but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you still. So I delivered you out of his hand.
Parallel translations
- KJV But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.
- BSB but I would not listen to Balaam. So he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you from his hand.
- NKJV But I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he continued to bless you. So I delivered you out of his hand.
- NASB But I was not willing to listen to Balaam. So he had to bless you, and I saved you from his hand.
- NLT but I would not listen to him. Instead, I made Balaam bless you, and so I rescued you from Balak.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God refused to let Balaam curse Israel, so Balaam blessed them instead, and God delivered Israel from Balak's hand. It matters because God turns intended curses into blessing for His people.
Overview
Yahweh overruled Balaam's words so that blessing came where a curse was sought (Numbers 23-24). This demonstrates God's sovereign control over even hostile powers and His unwavering commitment to His covenant. It points forward to the gospel, in which the curse we deserved is borne by Christ, securing blessing for those who trust Him (Galatians 3:13-14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Deut 23:5Nevertheless Yahweh your God wouldn’t listen to Balaam; but Yahweh your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because Yahweh your God loved you.
- Num 24:5–10How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your tents, Israel!
- Isa 54:17No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of Yahweh’s servants, and their righteousness is of me,” says Yahweh.
- Num 23:3–12Balaam said to Balak, “Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me. Whatever he shows me I will tell you.” He went to a bare height.
- Num 22:11–12‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse me them. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.’”
- Num 22:35Yahweh’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
- Num 23:15–26He said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet over there.”
- Num 22:18–20Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of Yahweh my God, to do less or more.
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Christ at the center
Joshua — the same name as Jesus, 'the LORD saves' — leads God's people into their inheritance, a shadow of the greater Joshua who brings us into the true rest and the promised land that remains.
How Joshua 24:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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