Logos Bible Study

Numbers 24:3–4

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24:3Then he uttered this oracle:7

“The oracle8 of Balaam son of Beor;

the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;9

24:4the oracle of the one who hears the words of God,

who sees a vision from the Almighty,

although falling flat on the ground10 with eyes open:11

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Footnotes

  1. 7 Heb “and he took up his oracle and said.”
  2. 8 The word נְאֻם (né’um) is an “oracle.” It is usually followed by a subjective genitive, indicating the doer of the action. The word could be rendered “says,” but this translations is more specific.
  3. 9 The Greek version reads “the one who sees truly.” The word has been interpreted in both ways, “shut” or “open.”
  4. 10 The phrase “flat on the ground” is supplied in the translation for clarity. The Greek version interprets the line to mean “falling asleep.” It may mean falling into a trance.
  5. 11 The last colon simply has “falling, but opened eyes.” The falling may simply refer to lying prone; and the opened eyes may refer to his receiving a vision. See H. E. Freeman, An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets, 37–41.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

and he took up his discourse and said,

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,

the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

the oracle of him who hears the words of God,

who sees the vision of the Almighty,

falling down with his eyes uncovered:

NIVNew International Version (2011)

and he spoke his message:

“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,

the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,

the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,

who sees a vision from the Almighty,

who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

CSBChristian Standard Bible

and he proclaimed his poem:

The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,

the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened,

the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God,

who sees a vision from the Almighty,

who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:

NLTNew Living Translation

and this is the message he delivered:

“This is the message of Balaam son of Beor,

the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,

the message of one who hears the words of God,

who sees a vision from the Almighty,

who bows down with eyes wide open:

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

He uttered his oracle and said,

“The declaration of Balaam son Beor,

the declaration of the man whose eyes are closed,

the declaration of the hearer of God’s words,

who sees the revelation of Shaddai,

falling down but whose eyes are uncovered.

KJV 1900King James Version

And he took up his parable, and said,

Balaam the son of Beor hath said,

And the man whose eyes are open hath said:

He hath said, which heard the words of God,

Which saw the vision of the Almighty,

Falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: