He said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet over there.”
Parallel translations
- KJV And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder.
- BSB Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet the LORD over there.”
- NKJV And he said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offering while I meet the Lord over there.”
- NASB Then he said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offering while I myself meet the Lord over there.”
- NLT Then Balaam said to the king, “Stand here by your burnt offerings while I go over there to meet the Lord.”
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 tells Balak to wait by the offering while he seeks Yahweh again. The pattern of inquiry is repeated.
Overview
Balaam once more withdraws to receive a word, maintaining the form of his prophetic procedure. The repetition underscores that the outcome depends wholly on God, not on the seer's methods. Balak's hope is again poised for disappointment.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Num 23:3Balaam 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 22:8He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Yahweh shall speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
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 23:15 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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