23
There isn't any magic that can hurt the people of Jacob. No one can use magic words to harm Israel. Here is what will be said about the people of Jacob. Here is what will be said about Israel. People will say, 'See what God has done!'
Reference
Greek: ἐκεῖ (ekeî)
there; by extension, thither
Greek: ἕκαστος (hékastos)
each or every
Hebrew: nephesh
properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Greek: ἀδικέω (adikéō)
to be unjust, i.e. (actively) do wrong (morally, socially or physically)
Hebrew: chăbûwlâh
properly, overthrown, i.e. (morally) crime
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
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}
Hebrew: Yaʻăqôb
Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch
Greek: εἰρήνη (eirḗnē)
peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity
Hebrew: ʼalmônîy
some one (i.e. so and so, without giving the name of the person or place)
Greek: χρῆσις (chrēsis)
employment, i.e. (specially), sexual intercourse (as an occupation of the body)
Greek: ὕβρις (hýbris)
insolence (as over-bearing), i.e. insult, injury
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
Greek: ὧδε (hōde)
in this same spot, i.e. here or hither
Hebrew: ʼêphôw
strictly a demonstrative particle, here; but used of time, now or then
Hebrew: mân
who or what (properly, interrogatively, hence, also indefinitely and relatively)
Greek: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Greek: ἤμην (ḗmēn)
I was
Hebrew: hâvâʼ
to be (in the sense of existence)
Greek: πρός (prós)
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated)
Hebrew: ʼêl
near, with or among; often in general, to
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
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}
Hebrew: Yaʻăqôb
Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch
Greek: ὧδε (hōde)
in this same spot, i.e. here or hither
Hebrew: ʼêphôw
strictly a demonstrative particle, here; but used of time, now or then
Hebrew: mân
who or what (properly, interrogatively, hence, also indefinitely and relatively)
Greek: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Greek: ἤμην (ḗmēn)
I was
Hebrew: hâvâʼ
to be (in the sense of existence)
Greek: πρός (prós)
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated)
Hebrew: ʼêl
near, with or among; often in general, to
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
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: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Greek: ἀποφθέγγομαι (apophthéngomai)
to enunciate plainly, i.e. declare
Hebrew: mâlal
to speak (mostly poetical) or say
Greek: ἱστορέω (historéō)
to be knowing (learned), i.e. (by implication) to visit for information (interview)
Hebrew: râʼeh
seeing, i.e. experiencing
Hebrew: mân
who or what (properly, interrogatively, hence, also indefinitely and relatively)
Greek: κύριος (kýrios)
supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
Hebrew: ʼĕlâhh
God
Parallel theme
Matthew 12:27
Revelation 12:9
Matthew 16:18
Micah 7:15
Acts 4:16
References God
Psalm 64:9
Romans 16:20
Acts 10:38
References Israel
Joshua 13:22
Numbers 24:1
Verse Explanation
Balaam announced that no curse, magic, or divination could succeed against Israel because God was protecting them. Instead of speaking about Israel's weakness, people would speak about the amazing things God had done for them. This verse emphasizes that God's protection is greater than any human attempt to oppose His plans.
History
Divination and magical practices were common throughout the ancient Near East, but Israel was forbidden to rely on them.