Lectionary Calendar
Monday, August 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible
New Century Version
Numbers 24:2
When Balaam saw the Israelites camped in their tribes, the Spirit of God took control of him,
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Hebrew Names Version
Bil`am lifted up his eyes, and he saw Yisra'el dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
Bil`am lifted up his eyes, and he saw Yisra'el dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
King James Version
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
Lexham English Bible
Balaam lift up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes, and the spirit of God was upon it.
Balaam lift up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes, and the spirit of God was upon it.
English Standard Version
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him,
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him,
New English Translation
When Balaam lifted up his eyes, he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
When Balaam lifted up his eyes, he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
Amplified Bible
And Balaam raised his eyes and he saw Israel living in their tents tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came on him.
And Balaam raised his eyes and he saw Israel living in their tents tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came on him.
New American Standard Bible
And Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
And Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Balaam lift vp his eyes, & looked vpon Israel, which dwelt according to their tribes, and the Spirit of God came vpon him.
And Balaam lift vp his eyes, & looked vpon Israel, which dwelt according to their tribes, and the Spirit of God came vpon him.
Legacy Standard Bible
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
Contemporary English Version
and saw the tribes of Israel camped below. Just then, God's Spirit took control of him,
and saw the tribes of Israel camped below. Just then, God's Spirit took control of him,
Complete Jewish Bible
Bil‘am raised his eyes and saw Isra'el encamped tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him,
Bil‘am raised his eyes and saw Isra'el encamped tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him,
Darby Translation
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling [in tents] according to his tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling [in tents] according to his tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
Easy-to-Read Version
He looked out across the desert and saw all the Israelites. They were camped with the tribes in their different areas. Then the Spirit of God came on him,
He looked out across the desert and saw all the Israelites. They were camped with the tribes in their different areas. Then the Spirit of God came on him,
George Lamsa Translation
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel encamping, tribe by tribe; and the spirit of God came upon him.
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel encamping, tribe by tribe; and the spirit of God came upon him.
Good News Translation
and saw the people of Israel camped tribe by tribe. The spirit of God took control of him,
and saw the people of Israel camped tribe by tribe. The spirit of God took control of him,
Christian Standard Bible®
When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him,
When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him,
Literal Translation
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping, by its tribes. And the Spirit of God was on him.
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping, by its tribes. And the Spirit of God was on him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
lifte vp his eyes, and sawe Israel, how they laye acordinge to their trybes, and the sprete of God came vpon him,
lifte vp his eyes, and sawe Israel, how they laye acordinge to their trybes, and the sprete of God came vpon him,
American Standard Version
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
Bible in Basic English
And lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel there, with their tents in the order of their tribes: and the spirit of God came on him.
And lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel there, with their tents in the order of their tribes: and the spirit of God came on him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Balaam lift vp his eyes, and loked vpon Israel as he lay accordyng to his tribes, and the spirite of God came vpon hym.
And Balaam lift vp his eyes, and loked vpon Israel as he lay accordyng to his tribes, and the spirite of God came vpon hym.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the spirit of God came upon him.
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the spirit of God came upon him.
King James Version (1611)
And Balaam lift vp his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents, according to their Tribes: and the Spirit of God came vpon him.
And Balaam lift vp his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents, according to their Tribes: and the Spirit of God came vpon him.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and sees Israel encamped by their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and sees Israel encamped by their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
English Revised Version
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
Berean Standard Bible
When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,
When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and reiside iyen, and siy Israel dwellynge in tentis bi hise lynagis. And whanne the Spirit of God felde on hym, and whanne a parable was takun,
and reiside iyen, and siy Israel dwellynge in tentis bi hise lynagis. And whanne the Spirit of God felde on hym, and whanne a parable was takun,
Young's Literal Translation
and Balaam lifteth up his eyes, and seeth Israel tabernacling, by its tribes, and the Spirit of God is upon him,
and Balaam lifteth up his eyes, and seeth Israel tabernacling, by its tribes, and the Spirit of God is upon him,
Update Bible Version
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding [in his tents] according to their tribes, and the spirit of God came upon him.
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding [in his tents] according to their tribes, and the spirit of God came upon him.
World English Bible
Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
New King James Version
And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
New Living Translation
where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him,
where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him,
New Life Bible
Balaam looked up and saw Israel living in their tents by their families. And the Spirit of God came upon him.
Balaam looked up and saw Israel living in their tents by their families. And the Spirit of God came upon him.
New Revised Standard
Balaam looked up and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. Then the spirit of God came upon him,
Balaam looked up and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. Then the spirit of God came upon him,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel, dwelling, according to his tribes, - then came upon him the Spirit of God;
So Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel, dwelling, according to his tribes, - then came upon him the Spirit of God;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel abiding in their tents by their tribes: and the spirit of God rushing upon him,
And lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel abiding in their tents by their tribes: and the spirit of God rushing upon him,
Revised Standard Version
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and saw Israel encamping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him,
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and saw Israel encamping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
Contextual Overview
1 Balaam saw that the Lord wanted to bless Israel, so he did not try to use any magic but looked toward the desert. 2 When Balaam saw the Israelites camped in their tribes, the Spirit of God took control of him, 3 and he gave this message: "This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of a man who sees clearly; 4 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. 5 Your tents are beautiful, people of Jacob! So are your homes, Israel! 6 Your tents spread out like valleys, like gardens beside a river. They are like spices planted by the Lord , like cedar trees growing by the water. 7 Israel's water buckets will always be full, and their crops will have plenty of water. Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be very great. 8 God brought them out of Egypt; they are as strong as a wild ox. They will defeat their enemies and break their enemies' bones; they will shoot them with arrows. 9 Like a lion, they lie waiting to attack; like a lioness, no one would be brave enough to wake them. Anyone who blesses you will be blessed, and anyone who curses you will be cursed."
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
abiding: Numbers 24:5, Numbers 2:2-34, Numbers 23:9, Numbers 23:10, Song of Solomon 6:4, Song of Solomon 6:10
the spirit: Numbers 11:25-29, 1 Samuel 10:10, 1 Samuel 19:20, 1 Samuel 19:23, 2 Chronicles 15:1, Matthew 7:22, Matthew 10:4, Matthew 10:8, Luke 10:20, John 11:49-51
Reciprocal: Leviticus 23:42 - General Numbers 1:52 - General Numbers 2:34 - so they Numbers 23:7 - parable 1 Kings 13:11 - an old prophet 2 Chronicles 20:14 - came the Spirit Daniel 8:3 - I lifted John 11:51 - he prophesied
Cross-References
Genesis 15:2
But Abram said, "Lord God , what can you give me? I have no son, so my slave Eliezer from Damascus will get everything I own after I die."
But Abram said, "Lord God , what can you give me? I have no son, so my slave Eliezer from Damascus will get everything I own after I die."
Genesis 24:4
Instead, go back to my country, to the land of my relatives, and get a wife for my son Isaac."
Instead, go back to my country, to the land of my relatives, and get a wife for my son Isaac."
Genesis 24:6
Abraham said to him, "No! Don't take my son back there.
Abraham said to him, "No! Don't take my son back there.
Genesis 24:8
If the girl won't come back with you, you will be free from this promise. But you must not take my son back there."
If the girl won't come back with you, you will be free from this promise. But you must not take my son back there."
Genesis 24:9
So the servant put his hand under his master's leg and made a promise to Abraham about this.
So the servant put his hand under his master's leg and made a promise to Abraham about this.
Genesis 24:10
The servant took ten of Abraham's camels and left, carrying with him many different kinds of beautiful gifts. He went to Northwest Mesopotamia to Nahor's city.
The servant took ten of Abraham's camels and left, carrying with him many different kinds of beautiful gifts. He went to Northwest Mesopotamia to Nahor's city.
Genesis 44:1
Then Joseph gave a command to the servant in charge of his house. He said, "Fill the men's sacks with as much grain as they can carry, and put each man's money into his sack with the grain.
Then Joseph gave a command to the servant in charge of his house. He said, "Fill the men's sacks with as much grain as they can carry, and put each man's money into his sack with the grain.
Genesis 47:29
When Israel knew he soon would die, he called his son Joseph to him and said to him, "If you love me, put your hand under my leg. Promise me you will not bury me in Egypt.
When Israel knew he soon would die, he called his son Joseph to him and said to him, "If you love me, put your hand under my leg. Promise me you will not bury me in Egypt.
1 Chronicles 29:24
All the leaders and soldiers and King David's sons accepted Solomon as king and promised to obey him.
All the leaders and soldiers and King David's sons accepted Solomon as king and promised to obey him.
1 Timothy 5:17
The elders who lead the church well should receive double honor, especially those who work hard by speaking and teaching,
The elders who lead the church well should receive double honor, especially those who work hard by speaking and teaching,
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And Balaam lifted up his eyes,.... Being on Mount Peor:
and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; in that exact order in which they were directed to encamp under four standards, and so many tribes under each standard, Numbers 2:1
and the Spirit of God came upon him; not in his grace but in his gifts; not as a spirit of sanctification, but as a spirit of prophecy, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan paraphrase it; and so sometimes the Spirit of God in this sense has come upon wicked men, as on Caiaphas and others, John 11:51.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Balaam gazed over the camp of Israel that stretched before him, and allowed the spectacle to work its own influence upon him.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Numbers 24:2. The Spirit of God came upon him. — This Divine afflatus he had not expected on the present occasion, but God had not yet declared the whole of his will.
