God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox.
Parallel translations
- WEB God brings them out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox.
- KJV God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
- BSB God brought them out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox.
- NKJV God brings them out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox.
- NASB “God brings them out of Egypt, He is for them like the horns of the wild ox.
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 brought Israel out of Egypt with strength like that of a wild ox. Their power comes from the God who redeemed them.
Overview
The exodus is again held up as the great act of redemption that defines Israel. The image of the wild ox conveys irresistible, God-given strength. Their might is not their own but flows from the saving Lord, just as the church's strength rests in the God who has redeemed her.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Num 24:8God brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows.
- Deut 33:17The firstborn of his herd, majesty is his. His horns are the horns of the wild ox. With them he will push all the peoples, to the ends of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim. They are the thousands of Manasseh.”
- Job 39:9–11“Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough?
- Ps 22:21Save me from the lion’s mouth! Yes, from the horns of the wild oxen, you have answered me.
- Exod 20:2“I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
- Exod 9:16but indeed for this cause I have made you stand: to show you my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth;
- Ps 92:10But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox. I am anointed with fresh oil.
- Ps 68:35You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!
- Num 22:5He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me.
- Exod 14:18The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have gotten myself honor over Pharaoh, over his chariots, and over his horsemen.”
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 23:22 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.