Lexical Summary Tsippor: Bird Original Word: צִפּוֹר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Zippor The same as tsippowr; Tsippor, a Moabite -- Zippor. see HEBREW tsippowr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as tsippor Definition "bird," father of Balak NASB Translation Zippor (7). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. צִמּוֺר proper name, masculine father of Balak, king of Moab (bird; perhaps specifically sparrow, compare GrayProp. N. 94; Palmyrene proper name, masculine צפרא); — ׳צ Numbers 22:2,4,16; Joshua 24:9; Judges 11:25, צִמֹּר Numbers 22:10; Numbers 23:18; Σεπφωρ. Topical Lexicon Overview Tsippor appears seven times in the Hebrew Scriptures, always as the father of Balak, king of Moab. Though his actions are not recorded, his name anchors a cluster of events in the plains of Moab that highlight the conflict between covenant Israel and pagan opposition. Biblical Occurrences • Numbers 22:2, 4, 10, 16 The pattern is unmistakable: every mention occurs in connection with Balak’s futile attempt to have Balaam curse Israel. Historical Setting Moab and Midian, step-nations east of the Jordan, had watched Israel’s victories over Sihon and Og with alarm. Balak, son of Tsippor, formed an alliance and engaged the diviner Balaam. In the culture of the ancient Near East a king’s pedigree mattered; naming Tsippor legitimized Balak’s rule and underscored the seriousness of the threat Israel posed to established powers. Role in the Balaam Narrative Tsippor never speaks, yet his identity shapes the narrative in three ways: 1. Paternal Authority – Balak invokes his father’s name to add weight to the request: “This is what Balak son of Tsippor says: ‘Let nothing keep you from coming to me’” (Numbers 22:16). Theological Themes Sovereignty of God: By magnifying Balak’s pedigree, Scripture magnifies the Lord’s triumph over that pedigree. The repeated “son of Tsippor” serves as a drumbeat of human defiance that collapses under divine blessing: “How can I curse whom God has not cursed?” (Numbers 23:8). Blessing and Curse Motif: Moses’ narrative frames Tsippor’s household as the antithesis of Abraham’s. Instead of receiving the promise “I will bless those who bless you,” the family of Tsippor plots a curse—and thus finds itself on the wrong side of Genesis 12:3. Reminder to Later Generations: Joshua 24:9 and Judges 11:25 invoke Tsippor’s name centuries later to recall God’s earlier deliverance. Each citation functions as a covenant rehearsal, strengthening Israel’s faith by recounting how God overturned the plans of Balak, son of Tsippor. Ministerial Reflections 1. Spiritual Heredity – Lineage can perpetuate either faith or rebellion. Parents shape trajectories that outlive them. Tsippor’s legacy warns against passing down hostility to God. Later Canonical Echoes Although Tsippor is not named beyond Judges, the New Testament remembers the Balaam episode (2 Peter 2:15; Revelation 2:14). Each allusion traces the danger of enticement to idolatry back to Balak—a son whose paternal designation silently indicts Tsippor’s lineage. Summary Tsippor’s appearances are few, but his name bookends a decisive lesson: no ancestral prestige, political alliance, or occult strategy can overturn the covenant promises of God. His silent presence intensifies the narrative tension and magnifies the triumph of grace over curse. Forms and Transliterations צִפֹּ֛ר צִפֹּֽר׃ צִפּ֑וֹר צִפּ֔וֹר צִפּ֖וֹר צִפּ֛וֹר צִפּוֹר֙ צפור צפר צפר׃ ṣip·pō·wr ṣip·pōr ṣippōr ṣippōwr tzipPorLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 22:2 HEB: בָּלָ֖ק בֶּן־ צִפּ֑וֹר אֵ֛ת כָּל־ NAS: Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all KJV: the son of Zippor saw INT: now Balak the son of Zippor all after Numbers 22:4 Numbers 22:10 Numbers 22:16 Numbers 23:18 Joshua 24:9 Judges 11:25 7 Occurrences |
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