Numbers 22:22 Then God's anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

◄ Numbers 22:22 ►

New International Version
But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

New Living Translation
But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the LORD to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along,

English Standard Version
But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.

Berean Standard Bible
Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

King James Bible
And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

New King James Version
Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

New American Standard Bible
But God was angry that he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the road as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

NASB 1995
But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him.

NASB 1977
But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him.

Legacy Standard Bible
But God was angry because he was going, so the angel of Yahweh took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two young men were with him.

Amplified Bible
But God’s anger was kindled because he was going, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

Christian Standard Bible
But God was incensed that Balaam was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand on the path to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But God was incensed that Balaam was going, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand on the path to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

American Standard Version
And God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Jehovah placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

Contemporary English Version
Balaam was riding his donkey to Moab, and two of his servants were with him. But God was angry that Balaam had gone, so one of the LORD's angels stood in the road to stop him.

English Revised Version
And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
God became angry that he was going. So the Messenger of the LORD stood in the road to stop him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, accompanied by his two servants.

Good News Translation
God was angry that Balaam was going, and as Balaam was riding along on his donkey, accompanied by his two servants, the angel of the LORD stood in the road to bar his way.

International Standard Version
At this, the anger of the LORD flared up against Balaam, because he was leaving. So the angel of the LORD stood in the way to oppose him. As Balaam was riding his donkey, accompanied by two of his servants,

Majority Standard Bible
Then God?s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

NET Bible
Then God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him.

New Heart English Bible
God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the LORD placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

World English Bible
God’s anger burned because he went; and Yahweh’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and the anger of God burns because he is going, and the Messenger of YHWH stations Himself in the way for an adversary to him, and he is riding on his donkey, and two of his servants [are] with him,

Young's Literal Translation
and the anger of God burneth because he is going, and a messenger of Jehovah stationeth himself in the way for an adversary to him, and he is riding on his ass, and two of his servants are with him,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the anger of God will kindle because he went; and the messenger of Jehovah will stand in the way, for an adversary to him: and he rode upon his ass, and his two young men with him.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And God was angry. And an angel of the Lord stood in the way against Balaam, who sat on the ass, and had two servants with him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And God was angry. And an Angel of the Lord stood in the way opposite Balaam, who was sitting on the donkey, and he had two servants with him.

New American Bible
But now God’s anger flared up at him for going, and the angel of the LORD took up a position on the road as his adversary. As Balaam was riding along on his donkey, accompanied by two of his servants,

New Revised Standard Version
God’s anger was kindled because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the road as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And God's anger was kindled against him because he went; and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now as he was riding on his she-ass, and his two servants with him,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the wrath of God was provoked against him because he went, and the Angel of LORD JEHOVAH stood in the road to be Satan an adversary to him, and he rode on his donkey and his two young men with him.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the LORD placed himself in the way for an adversary against him.--Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.--

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And God was very angry because he went; and the angel of the Lord rose up to withstand him. Now he had mounted his ass, and his two servants were with him.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Angel and Balaam's Donkey
22Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

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.

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.’”

1 Corinthians 10:10-11
And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. / Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

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.

Genesis 31:24
But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

Genesis 31:29
I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’

Exodus 4:24-26
Now at a lodging place along the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him. / But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched it to Moses’ feet. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. / So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, “bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.)

1 Chronicles 21:15-16
Then God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and relented from the calamity, and He said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!” At that time the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. / When David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem, David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.

Psalm 106:23
So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them.

Isaiah 63:10
But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.

Treasury of Scripture

And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his ass, and his two servants were with him.

God's

2 Kings 10:20
And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.

Hosea 1:4
And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

and the angel

Numbers 22:35
And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

Genesis 48:15,16
And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, …

Exodus 3:2-6
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed…

stood

Numbers 22:32
And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

Exodus 4:24
And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.

Lamentations 2:4
He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire.

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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

Berean Study Bible

But God was angry
The Hebrew word for "angry" here is "אַף" (aph), which often denotes a flaring of the nostrils, a vivid image of divine displeasure. This phrase underscores the seriousness of Balaam's actions. Despite Balaam's earlier insistence that he would only speak what God commanded, his heart was swayed by the promise of reward from Balak. This serves as a reminder of God's omniscience and His intolerance for duplicity or greed, emphasizing the need for purity of heart in our intentions.

that Balaam was going
The journey of Balaam is not merely a physical one but a spiritual descent into compromise. The Hebrew verb "הָלַךְ" (halak) means "to go" or "to walk," and it often implies a manner of life or conduct. Balaam's path was one of disobedience, as he chose to pursue his own desires over God's clear instructions. This highlights the importance of aligning our paths with God's will, as deviation can lead to divine opposition.

and the angel of the LORD
The "angel of the LORD" is a significant figure in the Old Testament, often seen as a manifestation of God's presence. The Hebrew term "מַלְאַךְ" (malak) means "messenger," and this divine messenger acts as an enforcer of God's will. The presence of the angel signifies the gravity of Balaam's rebellion and serves as a divine intervention to prevent further transgression. It reminds us of God's active role in guiding and correcting His people.

stood in the road to oppose him
The Hebrew word for "stood" is "נָצַב" (natsab), which conveys a sense of firmness and determination. The angel's position in the road is a physical and spiritual blockade, representing God's resistance to Balaam's misguided journey. The word "oppose" comes from "שָׂטָן" (satan), meaning "to act as an adversary." This is one of the few instances where the term is used in the Old Testament, illustrating the seriousness of Balaam's opposition to God's will. It serves as a powerful reminder that God will actively intervene to prevent His people from straying too far from His path.

Balaam was riding his donkey
The image of Balaam on his donkey is both literal and symbolic. The donkey, a humble and often stubborn animal, mirrors Balaam's own obstinacy. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a donkey was a common means of transport, but here it becomes a tool for divine communication. This scene foreshadows the miraculous event where the donkey speaks, highlighting God's sovereignty in using the ordinary to achieve His purposes.

and his two servants were with him
The presence of Balaam's servants indicates that he was not alone in his journey, yet they remain passive observers in the narrative. This detail emphasizes Balaam's responsibility and the personal nature of his encounter with the divine. It serves as a reminder that while others may accompany us in life, our spiritual journey and accountability before God are ultimately personal. The servants' silence contrasts with the forthcoming dialogue between Balaam and the donkey, underscoring the unexpected ways God can communicate His truth.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(22) Because he went.--Literally, because he was going. The participle denotes the continuous act. He deliberately and resolutely proceeded on his journey with the messengers of Balak, in defiance of the warnings which he had received.

Stood in the way.--Better, placed (or, stationed) himself in the way.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 22. - And God's anger was kindled because he went, or, "that he was going." כִּי־הולֵך הוּא. Septuagint, ὅτι ἐπορεύθη αὐτός. There can be no question that the ordinary translation is fight, and that God was angry with Balaam for going at all on such an errand. It is true that God had given him permission to go, but that very permission was a judicial act whereby God punished the covetous and disobedient longings of Balaam in allowing him to have his own way. God's anger is kindled by sin, and it was not less truly sin which prompted Balaam to go because he had succeeded in obtaining formal leave to go. The angel of the Lord stood in the way. The same angel of the covenant apparently of whom Moses had spoken to the Edomites (see on Numbers 20:16). For an adversary against him. לְשָׂטָן לו. Septuagint, διαβαλεῖν αὐτόν, Not so much because Balaam was rushing upon his own destruction as because he was going to fight with curses, if possible, against the Israel of God (cf. 2 Kings 6:17; Psalm 34:7).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then God’s
אֱלֹהִים֮ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

anger
אַ֣ף (’ap̄)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire

was kindled
וַיִּֽחַר־ (way·yi·ḥar-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2734: To glow, grow warm, to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy

because
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

Balaam
הוּא֒ (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

was going along,
הוֹלֵ֣ךְ (hō·w·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

and the Angel
מַלְאַ֧ךְ (mal·’aḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel

of the LORD
יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

stood
וַיִּתְיַצֵּ֞ב (way·yiṯ·yaṣ·ṣêḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3320: To set or station oneself, take one's stand

in the road
בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ (bad·de·reḵ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

to oppose him.
לְשָׂטָ֣ן (lə·śā·ṭān)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7854: An opponent -- Satan, the arch-enemy of good

Balaam
וְהוּא֙ (wə·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

was riding
רֹכֵ֣ב (rō·ḵêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7392: To ride, to place upon, to despatch

his donkey,
אֲתֹנ֔וֹ (’ă·ṯō·nōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 860: A female donkey

and his two
וּשְׁנֵ֥י (ū·šə·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Number - mdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

servants
נְעָרָ֖יו (nə·‘ā·rāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

were with him.
עִמּֽוֹ׃ (‘im·mōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

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OT Law: Numbers 22:22 God's anger was kindled because he went (Nu Num.)