Balak, בָּלָק — 10/17/26
Torah: Numbers 22:39 - 23:12 (15)
Gospel: Luke 21:20-28 (9)
Passages
- Torah: Numbers 22:39 - 23:12
- Gospel: Luke 21:20-28
Torah — Numbers 22:39 - 23:12
LEB translation
Numbers 22:39 - 23:12
22:39 Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-Huzoth.
22:40 And Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he sent them to Balaam and to the princes who were with him.
22:41 And it happened, in the morning Balak took Balaam and took him up to Bamoth-Baal, and he saw from there the end of the nation.
23:1 Balaam’s Oracles
Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me this: seven altars. And prepare for me this: seven bulls and seven rams.”
23:2 And Balak did just as Balaam spoke, and Balak offered Balaam a bull and a ram on the altar.
23:3 And Balaam said to Balak, “Station yourself at your burnt offering, and I will go; perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell to you.” So he went to a barren height.
23:4 And God met with Balaam, and he said to him, “I have arranged seven altars, and I have offered a bull and a ram on the altar.”
23:5 Yahweh put a word in the mouth of Balaam and said, “Return to Balak, and you must speak thus.”
23:6 So he returned to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, he and all the leaders of Moab.
23:7 And he lifted up his oracle and said,
“From Aram Balak lead me,
from the mountains of the east the king of Moab,
‘Go for me, curse Jacob,
and go, denounce Israel.’
23:8 How can I curse whom God has not cursed,
and how can I denounce whom Yahweh has not denounced?
23:9 Because from the top of the rocks I see him,
from hilltops I watch him.
Behold, a people who dwell alone,
they do not consider themselves among the nations.
23:10 Who can count the dust of Jacob,
or as a number the fourth part of Israel?
Let my life die the death of an upright person,
and let my end be like his!”
23:11 And Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and look, you have surely blessed them!”
23:12 He answered and said, “Should I not speak what Yahweh puts in my mouth?”
NIRV translation
Numbers 22:39 - 23:12
22:39 Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth.
22:40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep. He gave some to Balaam. He also gave some to the princes who were with him.
22:41 The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal. From there he saw part of the people of Israel.
23:1 Balaam’s First Message From God
Balaam said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here. Prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice.”
23:2 Balak did just as Balaam said. The two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
23:3 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering. I’ll go and try to find out what the Lord wants me to do. Maybe he’ll come and meet with me. Then I’ll tell you what he says to me.” So Balaam went off to a bare hilltop.
23:4 God met with him there. Balaam said, “I’ve prepared seven altars. On each altar I’ve offered a bull and a ram.”
23:5 The Lord put a message in Balaam’s mouth. The Lord said, “Go back to Balak. Give him my message.”
23:6 So Balaam went back to him. He found Balak standing beside his offering. All of the princes of Moab were with him.
23:7 Then Balaam spoke the message he had received from God. He said,
“Balak brought me from the land of Aram.
The king of Moab sent for me from the mountains in the east.
‘Come,’ he said. ‘Put a curse on Jacob’s people for me.
Come. Speak against Israel.’
23:8 But how can I put a curse on
people God hasn’t cursed?
How can I speak against
people the Lord hasn’t spoken against?
23:9 I see them from the rocky peaks.
I view them from the hills.
I see a group of people who live by themselves.
They don’t consider themselves to be one of the nations.
23:10 Jacob’s people are like the dust of the earth.
Can dust be counted?
Who can count even a fourth of the people of Israel?
Let me die as godly people die.
Let my death be like theirs!”
23:11 Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to put a curse on my enemies! But all you have done is give them a blessing!”
23:12 He answered, “I have to speak only the words the Lord puts in my mouth.”
Interlinear original languages
Numbers 22:39 - 23:12
22:39
וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ
vai.Ye.lekh
and/ he went
בִּלְעָ֖ם
bil.'Am
Balaam
עִם־
'im-
with
בָּלָ֑ק
ba.Lak
Balak
וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ
vai.ya.Vo.'u
and/ they came
קִרְיַ֥ת
kir.Yat
Kiriath-
חֻצֽוֹת׃
chu.Tzot
huzoth
22:40
וַיִּזְבַּ֥ח
vai.yiz.Bach
and/ he sacrificed
בָּלָ֖ק
ba.Lak
Balak
בָּקָ֣ר
ba.Kar
cattle
וָצֹ֑אן
va.Tzon
and/ sheep
וַיְשַׁלַּ֣ח
vay.sha.Lach
and/ he sent
לְבִלְעָ֔ם
le.vil.'Am
to/ Balaam
וְלַשָּׂרִ֖ים
ve.la.sa.Rim
and/ to the/ leaders
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
'a.Sher
who
אִתּֽוֹ׃
'i.To
[were] with/ him
22:41
וַיְהִ֣י
vay.Hi
and/ it was
בַבֹּ֔קֶר
va.Bo.ker
in the/ morning
וַיִּקַּ֤ח
vai.yi.Kach
and/ he took
בָּלָק֙
ba.Lak
Balak
אֶת־
'et-
<obj.>
בִּלְעָ֔ם
bil.'Am
Balaam
וַֽיַּעֲלֵ֖הוּ
vai.ya.'a.Le.hu
and/ he brought up/ him
בָּמ֣וֹת
ba.Mot
Bamoth
בָּ֑עַל
Ba.'al
Baal
וַיַּ֥רְא
vai.Yar'
and/ he saw
מִשָּׁ֖ם
mi.Sham
from/ there
קְצֵ֥ה
ke.Tzeh
[the] outskirt[s] of
הָעָֽם׃
ha.'Am
the/ people
23:1
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר
vai.Yo.mer
and/ he said
בִּלְעָם֙
bil.'Am
Balaam
אֶל־
'el-
to
בָּלָ֔ק
ba.Lak
Balak
בְּנֵה־
be.neh-
build
לִ֥י
li
for <the>/ me
בָזֶ֖ה
va.Zeh
in/ this [place]
שִׁבְעָ֣ה
shiv.'Ah
seven
מִזְבְּחֹ֑ת
miz.be.Chot
altars
וְהָכֵ֥ן
ve.ha.Khen
and/ prepare
לִי֙
li
for <the>/ me
בָּזֶ֔ה
ba.Zeh
in/ this [place]
שִׁבְעָ֥ה
shiv.'Ah
seven
פָרִ֖ים
fa.Rim
young bulls
וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה
ve.shiv.'Ah
and/ seven
אֵילִֽים׃
'ei.Lim
rams
23:2
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ
vai.Ya.'as
and/ he did
בָּלָ֔ק
ba.Lak
Balak
כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר
ka.'a.Sher
just/ as
דִּבֶּ֣ר
di.Ber
he had spoken
בִּלְעָ֑ם
bil.'Am
Balaam
וַיַּ֨עַל
vai.Ya.'al
and/ he offered up
בָּלָ֧ק
ba.Lak
Balak
וּבִלְעָ֛ם
u.vil.'Am
and/ Balaam
פָּ֥ר
par
a young bull
וָאַ֖יִל
va.'A.yil
and/ a ram
בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃
ba.miz.Be.ach
on the/ altar
23:3
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר
vai.Yo.mer
and/ he said
בִּלְעָ֜ם
bil.'Am
Balaam
לְבָלָ֗ק
le.va.Lak
to/ Balak
הִתְיַצֵּב֮
hit.ya.Tzev
take your stand
עַל־
'al-
with
עֹלָתֶךָ֒
'o.la.te.Kha
burnt offering/ your
וְאֵֽלְכָ֗ה
ve.'e.le.Khah
so/ let me go
אוּלַ֞י
'u.Lai
perhaps
יִקָּרֵ֤ה
yi.ka.Reh
he will meet
יְהוָה֙
Yah.weh
Yahweh
לִקְרָאתִ֔י
lik.ra.Ti
to/ meet/ me
וּדְבַ֥ר
u.de.Var
and/ [the] word of
מַה־
mah-
whatever
יַּרְאֵ֖נִי
yar.'E.ni
he will show/ me
וְהִגַּ֣דְתִּי
ve.hi.Gad.ti
and/ I will tell
לָ֑ךְ
Lakh
to <the>/ you
וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ
vai.Ye.lekh
and/ he went
שֶֽׁפִי׃
She.fi
a bare height
23:4
וַיִּקָּ֥ר
vai.yi.Kar
and/ he met
אֱלֹהִ֖ים
'E.lo.Him
God
אֶל־
'el-
<to>
בִּלְעָ֑ם
bil.'Am
Balaam
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר
vai.Yo.mer
and/ he said
אֵלָ֗יו
'e.Lav
to/ him
אֶת־
'et-
<obj.>
שִׁבְעַ֤ת
shiv.'At
[the] seven
הַֽמִּזְבְּחֹת֙
ha.miz.be.Chot
the/ altars
עָרַ֔כְתִּי
'a.Rakh.ti
I have arranged
וָאַ֛עַל
va.'A.'al
and/ I have offered up
פָּ֥ר
par
a young bull
וָאַ֖יִל
va.'A.yil
and/ a ram
בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃
ba.miz.Be.ach
on the/ altar
23:5
וַיָּ֧שֶׂם
vai.Ya.sem
and/ he put
יְהוָ֛ה
Yah.weh
Yahweh
דָּבָ֖ר
da.Var
a word
בְּפִ֣י
be.Fi
in/ [the] mouth of
בִלְעָ֑ם
vil.'Am
Balaam
וַיֹּ֛אמֶר
vai.Yo.mer
and/ he said
שׁ֥וּב
shuv
return
אֶל־
'el-
to
בָּלָ֖ק
ba.Lak
Balak
וְכֹ֥ה
ve.Khoh
and/ thus
תְדַבֵּֽר׃
te.da.Ber
you will speak
23:6
וַיָּ֣שָׁב
vai.Ya.shov
and/ he returned
אֵלָ֔יו
'e.Lav
to/ him
וְהִנֵּ֥ה
ve.hi.Neh
and/ there!
נִצָּ֖ב
ni.Tzav
[he was] standing
עַל־
'al-
with
עֹלָת֑וֹ
o.la.To
burnt offering/ his
ה֖וּא
hu'
he
וְכָל־
ve.khol
and/ all
שָׂרֵ֥י
sa.Rei
[the] leaders of
מוֹאָֽב׃
mo.'Av
Moab
23:7
וַיִּשָּׂ֥א
vai.yi.Sa'
and/ he lifted up
מְשָׁל֖וֹ
me.sha.Lo
oracle/ his
וַיֹּאמַ֑ר
vai.yo.Mar
and/ he said
מִן־
min-
from
אֲ֠רָם
'A.rom
Aram
יַנְחֵ֨נִי
yan.Che.ni
he led/ me
בָלָ֤ק
va.Lak
Balak
מֶֽלֶךְ־
Me.lekh-
[the] king of
מוֹאָב֙
mo.'Av
Moab
מֵֽהַרְרֵי־
me.ha.rei-
from/ [the] mountains of
קֶ֔דֶם
Ke.dem
[the] east
לְכָה֙
le.Khah
come/ !
אָֽרָה־
'a.rah-
curse/ !
לִּ֣י
li
for <the>/ me
יַעֲקֹ֔ב
ya.'a.Ko
Jacob
וּלְכָ֖ה
u.le.Khah
and/ come/ !
זֹעֲמָ֥ה
zo.'a.Mah
denounce/ !
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Yis.ra.'El
Israel
23:8
מָ֣ה
mah
what?
אֶקֹּ֔ב
'e.Ko
will I curse
לֹ֥א
lo'
[one whom] not
קַבֹּ֖ה
ka.Boh
he has cursed/ him
אֵ֑ל
'El
God
וּמָ֣ה
u.Mah
and/ what?
אֶזְעֹ֔ם
'ez.'Om
will I denounce
לֹ֥א
lo'
[one whom] not
זָעַ֖ם
za.'Am
he has denounced
יְהוָֽה׃
Yah.weh
Yahweh
23:9
כִּֽי־
ki-
for
מֵרֹ֤אשׁ
me.Rosh
from/ [the] top of
צֻרִים֙
tzu.Rim
[the] rocks
אֶרְאֶ֔נּוּ
'er.'E.nu
I see/ him
וּמִגְּבָע֖וֹת
u.mi.ge.va.'ot
and/ from/ [the] hills
אֲשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ
'a.shu.Re.nu
I observe/ him
הֶן־
hen-
there!
עָם֙
'am
a people
לְבָדָ֣ד
le.va.Dad
[which] <to>/ alone
יִשְׁכֹּ֔ן
yish.Kon
it dwells
וּבַגּוֹיִ֖ם
u.va.go.Yim
and/ among the/ nations
לֹ֥א
lo'
not
יִתְחַשָּֽׁב׃
yit.cha.Shav
it reckons itself
23:10
מִ֤י
mi
who?
מָנָה֙
ma.Nah
has he counted
עֲפַ֣ר
'a.Far
[the] dust of
יַעֲקֹ֔ב
ya.'a.Ko
Jacob
וּמִסְפָּ֖ר
u.mis.Par
and/ a number
אֶת־
'et-
<obj.>
רֹ֣בַע
Roa'
[the] fourth part of
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
Yis.ra.'El
Israel
תָּמֹ֤ת
ta.Mot
let it die
נַפְשִׁי֙
naf.Shi
self/ my
מ֣וֹת
Mot
[the] death of
יְשָׁרִ֔ים
ye.sha.Rim
upright [people]
וּתְהִ֥י
u.te.Hi
and/ let it be
אַחֲרִיתִ֖י
'a.cha.ri.Ti
end/ my
כָּמֹֽהוּ׃
ka.Mo.hu
like/ his
23:11
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר
vai.Yo.mer
and/ he said
בָּלָק֙
ba.Lak
Balak
אֶל־
'el-
to
בִּלְעָ֔ם
bil.'Am
Balaam
מֶ֥ה
meh
what?
עָשִׂ֖יתָ
'a.Si.ta
have you done
לִ֑י
Li
to <the>/ me
לָקֹ֤ב
la.Ko
to/ curse
אֹיְבַי֙
'o.ye.Vai
enemies/ my
לְקַחְתִּ֔יךָ
le.kach.Ti.kha
I took/ you
וְהִנֵּ֖ה
ve.hi.Neh
and/ here!
בֵּרַ֥כְתָּ
be.Rakh.ta
you have blessed
בָרֵֽךְ׃
va.Rekh
actually <bless>
23:12
וַיַּ֖עַן
vai.Ya.'an
and/ he answered
וַיֹּאמַ֑ר
vai.yo.Mar
and/ he said
הֲלֹ֗א
ha.Lo'
¿/ not
אֵת֩
'et
<obj.>
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
'a.Sher
[that] which
יָשִׂ֤ים
ya.Sim
he will put
יְהוָה֙
Yah.weh
Yahweh
בְּפִ֔י
be.Fi
in/ mouth/ my
אֹת֥וֹ
'o.To
<obj.>/ it
אֶשְׁמֹ֖ר
'esh.Mor
will I take care
לְדַבֵּֽר׃
le.da.Ber
to/ speak
Gospel — Luke 21:20-28
LEB translation
Luke 21:20-28
21:20 The Desolation of Jerusalem
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.
21:21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside it must depart, and those in the fields must not enter into it,
21:22 because these are days of vengeance, so that all the things that are written can be fulfilled.
21:23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people,
21:24 and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
21:25 The Arrival of the Son of Man
“And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity from the noise of the sea and its surging,
21:26 people fainting from fear and expectation of what is coming on the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
21:27 And then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory.
21:28 But when these things begin to happen, stand up straight and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near!”
NIRV translation
Luke 21:20-28
21:20 “A time is coming when you will see armies surround Jerusalem. Then you will know that it will soon be destroyed.
21:21 Those who are in Judea should then escape to the mountains. Those in the city should get out. Those in the country should not enter the city.
21:22 This is the time when God will punish Jerusalem. Everything will come true, just as it has been written.
21:23 “How awful it will be in those days for pregnant women! How awful for nursing mothers! There will be terrible suffering in the land. There will be great anger against those people.
21:24 Some will be killed by the sword. Others will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be overrun by those who aren’t Jews until the times of the non-Jews come to an end.
21:25 “There will be miraculous signs in the sun, moon and stars. The nations of the earth will be in terrible pain. They will be puzzled by the roaring and tossing of the sea.
21:26 Terror will make people faint. They will be worried about what is happening in the world. The sun, moon and stars will be shaken from their places.
21:27 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud. He will come with power and great glory.
21:28 When these things begin to take place, stand up. Hold your head up with joy and hope. The time when you will be set free will be very close.”
Interlinear original languages
Luke 21:20-28
21:20
Ὅταν
When
δὲ
then
ἴδητε
you may see
κυκλουμένην
being encircled
ὑπὸ
by
στρατοπέδων
encampments
τὴν
ˍ<the>
Ἰερουσαλήμ,
Jerusalem,
τότε
then
γνῶτε
do know
ὅτι
that
ἤγγικεν
has drawn near
ἡ
the
ἐρήμωσις
desolation
αὐτῆς.
of her.
21:21
τότε
Then
οἱ
those
ἐν
in
τῇ
<the>
Ἰουδαίᾳ
Judea
φευγέτωσαν
they should flee
εἰς
to
τὰ
the
ὄρη,
mountains,
καὶ
and
οἱ
those
ἐν
in
μέσῳ
midst
αὐτῆς
of her
ἐκχωρείτωσαν,
they should depart out,
καὶ
and
οἱ
those
ἐν
in
ταῖς
the
χώραις
countries
μὴ
not
εἰσερχέσθωσαν
they should enter
εἰς
into
αὐτήν.
her.
21:22
ὅτι
for
ἡμέραι
[the] days
ἐκδικήσεως
of avenging
αὗταί
these
εἰσιν
are
τοῦ
<the>
πλησθῆναι
to fill
πάντα
all things
τὰ
which
γεγραμμένα.¶
written.
21:23
Οὐαὶ
But woe
δὲ
ˍnow
ταῖς
to those
ἐν
in
γαστρὶ
womb [pregnancy]
ἐχούσαις
having
καὶ
and
ταῖς
to the [ones]
θηλαζούσαις
nursing
ἐν
in
ἐκείναις
those
ταῖς
the
ἡμέραις·
days;
ἔσται
there will be
γὰρ
for
ἀνάγκη
distress
μεγάλη
great
ἐπὶ
upon
τῆς
the
γῆς
land
καὶ
and
ὀργὴ
wrath
ἐν
ˍin
τῷ
to the
λαῷ
people
τούτῳ,
this,
21:24
καὶ
And
πεσοῦνται
they will fall
στόματι
by [the] edge
μαχαίρης
of [the] sword
καὶ
and
αἰχμαλωτισθήσονται
will be led captive
εἰς
into
τὰ
the
ἔθνη
nations
πάντα,
all
καὶ
and
Ἰερουσαλὴμ
Jerusalem
ἔσται
will be
πατουμένη
trodden down
ὑπὸ
by
ἐθνῶν
[the] Gentiles
ἄχρι
until
οὗ
₊that
πληρωθῶσιν
may be fulfilled
καὶ
ₓₓand
ἔσονται
ₓₓwill be
καιροὶ
[the] times
ἐθνῶν.
of [the] Gentiles.
21:25
καὶ
And
ἔσονται
there will be
σημεῖα
signs
ἐν
in
ἡλίῳ
sun
καὶ
and
σελήνῃ
moon
καὶ
and
ἄστροις,
stars,
καὶ
and
ἐπὶ
upon
τῆς
the
γῆς
earth
συνοχὴ
distress
ἐθνῶν
of nations
ἐν
with
ἀπορίᾳ
perplexity
ἤχους
[the] sound
θαλάσσης
of [the] sea
καὶ
and
σάλου
rolling surge
21:26
ἀποψυχόντων
when are fainting
ἀνθρώπων
men
ἀπὸ
from
φόβου
fear
καὶ
and
προσδοκίας
expectation
τῶν
of that which
ἐπερχομένων
is coming
τῇ
on the
οἰκουμένῃ·
earth;
αἱ
<the>
γὰρ
for
δυνάμεις
the powers
τῶν
of the
οὐρανῶν
heavens
σαλευθήσονται.
will be shaken.
21:27
καὶ
And
τότε
then
ὄψονται
will they behold
τὸν
the
υἱὸν
Son
τοῦ
<the>
ἀνθρώπου
of Man
ἐρχόμενον
coming
ἐν
in
νεφέλῃ
a cloud
μετὰ
with
δυνάμεως
power
καὶ
and
δόξης
glory
πολλῆς.¶
great.
21:28
Ἀρχομένων
Beginning
δὲ
then
τούτων
of these things
γίνεσθαι
to come to pass
ἀνακύψατε
do look up
καὶ
and
ἐπάρατε
do lift up
τὰς
the
κεφαλὰς
heads
ὑμῶν
of you
διότι
because
ἐγγίζει
draws near
ἡ
the
ἀπολύτρωσις
redemption
ὑμῶν.¶
of you.