Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version God met with him, and Balaam said, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.” New Living Translation and God met him there. Balaam said to him, “I have prepared seven altars and have sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar.” English Standard Version and God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, “I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.” Berean Standard Bible and God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.” Berean Literal Bible And God met with Balaam, and he said to Him, “Seven altars I have prepared, and I have offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” King James Bible And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. New King James Version And God met Balaam, and he said to Him, “I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.” New American Standard Bible Now God met with Balaam, and he said to Him, “I have set up the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.” NASB 1995 Now God met Balaam, and he said to Him, “I have set up the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.” NASB 1977 Now God met Balaam, and he said to Him, “I have set up the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.” Legacy Standard Bible Now God met Balaam, and he said to Him, “I have set up the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.” Amplified Bible Now God met Balaam, who said to Him, “I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” Berean Annotated Bible and God {Elohim} met with him (not of the people). “I have set up seven altars, Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram. Christian Standard Bible God met with him and Balaam said to him, “I have arranged seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” Holman Christian Standard Bible God met with him and Balaam said to Him, “I have arranged seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” American Standard Version And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar. Contemporary English Version When God appeared to him, Balaam said, "I have built seven altars and have sacrificed a bull and a ram on each one." English Revised Version And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar. GOD'S WORD® Translation God came to him, and Balaam said, "I have set up seven altars, and I offered a bull and a ram on each altar." Good News Translation and God met him. Balaam said to him, "I have built the seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each." International Standard Version where the LORD met with Balaam, who told him, "I've prepared seven altars and offered bulls and rams on an altar." NET Bible Then God met Balaam, who said to him, "I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram." New Heart English Bible And God met Balaam, and he said to him, "I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on every altar." Webster's Bible Translation And God met Balaam: and he said to him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleand God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.” World English Bible God met Balaam, and he said to him, “I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd God comes to Balaam, and he says to Him, “I have arranged the seven altars, and I offer a bullock and a ram on the altar”; Berean Literal Bible And God met with Balaam, and he said to Him, “Seven altars I have prepared, and I have offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” Young's Literal Translation And God cometh unto Balaam, and he saith unto Him, 'The seven altars I have arranged, and I offer a bullock and a ram on the altar;' Smith's Literal Translation And God will meet Balaam, and he will say to him, I arranged seven altars, and I will bring up a bullock and a ram upon the altar. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd when he was gone with speed, God met him. And Balaam speaking to him, said: I have erected seven altars, and have laid on everyone a calf and a ram. Catholic Public Domain Version And after he had quickly departed, God met with him. And Balaam, speaking to him, said: “I have set up seven altars, and I have placed a calf and a ram on each.” New American Bible Then God met Balaam, and Balak said to him: “I have erected the seven altars, and have offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” New Revised Standard Version Then God met Balaam; and Balaam said to him, “I have arranged the seven altars, and have offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd God appeared to Balaam and said to him, You have prepared seven altars, and have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And God was revealed to Balaam and said to him: “Seven altars you have prepared and you offered up bulls and rams on the altar.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And God met Balaam; and he said unto Him: 'I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And Balaam went to enquire of God; and he went straight forward, and God appeared to Balaam; and Balaam said to him, I have prepared the seven altars, and have offered a calf and a ram on every altar. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Balaam's First Oracle…3“Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone,” Balaam said to Balak. “Perhaps the LORD will meet with me. And whatever He reveals to me, I will tell you.” So Balaam went off to a barren height, 4and God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.” 5Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.”… Cross References God met with him. Numbers 22:9 Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?” Numbers 22:20 That 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.” Numbers 22:31 Then 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. “I have set up seven altars,” Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar. Exodus 24:4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Joshua 8:31 just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used.” And on it they offered burnt offerings to the LORD, and they sacrificed peace offerings. Balaam said, Numbers 22:18 But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. Numbers 24:13 that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I must speak whatever the LORD says. Numbers 24:15 Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.” Exodus 29:1-3 “Now this is what you are to do to consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without blemish, / along with unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil. Make them out of fine wheat flour, / put them in a basket, and present them in the basket, along with the bull and the two rams. Leviticus 8:14-17 Moses then brought the bull near for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. / Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood, and applied it with his finger to all four horns of the altar, purifying the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement could be made on it. / Moses also took all the fat that was on the entrails, the lobe of the liver, and both kidneys and their fat, and burned it all on the altar. … Job 42:8 So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.” Genesis 22:11-12 Just then the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. / “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.” Exodus 3:4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered. 1 Kings 18:36-37 At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command. / Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.” 1 Samuel 3:10 Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” Treasury of Scripture And God met Balaam: and he said to him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. God Numbers 23:16 And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus. Numbers 22:9,20 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? … I have prepared Numbers 23:1 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. Isaiah 58:3,4 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours… Matthew 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. Jump to Previous Altar Altars Arranged Balaam Bull Bullock Disposed Male Met Offer Offered Offering Ox Prepared Ram Ready SevenJump to Next Altar Altars Arranged Balaam Bull Bullock Disposed Male Met Offer Offered Offering Ox Prepared Ram Ready SevenNumbers 23 1. Balak's sacrificesand God met with him. This phrase indicates a divine encounter, emphasizing God's sovereignty and willingness to engage with individuals outside of Israel, such as Balaam. In the broader biblical narrative, God often meets with His chosen servants, such as Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:20). This meeting underscores God's control over the situation, despite Balaam's pagan background. It also highlights the theme of God's omnipresence and His ability to use anyone to fulfill His purposes, as seen in other instances like Cyrus in Isaiah 45:1. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.” Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe sovereign deity of Israel, who communicates with Balaam in this passage. 2. Balaam A non-Israelite prophet or diviner hired by Balak to curse Israel, yet God uses him to bless Israel instead. 3. Balak The king of Moab who fears the Israelites and seeks Balaam's help to curse them. 4. Seven Altars The altars prepared by Balaam as part of a ritualistic attempt to gain favor with God. 5. Bulls and Rams Sacrificial animals offered by Balaam on the altars, symbolizing an attempt to appease or communicate with God. Teaching Points God's SovereigntyDespite human intentions, God's will prevails. Balaam's attempt to curse Israel is overridden by God's plan to bless them. This teaches us to trust in God's ultimate control over circumstances. The Futility of Ritual without Relationship Balaam's sacrifices, though numerous, do not manipulate God. This underscores the importance of a genuine relationship with God over mere ritualistic practices. God's Use of Unlikely Instruments God can use anyone, even a pagan prophet like Balaam, to accomplish His purposes. This encourages us to remain open to God's work through unexpected people and situations. The Importance of Obedience Balaam's account reminds us that obedience to God is crucial. Even when pressured by Balak, Balaam ultimately speaks only what God commands, illustrating the importance of aligning our actions with God's will. The Power of Blessing The account highlights the power of blessing over cursing. As believers, we are called to bless others, reflecting God's love and grace in our interactions. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Numbers 23:4?2. How does Numbers 23:4 demonstrate God's sovereignty in Balaam's encounter with Him? 3. What can we learn about obedience from Balaam's response to God's instructions? 4. How does God's interaction with Balaam connect to His guidance in our lives? 5. In what ways can we seek God's direction as Balaam did in Numbers 23:4? 6. How does Balaam's experience encourage us to listen for God's voice today? 7. How does Numbers 23:4 demonstrate God's communication with humans? 8. Why did God choose to meet Balaam in Numbers 23:4? 9. What is the significance of altars in Numbers 23:4? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 23? 11. What is unknowingly worshiping according to the Bible? 12. Is God a man according to Numbers 23:19? 13. Numbers 23: Why does this chapter imply a favorable view of Israel among foreign nations while other Old Testament accounts describe hostility and conflict? 14. If God permitted Balaam to go (Numbers 22:20), why did He become angry with him later (Numbers 22:22)? What Does Numbers 23:4 Mean and God met with him• “And God met with Balaam” (Numbers 23:4a) shows the Lord taking the initiative. Balaam does not conjure or manipulate; the Almighty graciously comes to him, underscoring divine sovereignty (cf. Exodus 3:4; 1 Kings 19:11-13). • The scene reminds us that whenever God engages a person—even a flawed prophet—His word stands supreme (Isaiah 55:10-11). • God’s willingness to meet Balaam also highlights His overarching plan for Israel’s blessing in the face of Moabite opposition (Genesis 12:3; Numbers 22:12). I have set up seven altars • Balaam’s report, “I have set up seven altars,” reflects careful preparation (Genesis 8:20; Job 42:8). • The number seven often signals completeness (Joshua 6:4-5), implying Balaam believes he has offered a full, impressive worship package. • Yet the emphasis is not on Balaam’s effort but on God’s response; human ritual never obligates the Lord (1 Samuel 15:22). and on each altar • The phrase underscores thoroughness—sacrifice replicated seven times. Compare Israel’s twelve pillars representing the tribes (Exodus 24:4); repetition can signify earnestness. • Still, repetition alone does not guarantee divine favor. God assesses hearts, not volume (Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 6:7). I have offered a bull and a ram • Bulls and rams were costly burnt offerings (Leviticus 1:3-5; 8:18-21), symbolizing total surrender. • Balaam presents both animals on every altar, a lavish display paralleling Job 1:5’s regular sacrifices for his children. • Yet the narrative soon proves that no amount of expense can sway God against His covenant people (Numbers 23:8, 20). summary Numbers 23:4 records God’s sovereign meeting with Balaam, who responds by highlighting his elaborate sevenfold sacrificial ritual. While Balaam’s actions seem impressive, the account stresses that divine initiative, not human ceremony, determines the outcome. God listens, but He remains unbribable and steadfast to His promise of blessing Israel. The verse reminds us that meeting with God is always on His terms, and true worship rests in obedience and faith rather than in multiplied offerings. Verse 4. - I have prepared seven altars. Balaam, acting for the king of Moab, his heathen patron, in this difficult business, points out to God that he had given him the full quota of sacrifices to begin with. It was implied in this reminder that God would naturally feel disposed to do something for Balaam in return.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew and Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative met וַיִּקָּ֥ר (way·yiq·qār) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7136: To light upon, to bring about, to impose timbers with אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to him. בִּלְעָ֑ם (bil·‘ām) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1109: Balaam -- a prophet “I have set up עָרַ֔כְתִּי (‘ā·raḵ·tî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 6186: To set in a, row, arrange, put in order seven שִׁבְעַ֤ת (šiḇ·‘aṯ) Number - masculine singular construct Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number altars,” הַֽמִּזְבְּחֹת֙ (ham·miz·bə·ḥōṯ) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4196: An altar Balaam said, וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “and on each altar בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ (bam·miz·bê·aḥ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4196: An altar I have offered וָאַ֛עַל (wā·’a·‘al) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively a bull פָּ֥ר (pār) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6499: Young bull, steer and a ram.” וָאַ֖יִל (wā·’a·yil) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 352: Strength, strong, a chief, a ram, a pilaster, an oak, strong tree Links Numbers 23:4 NIVNumbers 23:4 NLT Numbers 23:4 ESV Numbers 23:4 NASB Numbers 23:4 KJV Numbers 23:4 BibleApps.com Numbers 23:4 Biblia Paralela Numbers 23:4 Chinese Bible Numbers 23:4 French Bible Numbers 23:4 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 23:4 God met Balaam: and he said (Nu Num.) |
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