Numbers 22:31
Numbers 22:31 in Multiple Translations
Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
Then the Lord made Balaam's eyes open, and he saw the angel of the Lord in the way with his sword in his hand: and he went down on his face to the earth.
Then the Lord gave Balaam the ability to see the angel of the Lord standing in the road holding a drawn sword. Balaam bowed low and fell facedown on the ground.
And the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he sawe the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword drawen in his hande: then he bowed him selfe, and fell flat on his face.
And Jehovah uncovereth the eyes of Balaam, and he seeth the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand, and he boweth and doth obeisance, to his face;
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
Forthwith the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel standing in the way with a drawn sword, and he worshipped him falling flat on the ground.
Then Yahweh enabled Balaam to see the angel standing on the road, holding a sword in his hand. Balaam realized that it was an angel and prostrated himself on the ground in front of the angel.
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 22:31
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Numbers 22:31 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 22:31
Study Notes — Numbers 22:31
- Context
- Cross References
- Numbers 22:31 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Numbers 22:31
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 22:31
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 22:31
- Cambridge Bible on Numbers 22:31
- Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 22:31
- Sermons on Numbers 22:31
Context — The Angel and Balaam’s Donkey
31Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.
32The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before me. 33The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 21:19 | Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. |
| 2 | Luke 24:31 | Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus—and He disappeared from their sight. |
| 3 | Acts 26:18 | to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’ |
| 4 | Numbers 24:4 | the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: |
| 5 | Numbers 24:16 | the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: |
| 6 | 1 Chronicles 21:16 | When David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem, David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown. |
| 7 | Luke 24:16 | But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. |
| 8 | Psalms 9:20 | Lay terror upon them, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. Selah |
| 9 | John 18:6 | When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. |
| 10 | Exodus 34:8 | Moses immediately bowed down to the ground and worshiped. |
Numbers 22:31 Summary
In Numbers 22:31, the Lord opens Balaam's eyes to see the angel standing in the road with a drawn sword, and Balaam responds with humility and reverence. This event shows us that the Lord is always at work, even when we can't see Him, and that He desires us to obey and follow Him (as seen in John 14:15 and Romans 12:1-2). When we encounter challenges or opposition, we can ask the Lord to open our eyes to see the truth and to guide us on His path. By responding with humility and obedience, we can experience the Lord's presence and guidance in our lives, just like Balaam did in this verse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Lord open Balaam's eyes in Numbers 22:31?
The Lord opened Balaam's eyes so he could see the angel of the Lord standing in the road, which he had not seen before, and understand the spiritual reality of the situation, as seen in other instances where God opens people's eyes to spiritual truth, such as in Genesis 21:19 and 2 Kings 6:17.
What is the significance of the drawn sword in the angel's hand?
The drawn sword in the angel's hand represents the Lord's opposition to Balaam's actions and his willingness to judge him for his disobedience, similar to the angel with a sword in Joshua 5:13-15 who was a commander of the Lord's army.
Why did Balaam bow low and fall facedown when he saw the angel?
Balaam bowed low and fell facedown as an act of reverence and humility before the Lord, recognizing His power and authority, as seen in other instances of people responding to divine encounters, such as in Isaiah 6:1-5 and Ezekiel 1:28.
How does this event relate to Balaam's character and spiritual condition?
This event reveals Balaam's spiritual blindness and hardness of heart, as he was more concerned with his own interests than with obeying the Lord, but it also shows the Lord's patience and desire to correct him, as seen in other scriptures such as Proverbs 28:13 and 1 John 1:9.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I may be spiritually blind, and how can I ask the Lord to open my eyes to see the truth?
- How do I respond when I encounter opposition or challenges in my life, and what can I learn from Balaam's example in Numbers 22:31?
- In what ways can I cultivate humility and reverence in my relationship with the Lord, as seen in Balaam's actions when he saw the angel?
- How can I balance my own desires and interests with the Lord's will and purposes for my life, and what role does obedience play in this balance?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 22:31
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 22:31
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 22:31
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 22:31
Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 22:31
Sermons on Numbers 22:31
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Man Whose Eye Is Opened by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the critical need for spiritual sight in his sermon 'The Man Whose Eye Is Opened', illustrating how spiritual blindness is a pervasive issue affecting b |
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Such a Smoke in the Soul by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes that a person can possess true grace yet struggle with assurance due to the 'smoke' of doubts and fears that corruption creates within the soul. This obscu |
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Ministering to Muslims by Wagdi Iskander | In this sermon, the speaker discusses his experience in sharing the word of God with Muslims. He mentions baptizing over 700 individuals and witnessing their eyes being opened to t |
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The Resurrection by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the power and authority of Jesus Christ. He highlights how Jesus shattered the powers of darkness and brought redemption to those who seek hi |
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Life & Times of Jesus #04 by Jack Hibbs | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a mission in life, just like Jesus had a mission when he came into the world. The speaker mentions being a news junk |
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Seeing Dimly by William MacDonald | William MacDonald reflects on the profound mystery of Christ's sacrifice as believers approach the Lord's Table, emphasizing the limitations of human understanding when faced with |
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Building the Walls by Duncan Campbell | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of proclaiming the word of God and fulfilling the commission given by God. He uses the story of Nehemiah as an example of som |







