And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
Parallel translations
- WEB Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you.”
- BSB Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”
- NKJV And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!”
- NASB And Balaam said to the donkey, “It is because you have made a mockery of me! If only there had been a sword in my hand! For I would have killed you by now!”
- NLT “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!”
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
Balaam answers in fury that he would kill the donkey if he had a sword. His rage blinds him to the absurdity of arguing with a talking animal.
Overview
Balaam's wish for a sword is darkly ironic, since a sword is exactly what the unseen angel holds against him. His anger reveals a heart bent on having its way at any cost. The exchange exposes the smallness and violence of the man Balak hoped would command spiritual power.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Prov 12:10A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
- Prov 12:16A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
- Matt 15:19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
- Eccl 9:3This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 22:29 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.