Numbers 24:11
New International Version
Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded.”

New Living Translation
Now get out of here! Go back home! I promised to reward you richly, but the LORD has kept you from your reward.”

English Standard Version
Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, ‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the LORD has held you back from honor.”

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”

King James Bible
Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

New King James Version
Now therefore, flee to your place. I said I would greatly honor you, but in fact, the LORD has kept you back from honor.”

New American Standard Bible
So flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the LORD has held you back from honor.”

NASB 1995
“Therefore, flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the LORD has held you back from honor.”

NASB 1977
“Therefore, flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the LORD has held you back from honor.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, flee to your place. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, Yahweh has held you back from honor.”

Amplified Bible
Therefore now flee to your place! I had intended to honor you greatly, but behold, the LORD has held you back from honor.”

Christian Standard Bible
Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but look, the LORD has denied you a reward.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but look, the LORD has denied you a reward.”

American Standard Version
Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honor.

Contemporary English Version
Leave now and go home! I told you I would pay you well, but since the LORD didn't let you do what I asked, you won't be paid."

English Revised Version
Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Get out of here! Go home! I said I'd reward you richly, but the LORD has made you lose your reward."

Good News Translation
Now get on home! I promised to reward you, but the LORD has kept you from getting the reward."

International Standard Version
Now get out of here! I had promised you that I would definitely honor you, but now the LORD has kept me from doing that!"

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.?

NET Bible
So now, go back where you came from! I said that I would greatly honor you; but now the LORD has stood in the way of your honor."

New Heart English Bible
Therefore now flee you to your place. I thought to promote you to great honor; but, look, the LORD has kept you back from honor."

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee to great honor; but lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honor.

World English Bible
Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back from honor.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and now, flee for yourself to your place; I have said, I greatly honor you, and behold, YHWH has kept you back from honor.”

Young's Literal Translation
and now, flee for thyself unto thy place; I have said, I do greatly honour thee, and lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honour.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And now flee for thyself to thy place: I said, Honoring, I will honor thee, and behold, Jehovah withheld thee from honor.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Return to thy place. I had determined indeed greatly to honour thee, but the Lord hath deprived thee of the honour designed for thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Return to your place. I had decided, indeed, to honor you greatly, but the Lord has deprived you of the designated honor.”

New American Bible
Now flee to your home. I promised to reward you richly, but the LORD has withheld the reward from you!”

New Revised Standard Version
Now be off with you! Go home! I said, ‘I will reward you richly,’ but the LORD has denied you any reward.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore, now get you out and go to your own country; for I had said, I will surely honor you but, lo, the LORD has deprived you of my honors.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Now go out, go you to your place; I have said that, honoring, I would honor you, and behold, LORD JEHOVAH has held you back from honor.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Therefore now flee thou to thy place; I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Now therefore flee to thy place: I said, I will honour thee, but now the Lord has deprived thee of glory.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Balak Dismisses Balaam
10Then 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. 11Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.” 12Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me…

Cross References
Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 27:29
May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.”

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).

Psalm 109:28
Though they curse, You will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but Your servant will rejoice.

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.

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.’”

Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

Matthew 10:13-14
If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it, but if it is not, let your peace return to you. / And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.

Luke 6:22-23
Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man. / Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For their fathers treated the prophets in the same way.

John 15:18-21
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. / Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. ...

Acts 13:8-11
But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. / Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas / and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord? ...

Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore now flee you to your place: I thought to promote you to great honor; but, see, the LORD has kept you back from honor.

Numbers 22:18,38
And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more…

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Handsomely Held Highly Home Honor Honour Kept Leave Once Promote Purpose Quickly Reward Rewarded Thought Thyself
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Handsomely Held Highly Home Honor Honour Kept Leave Once Promote Purpose Quickly Reward Rewarded Thought Thyself
Numbers 24
1. Balaam, leaving divinations, prophesies the happiness of Israel
10. Balak, in anger, dismisses him
15. He prophesies of the Star of Jacob, and the destruction of some nations














“Now go home!”
This phrase is a direct command from Balak to Balaam, indicating a dismissal and a termination of their interaction. In the Hebrew text, the word for "go" is "לך" (lek), which is an imperative form, emphasizing the urgency and authority in Balak's voice. Historically, this reflects the cultural practices of ancient Near Eastern kings who had the power to summon and dismiss individuals at will. Balak's frustration is palpable, as he had hoped for a curse upon Israel, but instead received blessings. This command also signifies a turning point, where Balaam's role in the narrative concludes, and the focus shifts back to Israel's journey.

“I said I would richly reward you,”
Balak's statement here reveals his initial intentions and expectations. The Hebrew word for "reward" is "כבד" (kaved), which can also mean "to honor" or "to make heavy," implying substantial wealth or honor. This reflects the ancient practice of kings and leaders offering significant rewards for services rendered, especially those involving divine or prophetic intervention. Balak's disappointment is evident, as he had promised Balaam great wealth in exchange for cursing Israel, highlighting the transactional nature of their relationship and the futility of attempting to manipulate divine will for personal gain.

“but instead the LORD has denied you any reward.”
This phrase underscores the sovereignty of God over human intentions and plans. The Hebrew word for "denied" is "מנע" (mana), meaning to withhold or restrain. This indicates that despite Balak's willingness to reward Balaam, it is ultimately God who controls the outcome. The use of "the LORD" (YHWH) emphasizes the covenantal name of God, reminding the reader of His faithfulness to Israel and His ultimate authority over all nations and their rulers. This serves as a powerful reminder that human plans are subordinate to divine purposes, and that true reward comes from obedience to God's will rather than human schemes.

(11) The Lord hath kept thee back from honour.--These words may have been spoken ironically, or Balak may have been convinced of the supernatural influence under which the words of Balaam were uttered. (See Numbers 23:27, and Note.)



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Therefore, flee
בְּרַח־ (bə·raḥ-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1272: To bolt, to flee suddenly

at once
וְעַתָּ֖ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

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

your home!
מְקוֹמֶ֑ךָ (mə·qō·w·me·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

I said
אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ (’ā·mar·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

I would richly reward you,
כַּבֵּ֣ד (kab·bêḏ)
Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 3513: To be heavy, weighty, or burdensome

but instead
וְהִנֵּ֛ה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

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

has denied
מְנָעֲךָ֥ (mə·nā·‘ă·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4513: To debar, from benefit, injury

your reward.”
מִכָּבֽוֹד׃ (mik·kā·ḇō·wḏ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3519: Weight, splendor, copiousness


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OT Law: Numbers 24:11 Therefore now flee you to your place: (Nu Num.)
Numbers 24:10
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