1109. Bil'am

Lexicon

Bil'am: Balaam

Original Word: בִּלְעָם
Part of Speech: proper name, masculine; proper name, of a location
Transliteration: Bil`am
Pronunciation: bil-awm'
Phonetic Spelling: (bil-awm')
Definition: Balaam
Meaning: Bilam

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Balaam, Bileam

Probably from bal and am; not (of the) people, i.e. Foreigner; Bilam, a Mesopotamian prophet; also a place in Palestine -- Balaam, Bileam.

see HEBREW bal

see HEBREW am

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. בִּלְעָם proper name, masculine Balaam (according to Sta^{§ 293} = בלע + ם; Nbr^{Stud. Bib. i, 226} proposes בל = בעל + (god) עם), son of בְּעוֺר, prophet from מְּתוֺר (q. v.): — Numbers 22:5,7,8,9 47t. Numbers 22-24 (all J E) Numbers 31:8,16 (P) Deuteronomy 23:5; Deuteronomy 23:6 (D) (compare R^D Joshua 13:22) Joshua 24:9,10 (E) Micah 6:5; Nehemiah 13:2.

II. בִּלְעָם proper name, of a location town in Manasseh 1 Chronicles 6:55; A Ιβλααμ, ᵐ5^L Ιεβλααμ = יִבְלְעָם (q. v.) Joshua 17:11 2t.; modern Bel`ame, 6 hours north of Nâblus, Bd^{Pal 228}, so Survey^{ii. 47}.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Hebrew root words בָּלַע (bala) meaning "to swallow" and עָם (am) meaning "people."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G903: Βαλαάμ (Balaam) • This Greek entry corresponds to the Hebrew בִּלְעָם and is used in the New Testament to refer to the same figure, particularly in contexts that highlight his negative influence and the moral lessons derived from his actions (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 1:11; Revelation 2:14).

Usage: Balaam is a proper noun used to refer to a non-Israelite prophet or diviner in the Old Testament, known for his interactions with the Moabite king Balak and his attempts to curse the Israelites.

Context: Balaam is a significant figure in the Old Testament narrative, particularly in the Book of Numbers. He is introduced as a prophet or diviner from Pethor, near the Euphrates River, who is summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites as they encamp on the plains of Moab (Numbers 22:5-6). Despite being a non-Israelite, Balaam is depicted as having some knowledge of the God of Israel, and he initially refuses to curse the Israelites, stating that he can only speak what God commands (Numbers 22:12-13).

The narrative of Balaam is marked by the famous episode involving his donkey, which sees an angel of the Lord blocking the path, leading to a miraculous event where the donkey speaks to Balaam (Numbers 22:21-35). This incident underscores the theme of divine intervention and the futility of opposing God's will.

Balaam's oracles, recorded in Numbers 23-24, instead of cursing, pronounce blessings upon Israel, affirming their divine favor and future prosperity. Despite his initial obedience to God's command, Balaam's legacy is tarnished by later biblical references that associate him with leading Israel into sin through the counsel that resulted in idolatry and immorality (Numbers 31:16; Revelation 2:14).

Balaam's story serves as a complex narrative about the tension between divine sovereignty and human ambition, illustrating the consequences of attempting to manipulate divine will for personal gain.

Forms and Transliterations

בִּלְעָ֑ם בִּלְעָ֔ם בִּלְעָ֖ם בִּלְעָ֗ם בִּלְעָ֜ם בִּלְעָ֣ם בִּלְעָ֥ם בִּלְעָֽם׃ בִּלְעָם֙ בִּלְעָם֮ בִלְעָ֑ם בִלְעָ֜ם בִלְעָם֒ בלעם בלעם׃ וּבִלְעָ֛ם ובלעם לְבִלְעָ֑ם לְבִלְעָ֔ם לְבִלְעָ֥ם לְבִלְעָם֙ לבלעם bil‘ām ḇil‘ām bil·‘ām ḇil·‘ām bilAm lə·ḇil·‘ām ləḇil‘ām levilAm ū·ḇil·‘ām ūḇil‘ām uvilAm vilAm

Englishman's Concordance

Numbers 22:5
HEB: מַלְאָכִ֜ים אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֣ם בֶּן־ בְּע֗וֹר
NAS: messengers to Balaam the son
KJV: messengers therefore unto Balaam the son
INT: messengers to Balaam the son of Beor

Numbers 22:7
HEB: וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיְדַבְּר֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו
NAS: and they came to Balaam and repeated
KJV: and they came unto Balaam, and spake
INT: came to Balaam and repeated about

Numbers 22:8
HEB: מוֹאָ֖ב עִם־ בִּלְעָֽם׃
NAS: of Moab stayed with Balaam.
KJV: of Moab abode with Balaam.
INT: of Moab with Balaam

Numbers 22:9
HEB: אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מִ֛י
NAS: Then God came to Balaam and said, Who
KJV: came unto Balaam, and said,
INT: God to Balaam and said Who

Numbers 22:10
HEB: וַיֹּ֥אמֶר בִּלְעָ֖ם אֶל־ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים
NAS: Balaam said to God,
KJV: And Balaam said unto God,
INT: said Balaam to God

Numbers 22:12
HEB: אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֔ם לֹ֥א תֵלֵ֖ךְ
NAS: said to Balaam, Do not go
KJV: said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go
INT: God to Balaam not go

Numbers 22:13
HEB: וַיָּ֤קָם בִּלְעָם֙ בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙
NAS: So Balaam arose in the morning
KJV: And Balaam rose up in the morning,
INT: arose Balaam the morning and said

Numbers 22:14
HEB: וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵאֵ֥ן בִּלְעָ֖ם הֲלֹ֥ךְ עִמָּֽנוּ׃
NAS: and said, Balaam refused
KJV: and said, Balaam refuseth
INT: and said refused Balaam and went yet

Numbers 22:16
HEB: וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ ל֗וֹ
NAS: They came to Balaam and said
KJV: And they came to Balaam, and said
INT: came to Balaam and said Thus

Numbers 22:18
HEB: וַיַּ֣עַן בִּלְעָ֗ם וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־
NAS: Balaam replied to the servants
KJV: And Balaam answered and said
INT: replied Balaam and said to

Numbers 22:20
HEB: אֱלֹהִ֥ים ׀ אֶל־ בִּלְעָם֮ לַיְלָה֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר
NAS: God came to Balaam at night and said
KJV: came unto Balaam at night,
INT: God to Balaam night and said

Numbers 22:21
HEB: וַיָּ֤קָם בִּלְעָם֙ בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וַֽיַּחֲבֹ֖שׁ
NAS: So Balaam arose in the morning,
KJV: And Balaam rose up in the morning,
INT: arose Balaam the morning and saddled

Numbers 22:23
HEB: בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַיַּ֤ךְ בִּלְעָם֙ אֶת־ הָ֣אָת֔וֹן
NAS: into the field; but Balaam struck
KJV: into the field: and Balaam smote
INT: the field struck Balaam the donkey to turn

Numbers 22:25
HEB: אֶת־ רֶ֥גֶל בִּלְעָ֖ם אֶל־ הַקִּ֑יר
NAS: and pressed Balaam's foot
KJV: and crushed Balaam's foot
INT: and pressed foot Balaam's against the wall

Numbers 22:27
HEB: וַתִּרְבַּ֖ץ תַּ֣חַת בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיִּֽחַר־ אַ֣ף
NAS: under Balaam; so Balaam
KJV: she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's
INT: lay under Balaam was kindled anger

Numbers 22:27
HEB: וַיִּֽחַר־ אַ֣ף בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־
NAS: Balaam; so Balaam was angry
KJV: under Balaam: and Balaam's anger
INT: was kindled anger Balaam and struck the donkey

Numbers 22:28
HEB: הָאָת֑וֹן וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לְבִלְעָם֙ מֶה־ עָשִׂ֣יתִֽי
NAS: and she said to Balaam, What
KJV: and she said unto Balaam, What have I done
INT: of the donkey said to Balaam What done

Numbers 22:29
HEB: וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בִּלְעָם֙ לָֽאָת֔וֹן כִּ֥י
NAS: Then Balaam said to the donkey,
KJV: And Balaam said unto the ass,
INT: said Balaam to the donkey Because

Numbers 22:30
HEB: הָאָת֜וֹן אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֗ם הֲלוֹא֩ אָנֹכִ֨י
NAS: said to Balaam, Am I not your donkey
KJV: said unto Balaam, [Am] not I thine ass,
INT: the donkey to Balaam No not

Numbers 22:31
HEB: אֶת־ עֵינֵ֣י בִלְעָם֒ וַיַּ֞רְא אֶת־
NAS: the eyes of Balaam, and he saw
KJV: the eyes of Balaam, and he saw
INT: the LORD the eyes of Balaam saw the angel

Numbers 22:34
HEB: וַיֹּ֨אמֶר בִּלְעָ֜ם אֶל־ מַלְאַ֤ךְ
NAS: Balaam said to the angel
KJV: And Balaam said unto the angel
INT: said Balaam to the angel

Numbers 22:35
HEB: יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֗ם לֵ֚ךְ עִם־
NAS: said to Balaam, Go
KJV: said unto Balaam, Go
INT: of the LORD to Balaam Go with

Numbers 22:35
HEB: תְדַבֵּ֑ר וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בִּלְעָ֖ם עִם־ שָׂרֵ֥י
NAS: I tell you. So Balaam went
KJV: unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went
INT: tell went Balaam with the leaders

Numbers 22:36
HEB: כִּ֣י בָ֣א בִלְעָ֑ם וַיֵּצֵ֨א לִקְרָאת֜וֹ
NAS: heard that Balaam was coming,
KJV: heard that Balaam was come,
INT: for was coming Balaam went to meet

Numbers 22:37
HEB: בָּלָ֜ק אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֗ם הֲלֹא֩ שָׁלֹ֨חַ
NAS: said to Balaam, Did I not urgently
KJV: said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly
INT: Balak to Balaam not urgently

61 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1109
61 Occurrences

bil·‘ām — 52 Occ.
lə·ḇil·‘ām — 4 Occ.
ū·ḇil·‘ām — 1 Occ.
ḇil·‘ām — 4 Occ.