Numbers 24:10

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. He said to Balaam, 'I summoned you to curse my enemies, but instead, you have blessed them three times!'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֤ף בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיִּסְפֹּ֖ק אֶת־כַּפָּ֑יו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר בָּלָ֜ק אֶל־בִּלְעָ֗ם לָקֹ֤ב אֹֽיְבַי֙ קְרָאתִ֔יךָ וְהִנֵּה֙ בֵּרַ֣כְתָּ בָרֵ֔ךְ זֶ֖ה שָׁלֹ֥שׁ פְּעָמִֽים׃

Transliteration

And wayyiḥar-ʾap̄ Bālāq at-Bilʿām and wayyispōq ʾet-his kappāw, and wayyōʾmer Bālāq to-Bilʿām, 'To lāqōḇ my ʾōyəḇay I qərāʾṯîḵā, and behold, you have bēraḵtā bārēḵ this šālōš pəʿāmîm.'

Grammar Details

• *wayyiḥar*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - 'and it burned'
• *ʾap̄*: noun ms construct - 'anger/nostril of'
• *Bālāq*: proper noun - 'Balak'
• *Bilʿām*: proper noun - 'Balaam'
• *wayyispōq*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - 'and he clapped'
• *kappāw*: noun dual with 3ms suffix - 'his palms/hands'
• *wayyōʾmer*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - 'and he said'
• *lāqōḇ*: qal infinitive construct - 'to curse'
• *ʾōyəḇay*: qal participle mp with 1cs suffix - 'my enemies'
• *qərāʾṯîḵā*: qal perfect 1cs with 2ms suffix - 'I called you'
• *bēraḵtā*: piel perfect 2ms - 'you have blessed'
• *bārēḵ*: piel infinitive absolute - 'blessing'
• *šālōš*: cardinal number fs - 'three'
• *pəʿāmîm*: noun fp - 'times'

Word Meanings

• *wayyiḥar*-*ʾap̄*: anger was kindled/burning with anger/became furious
• *wayyispōq*: clapped/struck/smote
• *lāqōḇ*: to curse/execrate/denounce
• *bārēḵ*: blessing/blessed indeed

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And Balak's{H1111} anger{H639} was kindled{H2734} against Balaam,{H1109} and he smote{H5606} his hands{H3709} together;{H5606} and Balak{H1111} said{H559} unto Balaam,{H1109} I called{H7121} thee to curse{H6895} mine enemies,{H341} and, behold, thou hast altogether{H1288} blessed{H1288} them these three{H7969} times.{H6471}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And Balak's{H1111} anger{H639} was kindled{H2734}{(H8799)} against Balaam{H1109}, and he smote{H5606} his hands{H3709} together{H5606}{(H8799)}: and Balak{H1111} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Balaam{H1109}, I called{H7121}{(H8804)} thee to curse{H6895}{(H8800)} mine enemies{H341}{(H8802)}, and, behold, thou hast altogether{H1288}{(H8763)} blessed{H1288}{(H8765)} them these three{H7969} times{H6471}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And Balac was wroth with balam and smote his handes together and sayed vnto him: I sent for the to curse myne enemyes: and beholde thou hast blessed them this thre tymes

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  The was Balac furious i wrath against Balaam, & smote his hades together, & sayde vnto him: I haue called the, yt thou shuldest curse myne enemies, and beholde, thou hast blessed the now thre tymes:

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then Balak was very angry with Balaam, and smote his handes together: so Balak sayde vnto Balaam, I sent for thee to curse mine enemies, and beholde, thou hast blessed them nowe three times.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And Balac was wroth with Balaam, and smote his handes together, and Balac said vnto Balaam: I sent for thee to curse mine enemies, and behold thou hast blessed them this three tymes.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed [them] these three times.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And the anger of Balak burneth against Balaam, and he striketh his hands; and Balak saith unto Balaam, `To pierce mine enemies I called thee, and lo, thou hast certainly blessed -- these three times;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Then Balak was full of wrath against Balaam, and angrily waving his hands he said to Balaam, I sent for you so that those who are against me might be cursed, but now, see, three times you have given them a blessing.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Then Balak became very angry at Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam,“I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless them these three times!

Referenced Verses

• Num 23:11 : 11 Balak said to Balaam, 'What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!'
• Ezek 21:14 : 14 Son of man, prophesy and say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: A sword! A sword, sharpened and also polished—
• Ezek 21:17 : 17 Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against My people; it is against all the princes of Israel. They are delivered to the sword with My people. Therefore, strike your thigh in despair.
• Ezek 22:13 : 13 See, I will strike my hands together in anger at the dishonest gain you have made and the bloodshed that has been done in your midst.
• Neh 13:2 : 2 This was because they had not met the Israelites with bread and water but had hired Balaam to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.
• Job 27:23 : 23 It claps its hands at him and hisses at him as he is driven away from his place.
• Deut 23:4-5 : 4 No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation; none of their descendants may ever enter the assembly of the LORD. 5 This is because they did not meet you with bread and water on your way out of Egypt, and because they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor of Aram Naharaim to curse you.
• Josh 24:9-9 : 9 Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you. 10 But I would not listen to Balaam. Instead, he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you from his hand.
• Num 22:6 : 6 Now, please come and curse this people for me, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.
• Num 22:11 : 11 'Look, a people that came out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now, come and curse them for me. Perhaps I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.'
• Num 22:17 : 17 'For I will reward you very handsomely and will do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on these people for me.'