal: Genesis 46:2 - in the visions Numbers 10:28 - according Numbers 24:3 - whose eyes are open hath said Numbers 24:15 - General Numbers 24:16 - General 1 Samuel 9:19 - the seer 1 Kings 13:20 - the word of the Lord Isaiah 1:1 - vision Matthew 7:22 - have we 1 Corinthians 14:37 - any Revelation 1:8 - the Almighty

Cross-References

Genesis 12:7
The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.
Genesis 24:20
She quickly emptied her jug into the trough and hurried to the well again to draw water. She drew water for all his camels
Genesis 24:23
“Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
Genesis 28:2
Go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel, your mother’s father. Marry one of the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He hath said, which heard the words of God,.... God speaking to him, which he did several times, and with which he was greatly elated, see Numbers 22:9:

which saw the vision of the Almighty; not that he had a sight of any similitude of God, though the angel that appeared to him, which was Christ the uncreated angel, might appear in an human form, for some visible form was seen both by the ass and him; but rather this respects the visions of God to him in the night; it may be in a dream, as has been already observed, and which the following words seem to confirm:

falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: or falling into a deep sleep, and yet the eyes of his body open, which sometimes is the case with persons asleep; or the eyes of his mind open, to receive the instructions given him in a dream or vision of the night; unless this is to be understood of his falling on his face, when he had his vision, as sometimes the prophets did, see Ezekiel 1:28, so the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase it; and the latter says, he prophesied of himself, that he should fall by the sword; which is better than to interpret it of his falling when his ass lay down with him, as some do: so men may have a great deal of light and knowledge in their heads, and yet not have true grace in their hearts; great gifts, which puff up with pride and vanity, but not sanctifying grace, which is of an humbling nature, 1 Corinthians 8:1, what he said under a spirit of prophecy follows.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The “falling” of which Balaam speaks was the condition under which the inward opening of his eyes took place. It indicates the force of the divine inspiration overpowering the seer. The faithful prophets of the Lord do not appear to have been subject to these violent illapses Daniel 8:17; Revelation 1:17.

In Balaam and in Saul 1 Samuel 19:24 the word of God could only prevail by first subduing the alien will, and overpowering the bodily energies which the will ordinarily directs.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 24:4. Falling into a trance — There is no indication in the Hebrew that he fell into a trance; these words are added by our translators, but they are not in the original. נפל nophel is the only word used, and simply signifies falling, or falling down, perhaps in this instance by way of religious prostration.


 
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