Numbers 22:30

Verse

But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he replied.

American Standard Version (1901)

And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.

Bible in Basic English

And the ass said to Balaam, Am I not your ass upon which you have gone all your life till this day? and have I ever done this to you before? And he said, No.

Free Bible Version

But the donkey asked Balaam, “Aren't I the donkey you've ridden all your life right up to today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he admitted.

King James (Authorized) Version

And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

One Unity Resource Bible

The donkey said to Balaam [Not people, Destroyer of people], “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” He said, “No.”

Translation for Translators

But the donkey answered, “I am your own donkey [RHQ], the one that you have always ridden! Have I ever done anything like this previously?” Balaam said, “No.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

The donkey said to Balaam, “Am not I your donkey on which you have ridden all your life long to this present day? Have I ever been in the habit of doing such things to you before?” Balaam said, “No.”

Noah Webster Bible

And the ass said to Balaam, Am not I thy ass, upon which thou hast rid ever since I was thine to this day? was I ever wont to do so to thee? And he said, Nay.

World English Bible

The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” He said, “No.”

Young's Literal Translation

and the ass saith unto Balaam, 'Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden since [I was] thine unto this day? have I at all been accustomed to do to thee thus?' and he saith, 'No.'

Context

The Angel and Balaam’s Donkey

²⁹Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!” ³⁰But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he replied.

Summary

In this verse, Balaam's donkey speaks to him after being miraculously enabled by God. The donkey questions Balaam's actions and reveals the angel of the Lord standing in the way with a drawn sword. This extraordinary event serves as a warning to Balaam and highlights God's ability to use any means to communicate His message and protect His people. It also demonstrates God's sovereignty over all creation, including animals, and His willingness to intervene in human affairs for the purpose of fulfilling His divine plan.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times,.... The ass saw the angel when Balaam did not, and that was the reason of its turning aside; and it was well for him it did, and therefore he should not have smote it: unless she had turned from me; if she had pushed on, endeavouring to make her way: surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive; had certainly and only slain him, and not the ass; and from hence the Jewish writers (t) gather, that the ass was now slain, lest it should be said, this is the ass that spoke, and so be made an idol of. (t) Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 20. fol. 227. 4. Aben Ezra in loc.