Numbers 22 · Verse 34

Numbers 22:34

And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
Numbers 22:34, King James Version

Numbers 22:34 in other translations

BSB“I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”
WEBBalaam said to the LORD’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again.”
ASVAnd Balaam said unto the angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
YLTAnd Balaam saith unto the messenger of Jehovah, ‘I have sinned, for I did not know that thou art standing to meet me in the way; and now, if evil in thine eyes--I turn back by myself.'
DARBYAnd Balaam said to the Angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me; and now, if it be evil in thine eyes, I will get me back again.
BBEAnd Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have done wrong, for I did not see that you were in the way against me: but now, if it is evil in your eyes, I will go back again.
WebsterAnd Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displeaseth thee, I will return again.

What does Numbers 22:34 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 22:34-35
34-35. I have sinned ... if it displease thee, I will get me back again--Notwithstanding this confession, he evinced no spirit of penitence, as he speaks of desisting only from the outward act. The words "go with the men" was a mere withdrawal of further restraint, but the terms in which leave was given are more absolute and peremptory than those in Nu 22:20.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 34 If it displease thee, I will get me back again - Here is a proof, that though he loved the wages of unrighteousness, yet he still feared God; and he is now willing to drop the enterprise if God be displeased with his proceeding. The piety of many called Christians does not extend thus far; they see that the thing displeases God, and yet they proceed. Reader, is this thy case?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 22:22-35

We must not think, that because God does not always by his providence restrain men from sin, therefore he approves of it, or that it is not hateful to him. The holy angels oppose sin, and perhaps are employed in preventing it more than we are aware. This angel was an adversary to Balaam, because Balaam counted him his adversary; those are really our best friends, and we ought so to reckon them, who stop our progress…

Read the full comment on Numbers 22:22-35 →

Numbers 22:34 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
בִּלְעָ֜םbil.'AmBalaamH1109
אֶל\־'el-toH413
מַלְאַ֤ךְmal.'Akh[the] angel ofH4397
יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahwehH3068
חָטָ֔אתִיcha.Ta.tiI have sinnedH2398
כִּ֚יkiforH3588
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
יָדַ֔עְתִּיya.Da'.tiI knewH3045
כִּ֥יkithatH3588
אַתָּ֛ה'a.TahyouH859
נִצָּ֥בni.Tzav[were] standingH5324
לִקְרָאתִ֖יlik.ra.Tito meet meH7122
בַּדָּ֑רֶךְba.Da.rekhin the roadH1870
וְעַתָּ֛הve.'a.Tahand thereforeH6258
אִם\־'im-ifH518
רַ֥עra'[it is] displeasingH7489
בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָbe.'ei.Nei.khain view yourH5869
אָשׁ֥וּבָה'a.Shu.vahI will turn backH7725
לִּֽי\׃Lifor <the> myself

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Numbers 22:34

  • 1 Samuel 15:24

    And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

  • Job 34:31-32

    Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

  • 2 Samuel 12:13

    And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

  • 1 Samuel 15:30

    Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.

  • 1 Samuel 26:21

    Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:7

    And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.

  • Matthew 27:4-5

    Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

  • Exodus 10:16-17

    Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only.

  • Numbers 14:40

    And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised: for we have sinned.

  • Numbers 22:12

    And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

  • 1 Samuel 24:17

    And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

  • Psalms 78:34

    When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I Have sinned.
Ex 9:27; 10:16,17; 1Sa 15:24,30; 24:17; 26:21; 2Sa 12:13
Job 34:31,32; Ps 78:34; Mt 27:4,5
if it displease thee. Heb. be evil in thine eyes.
12; 11:1; 1Ch 21:7; Pr 24:18; *margins
I will get.
Job 34:31,32

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Numbers 22:33

    And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.

  • Numbers 22:34

    And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

  • Numbers 22:35

    And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

Read all of Numbers 22

Numbers 22:34 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces Balaam dijo al ángel de Jehová: He pecado, que no sabía que tú te ponías delante de mí en el camino: mas ahora, si te parece mal, yo me volveré.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Balaam dit à l’Ange de l’ Éternel: J’ai péché, car je ne savais pas que tu t’étais placé à ma rencontre dans le chemin; et maintenant, si cela est mauvais à tes yeux, je m’en retournerai.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Bileam sprach zu dem Engel Jehovas: Ich habe gesündigt, denn ich wußte nicht, daß du mir auf dem Wege entgegenstandest; und nun, wenn es übel ist in deinen Augen, so will ich umkehren.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixit Balaam: Peccavi, nesciens quod tu stares contra me: et nunc si displicet tibi ut vadam, revertar.