The Meaning of Numbers 22:3 Explained

Numbers 22:3

KJV: And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

YLT: and Moab is exceedingly afraid of the presence of the people, for it is numerous; and Moab is vexed by the presence of the sons of Israel,

Darby: And Moab was much afraid of the people, because they were many; and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

ASV: And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Moab  was sore  afraid  of  the people,  because they [were] many:  and Moab  was distressed  because of  the children  of Israel. 

What does Numbers 22:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 22:1-20 - Balaam Sent For, To Curse Israel
These chapters present a surprising contrast between the covetous prophet and his sublime prophecies. It is clearly possible to be the mouthpiece of truth and yet have neither part nor lot in it.
Balak, as had been predicted, was sore afraid. Compare Numbers 22:3 with Exodus 15:15. The elders of Midian were his friends and allies. It was very important for them to stand together. The journey across the desert to Mesopotamia, where Balaam lived, was long and tedious, but he was a famous magician, who could marshal unseen forces into the battle by his incantations. He knew the only true God, but loved the wages of unrighteousness and erred for reward. See 2 Peter 2:14-16; Judges 1:11.
He made up his mind to win Balak's promised gifts, and sought to persuade God to become his accomplice, first, by letting him go, and, secondly, by letting him say what Balak wished said. But God demands our loyalty and unison with Him, and will not swerve from the path of truth and righteousness by a hair's-breadth to help our desires and ambitions. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 22

1  Balak's first message for Balaam is refused
15  His second message obtains him
22  An angel would have slain him, if he had not been saved by his donkey
36  Balak entertains him

What do the individual words in Numbers 22:3 mean?

And was afraid Moab of the people exceedingly because many [they] were and was sick with dread Moab because of the sons of Israel
וַיָּ֨גָר מוֹאָ֜ב מִפְּנֵ֥י הָעָ֛ם מְאֹ֖ד כִּ֣י רַב־ ה֑וּא וַיָּ֣קָץ מוֹאָ֔ב מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

וַיָּ֨גָר  And  was  afraid 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גּוּר 
Sense: to sojourn, abide, dwell in, dwell with, remain, inhabit, be a stranger, be continuing, surely.
מוֹאָ֜ב  Moab 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.
הָעָ֛ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
מְאֹ֖ד  exceedingly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
כִּ֣י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
רַב־  many 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
ה֑וּא  [they]  were 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
וַיָּ֣קָץ  and  was  sick  with  dread 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קוּץ  
Sense: to be grieved, loathe, abhor, feel a loathing or abhorrence or sickening dread.
מוֹאָ֔ב  Moab 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.
מִפְּנֵ֖י  because 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
בְּנֵ֥י  of  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.