Numbers 23:15
New International Version
Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over there.”

New Living Translation
Then Balaam said to the king, “Stand here by your burnt offerings while I go over there to meet the LORD.”

English Standard Version
Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet the LORD over there.”

Berean Standard Bible
Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet the LORD over there.”

King James Bible
And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder.

New King James Version
And he said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offering while I meet the LORD over there.”

New American Standard Bible
Then he said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offering while I myself meet the LORD over there.”

NASB 1995
And he said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offering while I myself meet the LORD over there.”

NASB 1977
And he said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I myself meet the LORD yonder.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And he said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offering while I myself meet Yahweh over there.”

Amplified Bible
Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offering while I go to meet the LORD over there.”

Christian Standard Bible
Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here by your burnt offering while I seek the LORD over there.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here by your burnt offering while I seek the LORD over there.”

American Standard Version
And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt-offering, while I meet Jehovah yonder.

Contemporary English Version
"Wait here beside your offerings," Balaam said. "The LORD will appear to me over there."

English Revised Version
And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet with God over there."

Good News Translation
Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offering, and I will meet God over there."

International Standard Version
Then he told Balak, "Stand by your offering while I go alone to meet the LORD."

Majority Standard Bible
Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet the LORD over there.”

NET Bible
And Balaam said to Balak, "Station yourself here by your burnt offering, while I meet the LORD there.

New Heart English Bible
He said to Balak, "Station yourself here by your burnt offering, while I meet over there."

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to Balak, Stand here by thy burnt-offering, while I meet the LORD yonder.

World English Bible
He said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet God over there.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he says to Balak, “Station yourself here by your burnt-offering, and I meet [Him] there”;

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith unto Balak, 'Station thyself here by thy burnt-offering, and I -- I meet Him there;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to Balak, Stand here by thy burnt-offering, and I will meet there.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He said to Balac: Stand here by thy burnt offering while I go to meet him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
he said to Balak, “Stand here next to your holocaust, while I continue on to meet him.”

New American Bible
Balaam then said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offering, while I seek a meeting over there.”

New Revised Standard Version
Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offerings, while I meet the LORD over there.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Balaam said to Balak, Stand here by your burnt offerings while I go yonder.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Balaam said to Balaq: “Arise here with your burnt offerings and I shall come as far as here.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he said unto Balak: 'Stand here by thy burnt-offering, while I go toward a meeting yonder.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Balaam said to Balac, Stand by thy sacrifice, and I will go to enquire of God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Balaam's Second Oracle
14So Balak took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, where he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 15Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet the LORD over there.” 16And the LORD met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and speak what I tell you.”…

Cross References
Numbers 24:1-2
And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not seek omens as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness. / When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,

Numbers 22:38-41
“See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.” / So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. / Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him. ...

Deuteronomy 18:18-19
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. / And I will hold accountable anyone who does not listen to My words that the prophet speaks in My name.

1 Samuel 9:9
(Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)

1 Kings 22:13-14
Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold now, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.” / But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”

Jeremiah 1:7-9
But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak. / Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. / Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

Ezekiel 13:1-3
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD! / This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit yet have seen nothing.

Amos 3:7-8
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. / The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy?

Matthew 10:19-20
But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. / For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Matthew 12:18
“Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.

Luke 1:70
as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,

John 12:49-50
I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. / And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.”

Acts 3:22-23
For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He tells you. / Everyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among his people.’

Acts 10:34-36
Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, / but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. / He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Romans 12:6
We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;


Treasury of Scripture

And he said to Balak, Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder.

Numbers 23:3
And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.

Numbers 22:8
And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

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Numbers 23
1. Balak's sacrifices














Balaam said to Balak
This phrase introduces us to Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, and Balak, the king of Moab. Balaam's role is unique as he is a prophet outside of the Israelite tradition, yet he is used by God to deliver His messages. Historically, Balaam is a complex figure, often seen as a diviner for hire, yet God chooses to speak through him. This highlights God's sovereignty and ability to use any person or situation to fulfill His divine purposes. The interaction between Balaam and Balak sets the stage for a confrontation between human intentions and divine will.

Stay here beside your burnt offering
The burnt offering is a significant element in ancient religious practices, symbolizing atonement and dedication to God. In the Hebrew context, the burnt offering ('olah) was a way to seek favor or communicate with the divine. Here, Balak's offering is meant to invoke a curse on Israel, but it underscores the futility of human attempts to manipulate divine will. Theologically, it reminds us that true worship and offerings must align with God's purposes and commands, not human desires.

while I meet the LORD over there
Balaam's intention to "meet the LORD" indicates a direct encounter with the divine, a privilege and responsibility for a prophet. The Hebrew term for "meet" (qarah) suggests an intentional and significant encounter. This phrase emphasizes the personal nature of Balaam's communication with God, contrasting with Balak's distant and transactional approach. It serves as a reminder that genuine spiritual encounters require personal engagement and submission to God's will. Historically, this moment is pivotal as it demonstrates God's control over the situation, ensuring that His blessing on Israel cannot be overturned by human schemes.

Verse 15. - While I meet the Lord yonder. Rather, "and I will go and meet thus." וְאָנֹכִי אִקָּרֶה כֹּה. Balaam does not say whom or what he is going to meet, but from the use of the same term in chapter 24. I it is evident that he employed the language of soothsayers looking for auguries. He may have spoken vaguely on purpose, because he was in truth acting a part with Balak.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Balaam said
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Balak,
בָּלָ֔ק (bā·lāq)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1111: Balak -- 'devastator', a Moabite king

“Stay
הִתְיַצֵּ֥ב (hiṯ·yaṣ·ṣêḇ)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3320: To set or station oneself, take one's stand

here
כֹּ֖ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

beside
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

your burnt offering
עֹלָתֶ֑ךָ (‘ō·lā·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5930: Whole burnt offering

while I
וְאָנֹכִ֖י (wə·’ā·nō·ḵî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

meet [the LORD]
אִקָּ֥רֶה (’iq·qā·reh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7136: To light upon, to bring about, to impose timbers

over there.”
כֹּֽה׃ (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now


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OT Law: Numbers 23:15 He said to Balak Stand here (Nu Num.)
Numbers 23:14
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