Numbers 24 · Verse 23

Numbers 24:23

And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
Numbers 24:23, King James Version

Numbers 24:23 in other translations

BSBOnce more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it?
WEBHe took up his parable, and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?
ASVAnd he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this?
YLTAnd he taketh up his simile, and saith: ‘Alas! who doth live when God doth this?
DARBYAnd he took up his parable, and said, Alas! Who shall live when God doeth this?
BBEThen he went on with his story and said, But who may keep his life when God does this?
WebsterAnd he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

What does Numbers 24:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. who shall live when God doeth this!--Few shall escape the desolation that shall send a Nebuchadnezzar to scourge all those regions.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 Who shall live when God doeth this! - There are two senses in which these words may be taken: - 1. That the event is so distant that none then alive could possibly live to see it. 2. That the times would be so distressing and desolating that scarcely any should be able to escape. The words are very similar to those of our Lord, and probably are to be taken in the same sense: "Wo to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 24:15-25

Under the powerful influence of the Spirit of prophecy, Balaam foretold the future prosperity and extensive dominion of Israel. Balaam boasts that his eyes are open. The prophets were in old times called seers. He had heard the words of God, which many do who neither heed them, nor hear God in them. He knew the knowledge of the Most High. A man may be full of the knowledge of God, yet utterly destitute of the grace…

Read the full comment on Numbers 24:15-25 →

Numbers 24:23 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.

וַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'and he lifted upH5375
מְשָׁל֖וֹme.sha.Looracle hisH4912
וַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.Marand he saidH559
א֕וֹי'owoe!H188
מִ֥יmiwho?H4310
יִחְיֶ֖הyich.Yehwill he liveH2421
מִשֻּׂמ֥וֹmi.su.Mofrom when ordains itH7760
אֵֽל\׃'ElGodH410

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

Cross references for Numbers 24:23

  • Numbers 23:23

    Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!

  • Malachi 3:2

    But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

  • 2 Kings 5:1

    Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
when God.
23:23; 2Ki 5:1; Mal 3:2

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

Context

  • Numbers 24:22

    Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

  • Numbers 24:23

    And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

  • Numbers 24:24

    And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

Read all of Numbers 24

Numbers 24:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Todavía tomó su parábola, y dijo: ¡Ay! ¿quién vivirá cuando hiciere Dios estas cosas?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il proféra son discours sentencieux, et dit: Malheur! Qui vivra, quand ✶Dieu fera ces choses?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er hob seinen Spruch an und sprach: Wehe! Wer wird am Leben bleiben, sobald Gott dieses herbeiführt?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Assumptaque parabola iterum locutus est: Heu! quis victurus est, quando ista faciet Deus?