King James Version
Numbers 24:2 in the King James Version says “And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God c...” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 24 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.”
Numbers 24:2 · KJV
And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. to seek: Heb. to the meeting of
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: whose: Heb. who had his eyes shut, but now opened
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:
KJV Study — Public Domain
“lifted up”
H5375to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
“his eyes”
H5869an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
“and he saw”
H7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
“Israel”
H3478he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
“in his tents according to their tribes”
H7626a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
“and the spirit”
H7307wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
“of God”
H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
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