The Meaning of Numbers 24:18 Explained

Numbers 24:18

KJV: And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

YLT: And Edom hath been a possession, And Seir hath been a possession, for its enemies, And Israel is doing valiantly;

Darby: And Edom shall be a possession, and Seir a possession, they, his enemies; but Israel will do valiantly.

ASV: And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession, who were his enemies; While Israel doeth valiantly.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Edom  shall be a possession,  Seir  also shall be a possession  for his enemies;  and Israel  shall do  valiantly. 

What does Numbers 24:18 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 24:18 mean?

And shall be Edom a possession a possession Seir his enemies and while Israel does valiantly
וְהָיָ֨ה אֱד֜וֹם יְרֵשָׁ֗ה יְרֵשָׁ֛ה שֵׂעִ֖יר אֹיְבָ֑יו וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עֹ֥שֶׂה חָֽיִל

וְהָיָ֨ה  And  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
אֱד֜וֹם  Edom 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱדֹום 
Sense: Edom.
יְרֵשָׁ֗ה  a  possession 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרֵשָׁה  
Sense: possession, property.
יְרֵשָׁ֛ה  a  possession 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרֵשָׁה  
Sense: possession, property.
שֵׂעִ֖יר  Seir 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שֵׂעִיר 
Sense: patriarch of the Horites, the inhabitants of Edom before the descendants of Esau, the Edomites.
אֹיְבָ֑יו  his  enemies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  and  while  Israel 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, 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.
עֹ֥שֶׂה  does 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
חָֽיִל  valiantly 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חַיִל 
Sense: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army.