Numbers 23:6
New International Version
So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials.

New Living Translation
So Balaam returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab.

English Standard Version
And he returned to him, and behold, he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering.

Berean Standard Bible
So he returned to Balak, who was standing there beside his burnt offering, with all the princes of Moab.

King James Bible
And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.

New King James Version
So he returned to him, and there he was, standing by his burnt offering, he and all the princes of Moab.

New American Standard Bible
So he returned to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, he and all the leaders of Moab.

NASB 1995
So he returned to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, he and all the leaders of Moab.

NASB 1977
So he returned to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, he and all the leaders of Moab.

Legacy Standard Bible
So he returned to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, he and all the leaders of Moab.

Amplified Bible
Balaam returned to Balak, and behold, he was standing by his burnt sacrifice, he and all the leaders of Moab.

Christian Standard Bible
So he returned to Balak, who was standing there by his burnt offering with all the officials of Moab.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So he returned to Balak, who was standing there by his burnt offering with all the officials of Moab.

American Standard Version
And he returned unto him, and, lo, he was standing by his burnt-offering, he, and all the princes of Moab.

Contemporary English Version
When Balaam returned, he found Balak and his officials standing beside the offerings.

English Revised Version
And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt offering, he, and all the princes of Moab.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So he went back to Balak and found him standing beside his burnt offering with all the princes of Moab.

Good News Translation
So he went back and found Balak still standing by his burnt offering with all the leaders of Moab.

International Standard Version
So Balaam returned to where Balak had been standing, that is, next to his offerings, accompanied by all the Moabite officials.

Majority Standard Bible
So he returned to Balak, who was standing there beside his burnt offering, with all the princes of Moab.

NET Bible
So he returned to him, and he was still standing by his burnt offering, he and all the princes of Moab.

New Heart English Bible
He returned to him, and look, he was standing by his burnt offering, he, and all the princes of Moab.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he returned to him and lo, he stood by his burnt-sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.

World English Bible
He returned to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, he, and all the princes of Moab.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he returns to him, and behold, he is standing by his burnt-offering, he and all the princes of Moab.

Young's Literal Translation
And he turneth back unto him, and lo, he is standing by his burnt-offering, he and all the princes of Moab.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will turn back to him, and behold, he stood by his burnt-offering, he, and all the leaders of Moab.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Returning he found Balac standing by his burnt offering, with all the princes of the Moabites:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Returning, he found Balak standing next to his holocaust, with all the leaders of the Moabites.

New American Bible
So he went back to Balak, who was still standing by his burnt offering together with all the princes of Moab.

New Revised Standard Version
So he returned to Balak, who was standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he returned to him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt offerings, he and all the princes of Moab.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he came to him and he stood with his burnt offerings he and all the Princes of Moab.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt-offering, he, and all the princes of Moab.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he returned to him, and moreover he stood over his whole-burnt-offerings, and all the princes of Moab with him; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Balaam's First Oracle
5Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.” 6So he returned to Balak, who was standing there beside his burnt offering, with all the princes of Moab. 7And 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!’…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 23:5
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.

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.’”

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).

Psalm 109:28
Though they curse, You will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but Your servant will rejoice.

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.

Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 27:29
May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.”

Genesis 49:9
Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?

2 Samuel 22:45-46
Foreigners cower before me; when they hear me, they obey me. / Foreigners lose heart and come trembling from their strongholds.

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 11:29
For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.

2 Corinthians 6:15-16
What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? / What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

Galatians 3:13-14
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” / He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.


Treasury of Scripture

And he returned to him, and, see, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.

Numbers 23:3
And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.

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Burned Burnt Burnt-Offering Burnt-Sacrifice Leaders Moab Offering Princes Sacrifice Standing Stood Turneth Waiting
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Numbers 23
1. Balak's sacrifices














So he returned to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering with all the princes of Moab
So he returned to him
This phrase indicates a return, suggesting a cyclical or repetitive action. In the Hebrew context, the word for "returned" is "שׁוּב" (shuv), which often implies repentance or turning back. Here, it signifies Balaam's return to Balak after seeking divine guidance. This action underscores the importance of seeking God's will before making decisions, a principle deeply rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition.

and behold
The word "behold" is translated from the Hebrew "הִנֵּה" (hinneh), which is an attention-grabbing term. It serves to draw the reader's focus to the scene unfolding. In biblical narratives, "behold" often introduces a significant or divine revelation. It invites the reader to pause and consider the gravity of the moment, emphasizing the importance of what Balaam is about to witness.

he was standing beside his burnt offering
The "burnt offering" is a critical element in ancient Israelite worship, known in Hebrew as "עֹלָה" (olah). It signifies complete surrender to God, as the offering is wholly consumed by fire. Balak's presence beside the offering indicates his expectation of divine favor or intervention. Historically, burnt offerings were a common practice among ancient Near Eastern cultures, symbolizing devotion and seeking favor from deities.

with all the princes of Moab
The "princes of Moab" refers to the Moabite leaders or nobles accompanying Balak. This highlights the political and social weight of the situation. Moab, a nation often in conflict with Israel, is seeking to manipulate spiritual forces against God's people. The presence of these princes underscores the collective anxiety and desperation of Moab in the face of Israel's advance. It also reflects the broader biblical theme of nations opposing God's chosen people, a recurring motif throughout the Old Testament.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So he returned
וַיָּ֣שָׁב (way·yā·šāḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

to Balak,
אֵלָ֔יו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

who
ה֖וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

was standing
נִצָּ֖ב (niṣ·ṣāḇ)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5324: To take one's stand, stand

there
וְהִנֵּ֥ה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

beside
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

his burnt offering,
עֹלָת֑וֹ (‘ō·lā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5930: Whole burnt offering

with all
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the princes
שָׂרֵ֥י (śā·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

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


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OT Law: Numbers 23:6 He returned to him and behold he (Nu Num.)
Numbers 23:5
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