Numbers 23 · Verse 4

Numbers 23:4

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.
Numbers 23:4, King James Version

Numbers 23:4 in other translations

BSBand God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”
WEBGod 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.”
ASVAnd 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.
YLTAnd 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;'
DARBYAnd God met Balaam; and Balaam said to him, I have disposed seven altars, and have offered up a bullock and a ram upon each altar.
BBEAnd God came to Balaam, and Balaam said to him, I have made ready seven altars, offering an ox and a male sheep on every altar.
WebsterAnd 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.

What does Numbers 23:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 23:4-6
4-6. God met Balaam--not in compliance with his incantations, but to frustrate his wicked designs and compel him, contrary to his desires and interests, to pronounce the following benediction [Nu 23:8-10].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · 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 23:4 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.

וַיִּקָּ֥רvai.yi.Karand he metH7136
אֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
אֶל\־'el-<to>H413
בִּלְעָ֑םbil.'AmBalaamH1109
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אֵלָ֗יו'e.Lavto himH413
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
שִׁבְעַ֤תshiv.'At[the] sevenH7651
הַֽמִּזְבְּחֹת֙ha.miz.be.Chotthe altarsH4196
עָרַ֔כְתִּי'a.Rakh.tiI have arrangedH6186
וָאַ֛עַלva.'A.'aland I have offered upH5927
פָּ֥רpara young bullH6499
וָאַ֖יִלva.'A.yiland a ramH352
בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ\׃ba.miz.Be.achon the altarH4196

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

Cross references for Numbers 23:4

  • Numbers 23:16

    And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.

  • Luke 18:12

    I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

  • Ephesians 2:9

    Not of works, lest any man should boast.

  • Numbers 22:20

    And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.

  • Romans 3:27

    Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

  • Numbers 23:1

    And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.

  • Numbers 22:9

    And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?

  • 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. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

  • 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.

  • John 16:2

    They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
God.
16; 22:9,20
I have prepared.
1; Isa 58:3,4; Mt 20:12; Lu 18:12; Joh 16:2; Ro 3:27; Eph 2:9

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

Context

  • Numbers 23:3

    And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the Lord will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.

  • Numbers 23:4

    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.

  • Numbers 23:5

    And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

Read all of Numbers 23

Numbers 23:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y vino Dios al encuentro de Balaam, y éste le dijo: Siete altares he ordenado, y en cada altar he ofrecido un becerro y un carnero.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Dieu rencontra Balaam, et Balaam lui dit: J’ai préparé sept autels, et j’ai offert un taureau et un bélier sur chaque autel.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Gott kam dem Bileam entgegen; und dieser sprach zu ihm: Die sieben Altäre habe ich zugerichtet und auf jedem Altar einen Farren und einen Widder geopfert.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cumque abiisset velociter, occurrit illi Deus. Locutusque ad eum Balaam: Septem, inquit, aras erexi, et imposui vitulum et arietem desuper.