Numbers 24:1

KJV1611 – Modern English

And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיַּ֣רְא בִּלְעָ֗ם כִּ֣י ט֞וֹב בְּעֵינֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ לְבָרֵ֣ךְ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְלֹא־הָלַ֥ךְ כְּפַֽעַם־בְּפַ֖עַם לִקְרַ֣את נְחָשִׁ֑ים וַיָּ֥שֶׁת אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר פָּנָֽיו׃

Transliteration

And wayyarʾ Bilʿām that ṭōḇ in eyes of YHWH to bārēḵ ʾet-Yiśrāʾēl, and not-hālaḵ as paʿam-in paʿam to meet nəḥāšîm, and wayyāšet toward-the midbār his face.

Grammar Details

• *wayyarʾ*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - 'and he saw'
• *Bilʿām*: proper noun - 'Balaam'
• *ṭōḇ*: adjective ms - 'good'
• *YHWH*: divine name - 'the LORD'
• *bārēḵ*: piel infinitive construct - 'to bless'
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *Yiśrāʾēl*: proper noun - 'Israel'
• *hālaḵ*: qal perfect 3ms - 'he went'
• *paʿam*: noun fs - 'time/instance'
• *nəḥāšîm*: noun mp - 'divinations/omens'
• *wayyāšet*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - 'and he set'
• *midbār*: noun ms with article - 'wilderness/desert'

Word Meanings

• *nəḥāšîm*: divinations/omens/enchantments/serpents
• *wayyāšet*: set/placed/directed
• *midbār*: wilderness/desert/uninhabited land

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to seeking omens as he had done before, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And when Balaam{H1109} saw{H7200} that it pleased{H5869} Jehovah{H3068} to bless{H1288} Israel,{H3478} he went{H1980} not, as at the other times,{H6471} to meet{H7125} with enchantments,{H5173} but he set{H7896} his face{H6440} toward the wilderness.{H4057}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And when Balaam{H1109} saw{H7200}{(H8799)} that it pleased{H5869}{H2895}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068} to bless{H1288}{(H8763)} Israel{H3478}, he went{H1980}{(H8804)} not, as at other times{H6471}, to seek{H7125}{(H8800)} for enchantments{H5173}, but he set{H7896}{(H8799)} his face{H6440} toward the wilderness{H4057}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  When Balam sawe that it pleased ye Lorde that he shulde blesse Israel he went not as he dyd twyse before to fett sothsayenge but sett his face towarde ye wildernesse

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Now whan Balaam sawe yt it pleased the LORDE, that he shulde blesse Israel, he wente not (as he dyd before) to seke witches, but set his face straight towarde the wyldernesse,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to blesse Israel, then he went not, as certaine times before, to set diuinations, but set his face toward the wildernesse.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lorde that he should blesse Israel, he went not as he dyd twise before to meete a soothsaying: but set his face towarde the wyldernesse.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn't go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And Balaam seeth that `it is' good in the eyes of Jehovah to bless Israel, and he hath not gone as time by time to meet enchantments, and he setteth towards the wilderness his face;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And when Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And when Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Now when Balaam saw that it was the Lord's pleasure to give his blessing to Israel, he did not, as at other times, make use of secret arts, but turning his face to the waste land,

• World English Bible (2000)

  When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn't go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Balaam Prophesies Yet Again When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at the other times to seek for omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

Referenced Verses

• Num 23:23 : 23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, nor is there any divination against Israel; at this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What has God done!
• Num 23:3 : 3 And Balaam said to Balak, Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go; perhaps the LORD will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me, I will tell you. And he went to a high place.
• Num 23:15 : 15 And he said to Balak, Stand here by your burnt offering while I meet the LORD over there.
• Num 23:20 : 20 Behold, I have received a commandment to bless, and he has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
• Num 22:13 : 13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Go back to your land: for the LORD refuses to let me go with you.
• Num 23:28 : 28 And Balak brought Balaam to the top of Peor, which looks toward Jeshimon.
• Num 31:16 : 16 Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
• 1 Sam 24:20 : 20 And now, behold, I know well that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
• 1 Sam 26:2 : 2 Then Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, taking three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
• 1 Sam 26:25 : 25 Then Saul said to David, "Blessed are you, my son David. You shall do great things, and also shall still prevail." So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
• Rev 2:14 : 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.