Numbers 22:11
New International Version
A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’”

New Living Translation
‘Look, a vast horde of people has arrived from Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come and curse these people for me. Then perhaps I will be able to stand up to them and drive them from the land.’”

English Standard Version
‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

Berean Standard Bible
‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’ ”

King James Bible
Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

New King James Version
‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to overpower them and drive them out.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
‘Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

NASB 1995
‘Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

NASB 1977
‘Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against them, and drive them out.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
‘Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

Amplified Bible
‘Hear this, the people who came out of Egypt cover the surface of the land; come now, curse them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

Christian Standard Bible
‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’”

American Standard Version
Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covereth the face of the earth: now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.

Contemporary English Version
to ask me to go to Moab and put a curse on the people who have come there from Egypt. They have settled everywhere around him, and he wants to run them off."

English Revised Version
Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covereth the face of the earth: now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
'Some people have just come from Egypt and are spreading out all over the countryside. Now come and curse them for me. Maybe I'll be able to fight them and force them out.'"

Good News Translation
that a people who came from Egypt has spread out over the whole land. He wants me to curse them for him, so that he can fight them and drive them out."

International Standard Version
Look! A group of people have escaped from Egypt. They cover the surface of the whole earth! So come right now and curse them for me. Perhaps I'll be able to fight against them and drive them out.'"

Majority Standard Bible
‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’”

NET Bible
"Look, a nation has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Come now and put a curse on them for me; perhaps I will be able to defeat them and drive them out."

New Heart English Bible
'Look, this people has come out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, there has a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse them for me: it may be I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

World English Bible
‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Behold, the people that is coming out from Egypt and covers the eye of the land—now come, pierce it for me; it may be I am able to fight against it and have cast it out”;

Young's Literal Translation
Lo, the people that is coming out from Egypt and covereth the eye of the land, -- now come, pierce it for me; it may be I am able to fight against it, and have cast it out;'

Smith's Literal Translation
Behold, the people came forth out of Egypt, and it will cover the eye of the earth: now come curse him to me; perhaps I shall be able to fight against him and I drove him out.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Saying: Behold a people that is come out of Egypt, hath covered the face of the land: come and curse them, if by any means I may fight with them and drive them away.

Catholic Public Domain Version
saying: ‘Behold, a people, which has gone forth from Egypt, has covered the face of the earth. Come and curse them, so that, in some way, I may be able to fight them and drive them away.’ ”

New American Bible
‘This people that has come out of Egypt has covered up the earth. Now come, lay a curse on them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight them and drive them out.’ ”

New Revised Standard Version
‘A people has come out of Egypt and has spread over the face of the earth; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt who cover the face of the earth; come now, and curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and destroy them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
‘Behold a people went out from Egypt and cover the face of the land; now come curse it for me; doubtless I am able to fight with it and I shall destroy it.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Behold the people that is come out of Egypt, it covereth the face of the earth; now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Behold, a people has come forth out of Egypt, and has covered the face of the land, and it has encamped near to me; and now come, curse it for me, if indeed I shall be able to smite it, and cast it out of the land.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Balak Summons Balaam
10And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 11‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’” 12But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 23:4-5
For they did not meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you. / Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, and the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.

Joshua 24:9-10
Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you, / but I would not listen to Balaam. So he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you from his hand.

Nehemiah 13:2
because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).

Micah 6:5
My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”

2 Peter 2:15-16
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. / But he was rebuked for his transgression by a donkey, otherwise without speech, that spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

Jude 1:11
Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.

Numbers 23:7-8
And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the mountains of the east. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me; come and denounce Israel!’ / How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced?

Numbers 24:10
Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, / casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. / For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD. And because of these detestable things, the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you.

1 Samuel 15:22-23
But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. / For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

Proverbs 26:2
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 18:18
Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.”

Ezekiel 13:9
My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.


Treasury of Scripture

Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covers the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

able to overcome them.

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Numbers 22
1. Balak's first message for Balaam is refused
15. His second message obtains him
22. An angel would have slain him, if he had not been saved by his donkey
36. Balak entertains him














Behold, a people has come out of Egypt
This phrase sets the stage for the unfolding narrative, highlighting the miraculous exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. The Hebrew word for "people" here is "עַם" (am), which signifies a collective group bound by common identity and purpose. This is not just any group; it is the chosen people of God, whose journey from Egypt is a testament to divine deliverance and faithfulness. The historical context of the Exodus is pivotal, as it marks a foundational moment in Israelite history, symbolizing liberation and the beginning of a covenant relationship with God.

and they cover the face of the land
The imagery of covering "the face of the land" suggests a vast multitude, emphasizing the sheer number of the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "cover" is "כָּסָה" (kasah), which can imply overwhelming presence or influence. This phrase reflects the fear and intimidation felt by Balak, the Moabite king, as he perceives the Israelites as a formidable force. Historically, this echoes the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5), showcasing the faithfulness of God in multiplying His people.

and they are now camped next to me
The phrase "camped next to me" indicates proximity and potential threat. The Hebrew root "חָנָה" (chanah) for "camped" conveys the idea of settling or encamping, often used in military contexts. This suggests a strategic positioning of the Israelites, which heightens Balak's anxiety. Theologically, this can be seen as God's providential guidance, leading His people to the borders of the Promised Land. The Israelites' encampment signifies not just a physical presence but also the impending fulfillment of God's promises to give them a land of their own.

(11) A people come out of Egypt . . . --Better, the people which came out from Egypt, it covereth . . .



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
‘Behold,
הִנֵּ֤ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

a people
הָעָם֙ (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

has come out
הַיֹּצֵ֣א (hay·yō·ṣê)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

of Egypt,
מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם (mim·miṣ·ra·yim)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

and they cover
וַיְכַ֖ס (way·ḵas)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover

the face
עֵ֣ין (‘ên)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of the land.
הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

Now
עַתָּ֗ה (‘at·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

come
לְכָ֤ה (lə·ḵāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

and put a curse
קָֽבָה־ (qā·ḇāh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6895: To scoop out, to malign, execrate

on them
אֹת֔וֹ (’ō·ṯōw)
Direct object marker | third person masculine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

for me.
לִּי֙ (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

Perhaps I may
אוּלַ֥י (’ū·lay)
Adverb
Strong's 194: Perhaps

be able
אוּכַ֛ל (’ū·ḵal)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3201: To be able, have power

to fight
לְהִלָּ֥חֶם (lə·hil·lā·ḥem)
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle

against them
בּ֖וֹ (bōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

and drive them away.’”
וְגֵרַשְׁתִּֽיו׃ (wə·ḡê·raš·tîw)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1644: To drive out from a, possession, to expatriate, divorce


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OT Law: Numbers 22:11 Behold the people that is come out (Nu Num.)
Numbers 22:10
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