Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.” New Living Translation Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.” English Standard Version The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.” Berean Standard Bible The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.” King James Bible And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. New King James Version The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.” New American Standard Bible But the donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I certainly would have killed you just now, and let her live.” NASB 1995 “But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live.” NASB 1977 “But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live.” Legacy Standard Bible And the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If it had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let it live.” Amplified Bible The donkey saw Me and turned away from Me these three times. If she had not turned away from Me, I would have certainly killed you now, and let her live.” Christian Standard Bible The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I would have killed you by now and let her live.” Holman Christian Standard Bible The donkey saw Me and turned away from Me these three times. If she had not turned away from Me, I would have killed you by now and let her live.” American Standard Version and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive. Contemporary English Version If your donkey had not seen me and stopped those three times, I would have killed you and let the donkey live." English Revised Version and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive. GOD'S WORD® Translation The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away from me, I would certainly have killed you by now but spared the donkey." Good News Translation But your donkey saw me and turned aside three times. If it hadn't, I would have killed you and spared the donkey." International Standard Version The donkey saw me and turned in front of me in the space of those three footsteps. Majority Standard Bible The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.? NET Bible The donkey saw me and turned from me these three times. If she had not turned from me, I would have killed you but saved her alive." New Heart English Bible and the donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. Unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive." Webster's Bible Translation And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. World English Bible The donkey saw me, and turned away before me these three times. Unless she had turned away from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand the donkey sees Me and turns aside at My presence these three times; unless she had turned aside from My presence, surely I had also slain you now, and kept her alive.” Young's Literal Translation and the ass seeth me, and turneth aside at my presence these three times; unless she had turned aside from my presence, surely now also, thee I had slain, and her kept alive.' Smith's Literal Translation And the ass will see me, and will turn before me this three beats: unless she turned from before me for now also I had slain thee, and preserved her alive. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd unless the ass had turned out of the way, giving place to me who stood against thee, I had slain thee, and she should have lived. Catholic Public Domain Version And unless the donkey had turned aside from the way, allowing a place for my opposition, I would have killed you, and she would have lived.” New American Bible When the donkey saw me, she turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, you are the one I would have killed, though I would have spared her.” New Revised Standard Version The donkey saw me, and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let it live.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the she-ass saw me and turned aside from me these three times; and if she had not turned aside from me, surely now I would have slain you, and saved her alive. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the she donkey saw me and turned aside from before me, behold, three times, and if she had not turned aside from before me, now I would have killed you and I would have let her live. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times; unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And if she had not turned out of the way, surely now, I should have slain thee, and should have saved her alive. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Angel and Balaam's Donkey…32The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before me. 33The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.” 34“I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”… Cross References 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. 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. 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.’” 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). 1 Corinthians 10:10-11 And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. / Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. Acts 13:8-11 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. / Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas / and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord? ... 1 Timothy 6:9-10 Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. Genesis 31:24 But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.” Exodus 23:20-21 Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. / Pay attention to him and listen to his voice; do not defy him, for he will not forgive rebellion, since My Name is in him. Psalm 106:23 So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them. Isaiah 63:9 In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes. Treasury of Scripture And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain you, and saved her alive. surely Numbers 14:37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD. Numbers 16:33-35 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation… 1 Kings 13:24-28 And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase… Jump to Previous Alive Ass Death Donkey Kept Killed Live Presence Saved Side Slain Spared Surely Three Times Turned Turneth Turning UnlessJump to Next Alive Ass Death Donkey Kept Killed Live Presence Saved Side Slain Spared Surely Three Times Turned Turneth Turning UnlessNumbers 22 1. Balak's first message for Balaam is refused15. 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 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. In this passage, the angel of the Lord is speaking to Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet. The donkey's ability to see the angel while Balaam could not highlights the spiritual blindness of Balaam, who was enticed by the promise of wealth from Balak, king of Moab. The number three often signifies completeness or divine intervention in the Bible, as seen in other instances such as Peter's denial of Christ three times (Matthew 26:34) and Jesus' resurrection on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4). The donkey's actions demonstrate God's intervention to prevent Balaam from making a grave mistake, emphasizing the theme of divine protection and guidance. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.” Persons / Places / Events 1. BalaamA non-Israelite prophet who is summoned by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. Balaam is known for his interactions with God and his eventual blessing of Israel instead of cursing them. 2. The Angel of the LORD A divine messenger who stands in Balaam's path to oppose him. The Angel's presence signifies God's intervention and protection over Israel. 3. The Donkey Balaam's donkey, which sees the Angel of the LORD and turns aside three times to avoid Him. The donkey's actions are pivotal in revealing God's will to Balaam. 4. Balak The king of Moab who fears the Israelites and seeks Balaam's help to curse them. His actions set the stage for the events in this chapter. 5. Moab The region where Balak rules and where the Israelites are encamped, causing fear among the Moabites. Teaching Points Divine InterventionGod can use any means, even a donkey, to communicate His will and protect His people. We should remain open to unexpected ways God might speak to us. Spiritual Blindness Balaam's inability to see the Angel of the LORD contrasts with the donkey's spiritual perception. We must seek spiritual discernment to recognize God's presence and guidance in our lives. Obedience and Repentance Balaam's account reminds us of the importance of aligning our actions with God's will. When confronted with our errors, we should be quick to repent and obey. God's Sovereignty Despite human intentions, God's purposes will prevail. We can trust in His sovereign plan, even when circumstances seem contrary. Moral Integrity Balaam's initial willingness to curse Israel for gain warns us against compromising our integrity for personal benefit.(33) Unless she had turned from me.--There may be an aposiopesis in this verse. Perhaps she turned aside from (or, before) me . . . for (otherwise) now I had killed thee, &c. According to this view the angel does not assign a reason why the ass turned aside, but leaves this to be inferred by Balaam. (Comp. Keil, in loc.)Verse 33. - Unless ... surely. אוּלַיאּאּ־כִּי. It is somewhat doubtful whether this phrase can be translated as in the Septuagint (εἰ μὴ.. νῦν οῦν)and in all the versions; but even if the construction of the sentence be broken, this is no doubt the meaning of it. And saved her alive. Compare the case of the ass of the disobedient prophet in 1 Kings 13:24. It is plainly a righteous thing with God that obedience and faithfulness should be respected, and in some sense rewarded, even in an ass. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew The donkeyהָֽאָת֔וֹן (hā·’ā·ṯō·wn) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 860: A female donkey saw וַתִּרְאַ֙נִי֙ (wat·tir·’a·nî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | first person common singular Strong's 7200: To see me and turned away וַתֵּ֣ט (wat·têṭ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend from me לְפָנַ֔י (lə·p̄ā·nay) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 6440: The face these זֶ֖ה (zeh) Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that three שָׁלֹ֣שׁ (šā·lōš) Number - feminine singular Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice times. רְגָלִ֑ים (rə·ḡā·lîm) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda If she had not אוּלַי֙ (’ū·lay) Adverb Strong's 194: Perhaps turned away, נָטְתָ֣ה (nā·ṭə·ṯāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend I would surely have killed הָרַ֖גְתִּי (hā·raḡ·tî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent you וְאוֹתָ֥הּ (wə·’ō·w·ṯāh) Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | third person feminine singular Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case by now, עַתָּ֛ה (‘at·tāh) Adverb Strong's 6258: At this time and let her live.” הֶחֱיֵֽיתִי׃ (he·ḥĕ·yê·ṯî) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 2421: To live, to revive Links Numbers 22:33 NIVNumbers 22:33 NLT Numbers 22:33 ESV Numbers 22:33 NASB Numbers 22:33 KJV Numbers 22:33 BibleApps.com Numbers 22:33 Biblia Paralela Numbers 22:33 Chinese Bible Numbers 22:33 French Bible Numbers 22:33 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 22:33 And the donkey saw me and turned (Nu Num.) |
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