Numbers 22:16
New International Version
They came to Balaam and said: “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me,

New Living Translation
They went to Balaam and delivered this message to him: “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Please don’t let anything stop you from coming to help me.

English Standard Version
And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

Berean Standard Bible
They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

King James Bible
And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:

New King James Version
And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me;

New American Standard Bible
They came to Balaam and said to him, “This is what Balak the son of Zippor says: ‘I beg you, let nothing keep you from coming to me;

NASB 1995
They came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me;

NASB 1977
And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me;

Legacy Standard Bible
And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Let nothing, I beg you, withhold you from coming to me;

Amplified Bible
They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘I beg you, let nothing hinder you from coming to me.

Christian Standard Bible
They came to Balaam and said to him, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Let nothing keep you from coming to me,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They came to Balaam and said to him, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Let nothing keep you from coming to me,

American Standard Version
And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:

Contemporary English Version
They went to Balaam and told him that Balak had said, "Balaam, if you come to Moab,

English Revised Version
And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When they came to Balaam, they said to him, "This is what Balak, son of Zippor, says: Don't let anything keep you from coming to me.

Good News Translation
They went to Balaam and gave him this message from Balak: "Please don't let anything prevent you from coming to me!

International Standard Version
who approached Balaam with this message: "This is what Zippor's son Balak says: 'Don't let anything get in the way of your coming to me.

Majority Standard Bible
They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

NET Bible
And they came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak son of Zippor: 'Please do not let anything hinder you from coming to me.

New Heart English Bible
They came to Balaam, and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me:

Webster's Bible Translation
And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming to me:

World English Bible
They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they come to Balaam and say to him, “Thus said Balak son of Zippor: Please do not be withheld from coming to me,

Young's Literal Translation
and they come in unto Balaam, and say to him, 'Thus said Balak son of Zippor, Be not, I pray thee, withheld from coming unto me,

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will go to Balaam, and say to him, Thus said Balak, son of Zippor, Now thou wilt not withhold from coming to me:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who, when they were come to Balaam, said: Thus saith Balac the son of Sephor, Delay not to come to me:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when these had come to Balaam, they said: “So says Balak, the son of Zippor. Do not hesitate to come to me.

New American Bible
On coming to Balaam they told him, “Thus says Balak, son of Zippor: Please do not refuse to come to me.

New Revised Standard Version
They came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: ‘Do not let anything hinder you from coming to me;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they carne to Balaam and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing hinder you from coming to me;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they came to Balaam and they said to him: “Thus says Balaq, son of Tsephor, ‘Do not refrain to come to me,
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they came to Balaam, and said to him: 'Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor: Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they came to Balaam, and they say to him, Thus says Balac the son of Sepphor: I beseech thee, delay not to come to me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Balak Summons Balaam
15Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers. 16They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’ ”…

Cross References
2 Peter 2:15
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.

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.

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 Kings 17:17
They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

2 Kings 17:21
When the LORD had torn Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king, and Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin.

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.”

1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

2 Corinthians 11:3
I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

Romans 16:18
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

1 Corinthians 10:20-21
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. / You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.


Treasury of Scripture

And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus said Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray you, hinder you from coming to me:

let nothing.

Jump to Previous
Balaam Balak Beg Hinder Please Restrained Suffer Thyself Withheld Zippor
Jump to Next
Balaam Balak Beg Hinder Please Restrained Suffer Thyself Withheld Zippor
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














They came to Balaam
This phrase indicates the arrival of messengers sent by Balak, the king of Moab. The Hebrew root for "came" is "בּוֹא" (bo), which often signifies not just physical arrival but also the initiation of a significant event or encounter. In the context of the narrative, this marks the beginning of a pivotal moment where Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, is drawn into the unfolding account of Israel's journey. Historically, Balaam is a complex figure, known outside the Bible from inscriptions found at Deir Alla, which suggest he was a well-known seer. This highlights the broader cultural and religious milieu of the ancient Near East, where prophets and diviners played crucial roles.

and said to him
The act of speaking here is significant, as it conveys the urgency and importance of Balak's message. The Hebrew verb "אָמַר" (amar) is used, which is a common term for speaking but often implies a formal or authoritative declaration. This reflects the weight of Balak's request and the expectation that Balaam, as a prophet, would heed the call. In the biblical narrative, speech acts are powerful, often setting the stage for divine intervention or revelation.

This is what Balak son of Zippor says
This phrase introduces Balak, emphasizing his lineage and authority. "Balak" means "devastator" or "waster," which may reflect his role as a king threatened by Israel's presence. "Son of Zippor" provides a genealogical anchor, common in biblical texts to establish identity and legitimacy. Historically, Moab was a kingdom located east of the Dead Sea, often in conflict with Israel. Balak's fear of Israel's encroachment is rooted in historical tensions and the perceived threat of Israel's God.

Please let nothing keep you from coming to me
This plea underscores the desperation and urgency of Balak's request. The Hebrew word for "please" is "נָא" (na), a particle of entreaty, indicating a polite but earnest appeal. Balak's insistence that "nothing" should prevent Balaam from coming highlights the gravity of the situation. Theologically, this reflects the tension between human desires and divine will, as Balaam is caught between Balak's demands and God's instructions. The phrase also foreshadows the unfolding drama where Balaam's journey becomes a test of obedience and discernment.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They came
וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ (way·yā·ḇō·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Balaam
בִּלְעָ֑ם (bil·‘ām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1109: Balaam -- a prophet

and said,
וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“This is what
כֹּ֤ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

Balak
בָּלָ֣ק (bā·lāq)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1111: Balak -- 'devastator', a Moabite king

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Zippor
צִפּ֔וֹר (ṣip·pō·wr)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6834: Zippor -- 'bird', father of Balak

says:
אָמַר֙ (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Please
נָ֥א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

let nothing
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

hinder
תִמָּנַ֖ע (ṯim·mā·na‘)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 4513: To debar, from benefit, injury

you from coming
מֵהֲלֹ֥ךְ (mê·hă·lōḵ)
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

to me,
אֵלָֽי׃ (’ê·lāy)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to


Links
Numbers 22:16 NIV
Numbers 22:16 NLT
Numbers 22:16 ESV
Numbers 22:16 NASB
Numbers 22:16 KJV

Numbers 22:16 BibleApps.com
Numbers 22:16 Biblia Paralela
Numbers 22:16 Chinese Bible
Numbers 22:16 French Bible
Numbers 22:16 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Numbers 22:16 They came to Balaam and said (Nu Num.)
Numbers 22:15
Top of Page
Top of Page