Numbers 22:6

Translations

Modern

So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”

Traditional

Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

Literal

And now, come please, curse for me this people, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I will be able to strike them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whom you bless is blessed, and whom you curse is cursed.”

Latin

Veni igitur, et maledic populo huic, quia fortior me est: si quomodo possim percutere et ejicere eum de terra mea. Novi enim quod benedictus sit cui benedixeris, et maledictus in quem maledicta congesseris.

Original

Hebrew

English

So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”

Notes

Numbers 22:5–6

Balaam was a pagan religious specialist called a diviner. A diviner was someone who claimed to receive messages from the spiritual world and predict the future. Balaam came from northwest Mesopotamia (see “Balaam” Profile).
Like many ancient peoples, the nations of Moab and Midian believed that spoken words had power. They believed that a blessing or a curse spoken by a skilled diviner could shape future events. Diviners claimed they had special power to discover and influence what would happen next (see Deuteronomy 18:14; 1 Samuel 6:2; 2 Kings 21:6; Isaiah 44:25; Daniel 2:1–12, 27–28; Micah 5:12; Zechariah 10:2).
Israel’s enemies asked Balaam to place curses on the Hebrews. They believed that his spoken words would harm them. In the ancient world, armies often spoke curses against their enemies before battle.
People in ancient Israel also believed that spoken words could have real effect, even when they were not part of divination (for example, Genesis 27:1–40; Deuteronomy 27:15–26; 1 Samuel 14:24–28; compare Matthew 21:18–22).
Pethor is probably the ancient city of Pitru (Numbers 22:5). It was located on the west side of the Euphrates River, south of Carchemish, about 640 kilometers (400 miles) from Moab.

Numbers 22:2–24:25

The story of Balak and Balaam marks an important turning point in Israel’s history. It includes humor, drama, and deep teaching about God.

The story makes one main point clear. The Lord’s will must be carried out. No one could stop his plan for Israel.

Theme notes and profiles

Balaam Moab and Ammon

Related verses

Numbers 24:9
He 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.”
Numbers 23:7–8
And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the mountains of the east. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me; come and denounce Israel!’
Ezekiel 13:6
They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.
Psalm 109:17–18
The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him.
1 Kings 22:6
So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
Acts 16:16
One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling.
Numbers 22:17
…for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”
1 Samuel 17:43
“Am I a dog,” he said to David, “that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
Genesis 27:29
May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.”
Numbers 22:12
But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”
Deuteronomy 23:4
For they did not meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you.
Nehemiah 13:2
…because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).

Glossary

Ammon, Ammonites Balaam Balak Curse, Cursed Deuteronomy, Book of False Prophets Jannes and Jambres Midian, Midianite Moab, Moabites Moses Numbers, Book of Prophets, False Shittim (Place) Zippor

Topics

Balaam: Balak Sends For, to Curse Israel Balak: Tries to Bribe Balaam to Curse Israel Curse: Barak Commands Balaam to Curse Israel Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: Balak Sends for Balaam Midianites with the Moabites: Sent for Balaam to Curse Israel Prayer: Imprecatory Sorcery: Practiced by Balaam

Numbers 22:6

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