the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
Parallel translations
- WEB he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:
- KJV He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
- NKJV The utterance of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open:
- NASB The declaration of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered,
- NLT the message of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
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 describes himself as one who hears God's words and sees the vision of the Almighty, falling prostrate with eyes opened. He stresses the divine source of his message.
Overview
The piling up of titles for God and descriptions of revelation emphasizes the authority behind the oracle. Balaam is overwhelmed by the vision, falling down yet seeing clearly, a portrait of a prophet gripped by divine disclosure. The repeated emphasis assures the reader that the blessing about to be spoken comes from the Almighty Himself, not from human invention.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Rev 1:17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,
- Rev 1:10On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
- Ezek 1:28The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.
- 2 Cor 12:1–4I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
- Num 12:6He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.
- Ps 89:19You once spoke in a vision; to Your godly ones You said, “I have bestowed help on a warrior; I have exalted one chosen from the people.
- Dan 8:17–18As he came near to where I stood, I was terrified and fell facedown. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”
- Gen 15:1After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
- Dan 8:26–27The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been spoken is true. Now you must seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”
- Acts 10:10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
- Dan 10:15–16While he was speaking these words to me, I set my face toward the ground and became speechless.
- Acts 22:17Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance
- Gen 15:12As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.
- 1 Sam 19:24Then Saul stripped off his robes and also prophesied before Samuel. And he collapsed and lay naked all that day and night. That is why it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
- Acts 10:19As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
- Num 22:31Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.
- Num 22:20That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”
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 24:4 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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