Numbers 23 · Verse 10

Numbers 23:10

Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!
Numbers 23:10, King James Version

Numbers 23:10 in other translations

BSBWho can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous; let my end be like theirs!”
WEBWho can count the dust of Jacob, or count the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous! Let my last end be like his!”
ASVWho can count the dust of Jacob, Or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, And let my last end be like his!
YLTWho hath counted the dust of Jacob, And the number of the fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of upright ones, And let my last end be like his!'
DARBYWho can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let my soul die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his!
BBEWho is able to take the measure of the dust of Jacob or the number of the thousands of Israel? May my death be the death of the upright and my last end like his!
WebsterWho can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

What does Numbers 23:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. Who can count the dust of Jacob?--an Oriental hyperbole for a very populous nation, as Jacob's posterity was promised to be (Ge 13:16; 28:14). the number of the fourth part of Israel--that is, the camp consisted of four divisions; every one of these parts was formidable in numbers. Let me die the death of the righteous--Hebrew, "of Jeshurun"; or, the Israelites. The meaning is: they are a people happy, above all others, not only in life, but at death, from their knowledge of the true God, and their hope through His grace. Balaam is a representative of a large class in the world, who express a wish for the blessedness which Christ has promised to His people but are averse to imitate the mind that was in Him.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 Let me die the death of the righteous - Probably Balaam had some presentiment that he should be taken off by a premature death, and therefore he lodges this petition against it. The death of the righteous in those times implied being gathered to one's fathers in a good old age, having seen his children, and children's children; and to this, probably, the latter part of this petition applies: And let my last end be like his, (ותהי אחריתי כמהו uthehi acharithi chamohu, And let my Posterity be like his). It has been generally supposed that Balaam is here praying for a happy death, such as true Christians die who die in the Lord; and in this way his words are generally applied; but I am satisfied this is not their meaning. The prayer, however, understood in the common way, is a good one, and may be offered to God profitably. A righteous man is one who is saved from his sins, who is justified and sanctified through the blood of the covenant, and who lives, not only an innocent, but also a holy and useful life. He who would die well should live well; for a bad death must be the issue of a bad life.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 23:1-10

With the camps of Israel full in view, Balaam ordered seven altars to be built, and a bullock and a ram to be offered on each. Oh the sottishness of superstition, to imagine that God will be at man's beck! The curse is turned into a blessing, by the overruling power of God, in love to Israel. God designed to serve his own glory by Balaam, and therefore met him. If God put a word into the mouth of Balaam, who would…

Read the full comment on Numbers 23:1-10 →

Numbers 23:10 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.

מִ֤יmiwho?H4310
מָנָה֙ma.Nahhas he countedH4487
עֲפַ֣ר'a.Far[the] dust ofH6083
יַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoJacobH3290
וּמִסְפָּ֖רu.mis.Parand a numberH4557
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
רֹ֣בַעRoa'[the] fourth part ofH7255
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
תָּמֹ֤תta.Motlet it dieH4191
נַפְשִׁי֙naf.Shiself myH5315
מ֣וֹתMot[the] death ofH4194
יְשָׁרִ֔יםye.sha.Rimupright [people]H3477
וּתְהִ֥יu.te.Hiand let it beH1961
אַחֲרִיתִ֖י'a.cha.ri.Tiend myH319
כָּמֹֽהוּ\׃ka.Mo.hulike hisH3644

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

Cross references for Numbers 23:10

  • Genesis 13:16

    And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

  • Psalms 37:37

    Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

  • Psalms 116:15

    Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

  • Revelation 14:13

    And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:1

    For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

  • 2 Timothy 4:6-8

    For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

  • Genesis 22:17

    That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

  • Isaiah 57:1-2

    The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

  • Numbers 2:9

    All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.

  • Genesis 28:14

    And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

  • Numbers 2:24

    All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.

  • Proverbs 14:32

    The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
can count.
Ge 13:16; 22:17; 28:14
the dust. i.e.,The posterity of Jacob, which was to be so numerous as to resemble the dust.
the fourth.
2:9,16,24,31
me. Heb. my soul, or, my life. the death.
Ps 37:37; 116:15; Pr 14:32; Isa 57:1,2; Lu 2:29,30; 1Co 3:21,22
1Co 15:53-57; 2Co 5:1; Php 1:21-23; 2Ti 4:6-8; 2Pe 1:13-15
Re 14:13

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

Context

  • Numbers 23:9

    For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.

  • Numbers 23:10

    Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

  • Numbers 23:11

    And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.

Read all of Numbers 23

Numbers 23:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Quién contará el polvo de Jacob, o el número de la cuarta parte de Israel? Muera mi persona de la muerte de los rectos, y mi postrimería sea como la suya.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Qui est-ce qui comptera la poussière de Jacob, et le nombre de la quatrième partie d’Israël? Que mon âme meure de la mort des hommes droits, et que ma fin soit comme la leur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer könnte zählen den Staub Jakobs und, der Zahl nach, den vierten Teil Israels? Meine Seele sterbe den Tod der Rechtschaffenen, und mein Ende sei gleich dem ihrigen!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quis dinumerare possit pulverem Jacob, et nosse numerum stirpis Israël? Moriatur anima mea morte justorum, et fiant novissima mea horum similia.