Numbers 24 · Verse 9

Numbers 24:9

He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
Numbers 24:9, King James Version

Numbers 24:9 in other translations

BSBHe crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”
WEBHe couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed.”
ASVHe couched, he lay down as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, And cursed be every one that curseth thee.
YLTHe hath bent, he hath lain down as a lion, And as a lioness: who doth raise him up? He who is blessing thee is blessed, And he who is cursing thee is cursed.'
DARBYHe stooped, he lay down like a lion, and like a lioness: who will stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
BBEHe took his sleep stretched out like a lion, and like a she-lion: by whom will his rest be broken? May a blessing be on everyone who gives you blessing, and a curse on everyone by whom you are cursed.
WebsterHe couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall rouse him? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

What does Numbers 24:9 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, etc. - See the original terms explained Num 23:24 (note). These oracles, delivered by Balaam, are evident prophecies of the victories which the Israelites should gain over their enemies, and of their firm possession of the promised land. They may also refer to the great victories to be obtained by the Lord Jesus Christ, that Lion of the tribe of Judah, over sin, death, and Satan, the grand enemies of the human race; and to that most numerous posterity of spiritual children which should be begotten by the preaching of the Gospel.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 24:1-9

Now Balaam spake not his own sense, but the language of the Spirit that came upon him. Many have their eyes open who have not their hearts open; are enlightened, but not sanctified. That knowledge which puffs men up with pride, will but serve to light them to hell, whither many go with their eyes open. The blessing is nearly the same as those given before. He admires in Israel, their beauty. The righteous…

Read the full comment on Numbers 24:1-9 →

Numbers 24:9 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.

כָּרַ֨עka.Ra'it crouchedH3766
שָׁכַ֧בsha.Khavit lay downH7901
כַּאֲרִ֛יka.'a.Rilike a lionH738
וּכְלָבִ֖יאu.khe.la.Vi'and like a lionH3833
מִ֣יmiwho?H4310
יְקִימֶ֑נּוּye.ki.Me.nuwill he rouse itH6965
מְבָרֲכֶ֣יךָme.va.ra.Khei.kha[those who] bless youH1288
בָר֔וּךְva.Rukh[be] blessedH1288
וְאֹרְרֶ֖יךָve.'o.re.Rei.khaand [those who] curse youH779
אָרֽוּר\׃'a.Rur[be] cursedH779

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

Cross references for Numbers 24:9

  • Genesis 12:3

    And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

  • Genesis 27:29

    Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

  • Genesis 49:9

    Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?

  • Numbers 23:24

    Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.

  • Matthew 25:45

    Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

  • Job 38:39-40

    Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

  • Matthew 25:40

    And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

  • Acts 9:5

    And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

  • Job 41:10

    None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

  • Psalms 2:12

    Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

  • Psalms 122:6

    Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
couched.
Ge 49:9; Job 38:39,40
who shall.
23:24; Job 41:10; Ps 2:12
Blessed.
Ge 12:3; 27:29; Ps 122:6; Mt 25:40,45; Ac 9:5

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

Context

  • Numbers 24:8

    God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

  • Numbers 24:9

    He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

  • 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.

Read all of Numbers 24

Numbers 24:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Se encorvará para echarse como león, y como leona; ¿quién lo despertará? Benditos los que te bendijeren, y malditos los que te maldijeren.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Il s’est courbé, il s’est couché comme un lion, et comme une lionne: qui le fera lever? Bénis sont ceux qui te bénissent, et maudits sont ceux qui te maudissent.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Er duckt sich, er legt sich nieder wie ein Löwe und wie eine Löwin; wer will ihn aufreizen? Die dich segnen, sind gesegnet, und die dich verfluchen, sind verflucht!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Accubans dormivit ut leo, et quasi leæna, quam suscitare nullus audebit. Qui benedixerit tibi, erit et ipse benedictus: qui maledixerit, in maledictione reputabitur.