Numbers 24 · Verse 11

Numbers 24:11

Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour.
Numbers 24:11, King James Version

Numbers 24:11 in other translations

BSBTherefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”
WEBTherefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, the LORD has kept you back from honor.”
ASVTherefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honor.
YLTand now, flee for thyself unto thy place; I have said, I do greatly honour thee, and lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honour.'
DARBYAnd now flee thou to thy place; I said I would very highly honour thee, and behold, Jehovah has kept thee back from honour.
BBEGo back quickly to the place you came from: it was my purpose to give you a place of honour, but now the Lord has kept you back from honour.
WebsterTherefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee to great honor; but lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honor.

What does Numbers 24:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 24:10-14

10-14. Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together--The "smiting of the hands together" is, among Oriental people, an indication of the most violent rage (see Eze 21:17; 22:13) and ignominious dismissal.

Read the full comment on Numbers 24:10-14 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 Lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honor - A bitter and impious sarcasm. "Hadst thou cursed this people, I would have promoted thee to great honor; but thou hast chosen to follow the directions of Jehovah rather than mine, and what will he do for thee?"

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 24:10-14

This vain attempt to curse Israel is ended. Balak broke out into a rage against Balaam, and expressed great vexation. Balaam has a very full excuse; God restrained him from saying what he would have said, and constrained him to say what he would not have uttered.

Read the full comment on Numbers 24:10-14 →

Numbers 24:11 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.

וְעַתָּ֖הve.'a.Tahand thereforeH6258
בְּרַח\־be.rach-fleeH1272
לְךָ֣le.Khafor <the> yourself
אֶל\־'el-toH413
מְקוֹמֶ֑ךָme.ko.Me.chaplace yourH4725
אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙'a.Mar.tiI saidH559
כַּבֵּ֣דka.Bedsurely <honor>H3513
אֲכַבֶּדְךָ֔'a.kha.bed.KhaI will honor youH3513
וְהִנֵּ֛הve.hi.Nehand here!H2009
מְנָעֲךָ֥me.na.'a.Khahe has withheld youH4513
יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahwehH3068
מִכָּבֽוֹד\׃mi.ka.Vodfrom honorH3519

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

Cross references for Numbers 24:11

  • Numbers 22:17

    For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

  • Numbers 22:37

    And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?

  • Acts 8:20

    But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

  • Philippians 3:8

    Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

  • 1 Peter 5:2-3

    Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

  • 2 John 1:8

    Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

  • Hebrews 11:24-26

    By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

  • Matthew 19:28-30

    And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I thought.
22:17,37
the Lord.
Mt 19:28-30; Ac 8:20; Php 3:8; Heb 11:24-26; 1Pe 5:2,3; 2Jo 1:8

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

Context

  • Numbers 24:10

    And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

  • Numbers 24:11

    Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour.

  • Numbers 24:12

    And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,

Read all of Numbers 24

Numbers 24:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Húyete, por tanto, ahora á tu lugar: yo dije que te honraría, mas he aquí que Jehová te ha privado de honra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et maintenant, fuis en ton lieu. J’avais dit que je te comblerais d’honneurs; et voici, l’ Éternel t’a empêché d’en recevoir.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und nun fliehe an deinen Ort. Ich hatte gesagt, ich wolle dich hoch ehren; und siehe, Jehova hat dir die Ehre verwehrt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
revertere ad locum tuum. Decreveram quidem magnifice honorare te, sed Dominus privavit te honore disposito.