Numbers 22:10
New International Version
Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:

New Living Translation
Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent me this message:

English Standard Version
And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

Berean Standard Bible
And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:

King James Bible
And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,

New King James Version
So Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

New American Standard Bible
Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent word to me:

NASB 1995
Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me,

NASB 1977
And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me,

Legacy Standard Bible
And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me,

Amplified Bible
Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me:

Christian Standard Bible
Balaam replied to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent this message to me:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Balaam replied to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent this message to me:

American Standard Version
And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,

Contemporary English Version
"They are messengers from King Balak of Moab," Balaam answered. "He sent them

English Revised Version
And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Balaam answered, "Balak, son of King Zippor of Moab, sent them with this message:

Good News Translation
He answered, "King Balak of Moab has sent them to tell me

International Standard Version
Then Balaam told God, "Zippor's son Balak, king of Moab, sent them to me and said,

Majority Standard Bible
And Balaam said to God, ?Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:

NET Bible
Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent a message to me, saying,

New Heart English Bible
And Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

Webster's Bible Translation
And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent to me, saying,

World English Bible
Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Balaam says to God, “Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me:

Young's Literal Translation
And Balaam saith unto God, 'Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me:

Smith's Literal Translation
And Balaam will say to God, Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent to me,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He answered: Balac the son of Sephor king of the Moabites hath sent to me,

Catholic Public Domain Version
He responded, “Balak, the son of Zippor, the king of the Moabites has sent to me,

New American Bible
Balaam answered God, “Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me the message:

New Revised Standard Version
Balaam said to God, “King Balak son of Zippor of Moab, has sent me this message:
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Balaam said to God: “Balaq, son of Tsephor, the King of Moab; he sent for me and said to me.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Balaam said unto God: 'Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me [saying]:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Balaam said to God, Balac son of Sepphor, king of Moab, sent them to me, saying,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Balak Summons Balaam
9Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?” 10And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 11‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’ ”…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 23:4-5
For they did not meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you. / Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, and the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.

Joshua 24:9-10
Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you, / but I would not listen to Balaam. So he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you from his hand.

Nehemiah 13:2
because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).

Micah 6:5
My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”

2 Peter 2:15-16
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. / But he was rebuked for his transgression by a donkey, otherwise without speech, that spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

Jude 1:11
Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.

Numbers 23:7-8
And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the mountains of the east. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me; come and denounce Israel!’ / How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced?

Numbers 24:10-11
Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times. / Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”

Numbers 31:16
“Look, these women caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to turn unfaithfully against the LORD at Peor, so that the plague struck the congregation of the LORD.

1 Samuel 15:22-23
But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. / For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

2 Kings 17:15-17
They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate. / They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal. / They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

Psalm 106:28-29
They yoked themselves to Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods. / So they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them.

Proverbs 26:2
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

Isaiah 44:25
who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,


Treasury of Scripture

And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

Numbers 22:4-6
And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time…

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Balak Message Moab Word Zippor
Numbers 22
1. Balak's first message for Balaam is refused
15. His second message obtains him
22. An angel would have slain him, if he had not been saved by his donkey
36. Balak entertains him














So Balaam answered God
In this opening phrase, we see the character of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, engaging directly with God. The Hebrew root for "answered" is עָנָה (anah), which implies a response or reply, often in a dialogic context. This interaction highlights the unique position Balaam holds as a conduit for divine communication, despite not being part of the Israelite community. Historically, Balaam's role as a prophet outside of Israel underscores the universal sovereignty of God, who can choose to reveal Himself to anyone, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. This serves as a reminder of God's omnipresence and His ability to work through unexpected individuals to fulfill His purposes.

Balak son of Zippor
Here, the text introduces Balak, the Moabite king, who is the son of Zippor. The mention of his lineage is significant, as it situates Balak within a historical and genealogical context. The Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, which places them in a complex relationship with the Israelites. Understanding this background is crucial, as it sets the stage for the tension between Moab and Israel. The historical enmity between these nations is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, and Balak's fear of Israel's growing power prompts him to seek Balaam's help. This highlights the broader narrative of God's protection and favor towards Israel, despite the opposition they face from surrounding nations.

has sent me this message
The phrase indicates that Balaam is relaying a message from Balak. The act of sending a message in the ancient Near Eastern context often involved formal envoys or messengers, emphasizing the seriousness of Balak's request. This reflects the desperation and urgency felt by Balak in the face of Israel's advance. Theologically, this moment underscores the futility of opposing God's chosen people through human schemes. It also foreshadows the unfolding drama where God's will ultimately prevails, despite human attempts to manipulate or curse His people. This serves as an inspirational reminder of God's unassailable plans and His ability to turn curses into blessings for those who are faithful to Him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And Balaam
בִּלְעָ֖ם (bil·‘ām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1109: Balaam -- a prophet

said
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

God,
הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

“Balak
בָּלָ֧ק (bā·lāq)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1111: Balak -- 'devastator', a Moabite king

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Zippor,
צִפֹּ֛ר (ṣip·pōr)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6834: Zippor -- 'bird', father of Balak

king
מֶ֥לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Moab,
מוֹאָ֖ב (mō·w·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4124: Moab -- a son of Lot,also his descendants and the territory where they settled

sent me
שָׁלַ֥ח (šā·laḥ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

this message:
אֵלָֽי׃ (’ê·lāy)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to


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OT Law: Numbers 22:10 Balaam said to God Balak the son (Nu Num.)
Numbers 22:9
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