7
Then Balaam spoke the message he had received from God. He said, "Balak brought me from the land of Aram. The king of Moab sent for me from the mountains in the east. 'Come,' he said. 'Put a curse on Jacob's people for me. Come. Speak against Israel.'
Reference
📍 Aram
Greek: τοίνυν (toínyn)
truly now, i.e. accordingly
Hebrew: ʼăzay
at that time
Greek: Βαλαάμ (Balaám)
Balaam, a Mesopotamian (symbolic of a false teacher)
Hebrew: Bilʻâm
Bilam, a Mesopotamian prophet; also a place in Palestine
Hebrew: chishshur
combined, i.e. the nave or hub of awheel (as holding the spokes together)
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: ἐπαγγελία (epangelía)
an announcement (for information, assent or pledge; especially a divine assurance of good)
Hebrew: malʼăkûwth
a message
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: ἐγγύς (engýs)
near
Greek: κύριος (kýrios)
supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
Hebrew: ʼĕlâhh
God
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Hebrew: Bâlâq
Balak, a Moabitish king
Greek: ἐμαυτοῦ (emautoû)
of myself so likewise the dative case , and accusative case
Greek: ἐγγύς (engýs)
near
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: Ἀράμ (Arám)
Aram (i.e. Ram), an Israelite
Hebrew: ʼĂrâm
Aram or Syria, and its inhabitants; also the name of the son of Shem, a grandson of Nahor, and of an Israelite
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: βασιλεύω (basileúō)
to rule (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: melek
a king
Hebrew: Môwʼâb
Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants
Greek: ἀντί (antí)
opposite, i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to)
Hebrew: bᵉmôw
in, with, by, etc.
Greek: ἐμαυτοῦ (emautoû)
of myself so likewise the dative case , and accusative case
Greek: ἐγγύς (engýs)
near
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: charçûwth
a potsherd, i.e. (by implication) a pottery; the name of a gate at Jerusalem
Greek: ἐνίστημι (enístēmi)
to place on hand, i.e. (reflexively) impend, (participle) be instant
Hebrew: mᵉṭâʼ
to arrive, extend or happen
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Hebrew: hâdâh
to stretch forth the hand
Hebrew: ʼechâd
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Greek: καταναθεματίζω (katanathematízō)
to imprecate
Hebrew: ʼâlâh
an imprecation
Hebrew: ʼÔwn
On, an Israelite
Hebrew: Yaʻăqôb
Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch
Greek: δῆμος (dēmos)
the public (as bound together socially)
Hebrew: ʻam
{a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock}
Greek: ἀντί (antí)
opposite, i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to)
Hebrew: bᵉmôw
in, with, by, etc.
Greek: ἐμαυτοῦ (emautoû)
of myself so likewise the dative case , and accusative case
Greek: ἐνίστημι (enístēmi)
to place on hand, i.e. (reflexively) impend, (participle) be instant
Hebrew: mᵉṭâʼ
to arrive, extend or happen
Greek: φθέγγομαι (phthéngomai)
to utter a clear sound, i.e. (generally) to proclaim
Greek: ἔμπροσθεν (émprosthen)
in front of (in place (literally or figuratively) or time)
Hebrew: ʼêth
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.
Greek: Ἰσραήλ (Israḗl)
Israel (i.e. Jisrael), the adopted name of Jacob, including his descendants (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: Yisrâʼêl
Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Curse
Deuteronomy 23:4
Parallel theme
Numbers 24:3
Numbers 23:18
Psalm 78:2
Job 29:1
Job 27:1
Numbers 24:15
Numbers 24:23
Micah 2:4
Verse Explanation
Balaam began his first oracle by explaining how Balak had brought him from Aram to curse Israel. He reminded everyone that the request came from the king, not from God. The introduction prepared the listeners for a message that would reveal God's perspective rather than Balak's desires.
History
Aram refers to the region of Mesopotamia where Balaam lived, several hundred miles from Moab.