Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth. New Living Translation I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the heads of Moab’s people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth. English Standard Version I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Berean Standard Bible I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth. King James Bible I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. New King James Version “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult. New American Standard Bible I see him, but not now; I look at him, but not near; A star shall appear from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall smash the forehead of Moab, And overcome all the sons of Sheth. NASB 1995 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth. NASB 1977 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, And a scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth. Legacy Standard Bible I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth. Amplified Bible I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A star shall come forth from [the descendants of] Jacob, A scepter shall rise out of [the descendants of] Israel And shall crush the forehead of Moab And destroy all the sons of Sheth. Christian Standard Bible I see him, but not now; I perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will smash the forehead of Moab and strike down all the Shethites. Holman Christian Standard Bible I see him, but not now; I perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will smash the forehead of Moab and strike down all the Shethites. American Standard Version I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of tumult. Contemporary English Version "What I saw in my vision hasn't happened yet. But someday, a king of Israel will appear like a star. He will wipe out you Moabites and destroy those tribes who live in the desert. English Revised Version I see him, but not now: I behold him, but not nigh: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of tumult. GOD'S WORD® Translation I see someone who is not here now. I look at someone who is not nearby. A star will come from Jacob. A scepter will rise from Israel. He will crush the heads of the Moabites and destroy all the people of Sheth. Good News Translation I look into the future, And I see the nation of Israel. A king, like a bright star, will arise in that nation. Like a comet he will come from Israel. He will strike the leaders of Moab And beat down all the people of Seth. International Standard Version I can see him, but not right now. I observe him, but from a distance. A star streams forth from Jacob; a scepter arises from Israel. He will crush Moab's forehead, along with all of Seth's descendants. Majority Standard Bible I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth. NET Bible I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not close at hand. A star will march forth out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab, and the heads of all the sons of Sheth. New Heart English Bible I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and will crush the forehead of Moab, and the crown of all the sons of tumult. Webster's Bible Translation I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. World English Bible I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and crush all the sons of Sheth. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionI see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A star has proceeded from Jacob, "" And a scepter has risen from Israel, "" And has struck corners of Moab, "" And has destroyed all sons of Seth. Young's Literal Translation I see it, but not now; I behold it, but not near; A star hath proceeded from Jacob, And a sceptre hath risen from Israel, And hath smitten corners of Moab, And hath destroyed all sons of Sheth. Smith's Literal Translation I shall see him and not now: I shall look after him, and not near: a star came forth from Jacob, and a rod rose up from Israel and dashed in pieces the faces of Moab, and undermined all the sons of Seth. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleI shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near. A STAR SHALL RISE out of Jacob and a sceptre shall spring up from Israel: and shall strike the chiefs of Moab, and shall waste all the children of Seth. Catholic Public Domain Version I shall see him, but not presently. I shall gaze upon him, but not soon. A star shall rise out of Jacob, and a rod shall spring up from Israel. And he shall strike down the commanders of Moab, and he shall devastate all the sons of Seth. New American Bible I see him, though not now; I observe him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel, That will crush the brows of Moab, and the skull of all the Sethites, New Revised Standard Version I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near— a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the borderlands of Moab, and the territory of all the Shethites. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleI have seen him, but not clearly enough; I beheld him, but he was not nigh; there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Prince shall rise out of Israel, and shall destroy the mighty men of Moab and subdue all the children of Sheth. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated “I saw him and not from now, and at the end and it is not near; the star shall shine from Yaquuv and the Prince shall arise from Israel, and he shall destroy the mighty men of Moab and he shall subject all the sons of Shayth. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh; There shall step forth a star out of Jacob, And a scepter shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of Seth. Brenton Septuagint Translation I will point to him, but not now; I bless him, but he draws not near: a star shall rise out of Jacob, a man shall spring out of Israel; and shall crush the princes of Moab, and shall spoil all the sons of Seth. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Balaam's Fourth Oracle…16the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: 17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth. 18Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.… Cross References Matthew 2:2 asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.” Isaiah 11:1 Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his. Luke 1:78-79 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, / to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. / For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. / Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 2 Peter 1:19 We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity. Psalm 72:8-11 May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth. / May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust. / May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. ... Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. John 8:12 Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” Isaiah 60:19-20 No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor. / Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will cease. Revelation 2:28 And I will give him the morning star. Zechariah 9:9-10 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. / And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be broken. Then He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth. Malachi 4:2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall. Treasury of Scripture I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. Genesis 27:29,40 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee… 2 Samuel 8:14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. Psalm 60:1 To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand. O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again. Jump to Previous Break Children Corners Crush Cut Destroy Destroyed Destruction Israel Jacob Limits Moab Nigh Proceeded Rise Risen Rod Scepter Sceptre Sending Sheth Smite Smitten Star Step Strike Tear TumultJump to Next Break Children Corners Crush Cut Destroy Destroyed Destruction Israel Jacob Limits Moab Nigh Proceeded Rise Risen Rod Scepter Sceptre Sending Sheth Smite Smitten Star Step Strike Tear TumultNumbers 24 1. Balaam, leaving divinations, prophesies the happiness of Israel10. Balak, in anger, dismisses him 15. He prophesies of the Star of Jacob, and the destruction of some nations I see him, but not now This phrase indicates a prophetic vision, a glimpse into the future. The Hebrew word for "see" is "ra'ah," which often implies not just physical sight but spiritual insight or revelation. Balaam, the speaker, is granted a vision of a future event, emphasizing the divine nature of prophecy. The phrase "but not now" suggests that the fulfillment of this vision is distant, reinforcing the idea that God's plans unfold in His perfect timing, beyond human understanding. I behold him, but not near A star will come out of Jacob and a scepter will rise out of Israel He will crush the foreheads of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth There shall come a Star out of Jacob . . . --Literally, There hath come forth a Star out of Jacob, &c. The verb is in the prophetic past or historic tense of prophecy, denoting the certainty of the event predicted. (Comp. Jude 1:14 : "Behold the Lord cometh"--literally, came.) If there is any ambiguity in the first symbol it is removed in the second. A star is a fitting image of an illustrious king or ruler, and the mention of the sceptre in the words which follow (comp. Genesis 49:10) shows that it is so employed in the present instance. The Targum of Onkelos is as follows:--"When the King shall arise out of Jacob, and the Messiah shall be anointed from Israel." The Targum of Palestine reads thus:--"A King is to arise from the house of Jacob, and a Redeemer and Ruler from the house of Israel." Ibn Ezra interprets these words of David, but he says that many interpret them of the Messiah. It seems to have been with reference to this prophecy that the pretender to the title of the Messiah in the days of the Emperor Adrian took the name of Bar-cochab, or Bar-cochba (the son of a star). The words of the Magi, "We have seen his star in the East" (Matthew 2:2), appear to have reference to this prophecy. And shall smite the corners of Moab.--Or, the two sides of Moab. The prophecy was partially, or typically, fulfilled in the time of David (2Samuel 8:2). Moab and Edom represented symbolically the enemies of Christ and of His Church, and as such will eventually be subdued by the King of kings. (Comp. Psalm 60:8.) . . . Verse 17. - I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh. Rather, "I see him, but not now: I behold him, but not near" (אַשׁוּרֶנּוּ...אֶראֶנוּ exactly as in Numbers 23:9). Balaam does not mean to say that he expected himself to see at any future time the mysterious Being of whom he speaks, who is identical with the "Star" and the "Scepter" of the following clauses; he speaks wholly as a prophet, and means that his inner gaze is fixed upon such an one, with full assurance that he exists in the counsels of God, but with clear recognition of the fact that his actual coming is yet in the far future. There shall come a Star out of Jacob. Septuagint, ἀνατελεῖ ἀστρον. It may quite as well be rendered by the present; Balaam simply utters what passes before his inward vision. The star is a natural and common poetic symbol of an illustrious, or, as we say, "brilliant," personage, and as such recurs many times in Scripture (cf. Job 38:7; Isaiah 14:12; Daniel 8:10; Matthew 24:29; Philippians 2:15; Revelation 1:20; Revelation 2:28). The celebrated Jewish fanatic called himself Barcochab, "son of the Star," in allusion to this prophecy. A Scepter shall rise out of Israel. This further defines the "star ' as a ruler of men, for the scepter is Used in that sense in the dying prophecy of Jacob (Genesis 49:10), with which Balaam was evidently acquainted. Accordingly the Septuagint has here ἀναστήσεται. Shall smite the corners of Moab. Rather, "the two corners" (dual), or "the two sides of Moab," i.e., shall crush Moab on either side. And destroy all the children of Sheth. In Jeremiah 48:45, where this prophecy is in a manner quoted, the word קַרְקַר (qarqar, destroy) is altered into קָדקֹר (quadqod, crown of the head). This raises a very curious and interesting question as to the use made by the prophets of the earlier Scriptures, but it gives no authority for an alteration of the text. The expression בְּנֵי־שֵׁת has been variously rendered. The Jewish commentators, followed by the Septuagint (πάντας υἱοὺς Σήθ) and the older versions, understand it to mean the sons of Seth, the son of Adam, i.e., all mankind. Many modern commentators, however, take שֵׁת as a contraction of שֵׁאת (Lamentations 3:47 - "desolation"), and read "sons of confusion," as equivalent to the unruly neighbours and relations of Israel. This, however, is extremely dubious in itself, for שֵׁת nowhere occurs in this sense, and derives no sup. port from Jeremiah 48:45. It is true that בְּנֵי שֵׁת is there replaced by בְּנֵי שָׁאון, "sons of tumult," but then this very verse affords the clearest evidence that the prophet felt no hesitation in altering the text of Scripture to suit his own inspired purpose. If it be true that קַרְקַר will not bear the meaning given to it in the Targums of "reign over," still there is no insuperable difficulty in the common rendering. Jewish prophecy, from beginning to end, contemplated the Messiah as the Conqueror, the Subduer, and even the Destroyer of all the heathen, i.e., of all who were not Jews. It is only in the New Testament that the iron scepter with which he was to dash in pieces the heathen (Psalm 2:9) becomes the pastoral staff wherewith he shepherds them (Revelation 2:27 - ποιμανεῖ after the Septuagint, which has here misread the text). The prophecy was that Messiah should destroy the heathen; the fulfillment that he destroyed not them, but their heathenism (cf. e.g., Psalm 149:6-9 with James 5:20).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew I see him,אֶרְאֶ֙נּוּ֙ (’er·’en·nū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 7200: To see but not וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no now; עַתָּ֔ה (‘at·tāh) Adverb Strong's 6258: At this time I behold him, אֲשׁוּרֶ֖נּוּ (’ă·šū·ren·nū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 7789: To spy out, survey, lurk for, care for but not וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no near. קָר֑וֹב (qā·rō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7138: Near A star כּוֹכָ֜ב (kō·w·ḵāḇ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3556: A star, a prince will come דָּרַ֨ךְ (dā·raḵ) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1869: To tread, to walk, to string a, bow out of Jacob, מִֽיַּעֲקֹ֗ב (mî·ya·‘ă·qōḇ) Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc and a scepter שֵׁ֙בֶט֙ (šê·ḇeṭ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7626: Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe will arise וְקָ֥ם (wə·qām) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand from Israel. מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (mî·yiś·rā·’êl) Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc He will crush וּמָחַץ֙ (ū·mā·ḥaṣ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4272: To dash asunder, to crush, smash, violently plunge, to subdue, destroy the skulls פַּאֲתֵ֣י (pa·’ă·ṯê) Noun - fdc Strong's 6285: Mouth, direction, region, extremity of Moab מוֹאָ֔ב (mō·w·’āḇ) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4124: Moab -- a son of Lot,also his descendants and the territory where they settled and strike down וְקַרְקַ֖ר (wə·qar·qar) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6979: To trench, to throw forth, to wall up all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the sons בְּנֵי־ (bə·nê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son of Sheth. שֵֽׁת׃ (šêṯ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 8351: Seat (of the body), buttocks Links Numbers 24:17 NIVNumbers 24:17 NLT Numbers 24:17 ESV Numbers 24:17 NASB Numbers 24:17 KJV Numbers 24:17 BibleApps.com Numbers 24:17 Biblia Paralela Numbers 24:17 Chinese Bible Numbers 24:17 French Bible Numbers 24:17 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 24:17 I see him but not now (Nu Num.) |
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