The Meaning of Numbers 24:16 Explained

Numbers 24:16

KJV: He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

YLT: An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God -- And knowing knowledge of the Most High; A vision of the Almighty he seeth, Falling -- and eyes uncovered:

Darby: He saith, who heareth the words of God, who knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, who falleth down, and who hath his eyes open:

ASV: He saith, who heareth the words of God, And knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He hath said,  which heard  the words  of God,  and knew  the knowledge  of the most High,  [which] saw  the vision  of the Almighty,  falling  [into a trance], but having his eyes  open: 

What does Numbers 24:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 24:15-25 - The "star Out Of Jacob"
When your heart is dismayed because of the hatred and opposition of Satan; the great accuser, turn to this chapter. If he stands up to resist, the Son of God stands in your defense. The Eternal God is on your side, not because you are perfect, but because you have linked your little life with Jesus Christ in His glory and beauty. In Deuteronomy 23:5 we learn the blessed secret that explained Balaam's failure.
Balaam describes in glowing anticipation Israel's future, and his forecast is marvelously accurate. It is clear that a man may speak the truth of which his soul is destitute, as a marble fountain may dispense water which it does not taste.
Balaam started for his home, but never reached it. You may long to die the death of the righteous, but it is a vain dream unless you live their life. Compare Numbers 23:10 with 31:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 24

1  Balaam, leaving divinations, prophesies the happiness of Israel
10  Balak, in anger, dismisses him
15  He prophesies of the Star of Jacob, and the destruction of some nations

What do the individual words in Numbers 24:16 mean?

The utterance of him who hears the words of God and has the knowledge of the Most High the vision of the Almighty [Who] sees [Who] falls down and wide open with eyes
נְאֻ֗ם שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ אִמְרֵי־ אֵ֔ל וְיֹדֵ֖עַ דַּ֣עַת עֶלְי֑וֹן מַחֲזֵ֤ה שַׁדַּי֙ יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה נֹפֵ֖ל וּגְל֥וּי עֵינָֽיִם

נְאֻ֗ם  The  utterance 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙  of  him  who  hears 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אִמְרֵי־  the  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֵמֶר 
Sense: utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command.
אֵ֔ל  of  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
וְיֹדֵ֖עַ  and  has 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
דַּ֣עַת  the  knowledge 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: דַּעַת 
Sense: knowledge.
עֶלְי֑וֹן  of  the  Most  High 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עֶלְיׄון 
Sense: high, upper.
מַחֲזֵ֤ה  the  vision 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַחֲזֶה  
Sense: vision (in the ecstatic state).
שַׁדַּי֙  of  the  Almighty 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁדַּי  
Sense: almighty, most powerful.
יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה  [Who]  sees 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָזָה  
Sense: to see, perceive, look, behold, prophesy, provide.
נֹפֵ֖ל  [Who]  falls  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
וּגְל֥וּי  and  wide  open 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: גָּלָה  
Sense: to uncover, remove.
עֵינָֽיִם  with  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cd
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.

What are the major concepts related to Numbers 24:16?

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