Numbers 24:8
New International Version
“God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them.

New Living Translation
God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox. He devours all the nations that oppose him, breaking their bones in pieces, shooting them with arrows.

English Standard Version
God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces and pierce them through with his arrows.

Berean Standard Bible
God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.

King James Bible
God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

New King James Version
“God brings him out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox; He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones And pierce them with his arrows.

New American Standard Bible
“God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He will devour the nations who are his adversaries, And will crush their bones, And smash them with his arrows.

NASB 1995
“God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He will devour the nations who are his adversaries, And will crush their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows.

NASB 1977
“God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He shall devour the nations who are his adversaries, And shall crush their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows.

Legacy Standard Bible
God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He will devour the nations who are his adversaries, And will gnaw their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows.

Amplified Bible
“God brought Israel out of Egypt; Israel has strength like the wild ox; He will devour [Gentile] nations, his adversaries (enemies), And will crush their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows.

Christian Standard Bible
God brought him out of Egypt; he is like the horns of a wild ox for them. He will feed on enemy nations and gnaw their bones; he will strike them with his arrows.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
God brought him out of Egypt; He is like the horns of a wild ox for them. He will feed on enemy nations and gnaw their bones; he will strike them with his arrows.

American Standard Version
God bringeth him forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, And shall break their bones in pieces, And smite them through with his arrows.

Contemporary English Version
With the strength of a wild ox, God led you out of Egypt. You will defeat your enemies, shooting them with arrows and crushing their bones.

English Revised Version
God bringeth him forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, And shall break their bones in pieces, And smite them through with his arrows.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The God who brought them out of Egypt has the strength of a wild bull. He will devour nations that are his enemies, crush their bones, and pierce them with arrows.

Good News Translation
God brought them out of Egypt; He fights for them like a wild ox. They devour their enemies, Crush their bones, smash their arrows.

International Standard Version
God is bringing them out of Egypt with the strength of an ox. He'll devour enemy nations, break their bones, and impale them with arrows.

Majority Standard Bible
God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.

NET Bible
God brought them out of Egypt. They have, as it were, the strength of a young bull; they will devour hostile people and will break their bones and will pierce them through with arrows.

New Heart English Bible
God 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.

Webster's Bible Translation
God brought him forth from Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of a unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

World English Bible
God brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall consume the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
God is bringing him out of Egypt, "" As the swiftness of a wild ox for him, "" He eats up nations—his adversaries, "" And he breaks their bones, "" And he strikes [with] his arrows.

Young's Literal Translation
God is bringing him out of Egypt; As the swiftness of a Reem is to him, He eateth up nations his adversaries, And their bones he breaketh, And with his arrows he smiteth,

Smith's Literal Translation
God brought him forth out of Egypt; as the swiftness of the buffalo to him: he shall cut up the nations his enemies; he shall cut off their strong defenses, and he shall smite through his arrows.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
God hath brought him out of Egypt, whose strength is like to the rhinoceros. They shall devour the nations that are his enemies, and break their bones, and pierce them with arrows.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Away from Egypt, God has led him, whose strength is like the rhinoceros. They shall devour the nations that are his enemies, and break their bones, and pierce them with arrows.

New American Bible
They have the like of a wild ox’s horns: God who brought them out of Egypt. They will devour hostile nations, break their bones, and crush their loins.

New Revised Standard Version
God who brings him out of Egypt, is like the horns of a wild ox for him; he shall devour the nations that are his foes and break their bones. He shall strike with his arrows.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The God who brought them forth out of Egypt with his might and excellency, he shall devour the nations that are their enemies, and shall break their bones in pieces, and cut off their loins.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
God has brought them forth from Egypt by his strength and with his majesty he will consume the nations of his haters, and their bones He will break and their loins he will cut off.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
God who brought him forth out of Egypt Is for him like the lofty horns of the wild-ox; He shall eat up the nations that are his adversaries, And shall break their bones in pieces, And pierce them through with his arrows.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
God led him out of Egypt; he has as it were the glory of a unicorn: he shall consume the nations of his enemies, and he shall drain their marrow, and with his darts he shall shoot through the enemy.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Balaam's Third Oracle
7Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. 8God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows. 9He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”…

Cross References
Exodus 15:1-6
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea. / The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. / The LORD is a warrior, the LORD is His name. ...

Deuteronomy 33:17
His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.”

Psalm 92:10
But You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; with fine oil I have been anointed.

Psalm 89:24
My faithfulness and loving devotion will be with him, and through My name his horn will be exalted.

Isaiah 63:11-13
Then His people remembered the days of old, the days of Moses. Where is He who brought them through the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is the One who set His Holy Spirit among them, / who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown, / who led them through the depths like a horse in the wilderness, so that they did not stumble?

Isaiah 34:2-8
The LORD is angry with all the nations and furious with all their armies. He will devote them to destruction; He will give them over to slaughter. / Their slain will be left unburied, and the stench of their corpses will rise; the mountains will flow with their blood. / All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The skies will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree. ...

Jeremiah 51:20-23
“You are My war club, My weapon for battle. With you I shatter nations; with you I bring kingdoms to ruin. / With you I shatter the horse and rider; with you I shatter the chariot and driver. / With you I shatter man and woman; with you I shatter the old man and the youth; with you I shatter the young man and the maiden. ...

Ezekiel 39:17-20
And as for you, son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: Call out to every kind of bird and to every beast of the field: ‘Assemble and come together from all around to the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you, a great feast on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood. / You will eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls—all the fattened animals of Bashan. / At the sacrifice I am preparing, you will eat fat until you are gorged and drink blood until you are drunk. ...

Micah 5:8-9
Then the remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which tramples and tears as it passes through, with no one to rescue them. / Your hand will be lifted over your foes, and all your enemies will be cut off.

Habakkuk 3:13-14
You went forth for the salvation of Your people, to save Your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of the wicked and stripped him from head to toe. Selah / With his own spear You pierced his head, when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though ready to secretly devour the weak.

Revelation 19:15
And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Revelation 19:11-16
Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. / He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. / He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. ...

Revelation 2:26-27
And to the one who overcomes and continues in My work until the end, I will give authority over the nations. / He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery—just as I have received authority from My Father.

Revelation 12:5
And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

1 Corinthians 15:25
For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.


Treasury of Scripture

God brought him forth out of Egypt; he has as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

couched

Genesis 49:9
Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?

Job 38:39,40
Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, …

who shall

Numbers 23:24
Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.

Job 41:10
None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

Psalm 2:12
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

blessed

Genesis 12:3
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Genesis 27:29
Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

Psalm 122:6
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

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Adversaries Arrows Bones Break Breaketh Broken Buffalo Crush Devour Eat Egypt Enemies Horns Hostile Lofty Nations Ox Pieces Pierce Reem Shatter Smiteth Strength Swiftness Unicorn Warring Wild Wild-Ox Wounded
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Adversaries Arrows Bones Break Breaketh Broken Buffalo Crush Devour Eat Egypt Enemies Horns Hostile Lofty Nations Ox Pieces Pierce Reem Shatter Smiteth Strength Swiftness Unicorn Warring Wild Wild-Ox Wounded
Numbers 24
1. Balaam, leaving divinations, prophesies the happiness of Israel
10. Balak, in anger, dismisses him
15. He prophesies of the Star of Jacob, and the destruction of some nations














God brought him out of Egypt
This phrase highlights the divine intervention and deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. The Hebrew word for "God" here is "El," emphasizing the might and power of God as a deliverer. The historical context is the Exodus, a foundational event for Israel, symbolizing liberation and the beginning of a covenant relationship with God. This deliverance is a recurring theme in Scripture, reminding believers of God's faithfulness and power to save.

He is as strong as a wild ox
The comparison to a "wild ox" (Hebrew: "re'em") signifies immense strength and untamed power. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the wild ox was a symbol of might and virility. This imagery conveys the idea that Israel, under God's guidance, possesses formidable strength and resilience. It serves as an encouragement to believers that with God, they too can be strong and overcome challenges.

He devours nations, and crushes their bones
This vivid imagery speaks to the military victories and dominance that Israel, empowered by God, would achieve over its enemies. The act of devouring and crushing bones indicates total defeat and destruction. Historically, this reflects the conquests during the time of Joshua and the establishment of Israel in the Promised Land. Spiritually, it reassures believers of God's ultimate victory over evil.

He pierces them with his arrows
The use of arrows symbolizes precision and effectiveness in battle. In the ancient world, arrows were a key weapon in warfare, representing skill and the ability to strike from a distance. This phrase suggests that Israel's victories are not only due to brute strength but also strategic prowess granted by God. For Christians, it is a reminder of the spiritual armor and weapons provided by God to fight spiritual battles effectively.

(8) God brought him forth out of Egypt.--(Comp. Numbers 23:22, and Note.)

Verse 8. - And shall break their bones. יְגָרֵם (cf. Ezekiel 23:34) seems to mean "crush" or "smash." The Septuagint has ἐκμυελιε1FC0;ι, "shall suck out," i.e., the marrow, but the word does not seem to bear this meaning. Pierce them through with his arrows, or, "dash in pieces his arrows," i.e., the arrows shot at him. חִצָּיו יְמִחָצ. The difficulty is the possessive suffix to "arrows," which is in the singular; otherwise this rendering gives a much better sense, and more in keeping with the rest of the passage The image in Balaam's mind is evidently that of a terrible wild beast devouring his enemies, stamping them underfoot, and dashing to pieces in his fury the arrows or darts which they vainly launch against him (compare the imagery in Daniel 7:7).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
God
אֵ֚ל (’êl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty

brought him
מוֹצִיא֣וֹ (mō·w·ṣî·’ōw)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

out of Egypt
מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם (mim·miṣ·ra·yim)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

with strength
כְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥ת (kə·ṯō·w·‘ă·p̄ōṯ)
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 8443: Weariness, toil, speed

like a wild ox,
רְאֵ֖ם (rə·’êm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7214: A wild bull

to devour
יֹאכַ֞ל (yō·ḵal)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

hostile
צָרָ֗יו (ṣā·rāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6862: Narrow, a tight place, a pebble, an opponent

nations
גּוֹיִ֣ם (gō·w·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

and crush
יְגָרֵ֖ם (yə·ḡā·rêm)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1633: To bone, denude, the bones

their bones,
וְעַצְמֹתֵיהֶ֛ם (wə·‘aṣ·mō·ṯê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6106: A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame

to pierce them
יִמְחָֽץ׃ (yim·ḥāṣ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4272: To dash asunder, to crush, smash, violently plunge, to subdue, destroy

with arrows.
וְחִצָּ֥יו (wə·ḥiṣ·ṣāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2671: A piercer, an arrow, a wound, thunderbolt, the shaft of a, spear


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OT Law: Numbers 24:8 God brings him out of Egypt (Nu Num.)
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