The Meaning of Numbers 24:23 Explained

Numbers 24:23

KJV: And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

YLT: And he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'Alas! who doth live when God doth this?

Darby: And he took up his parable, and said, Alas! Who shall live when God doeth this?

ASV: And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this?

Discover Numbers 24:23

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Numbers 24:23?

MEANING: What does Numbers 24:23 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Numbers 24:23 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Numbers 24:23?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he took up  his parable,  and said,  Alas,  who shall live  when God  doeth  this! 

What does Numbers 24:23 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 24:23 mean?

And he took up his oracle and said Alas who shall live when does this God
וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר א֕וֹי מִ֥י יִחְיֶ֖ה מִשֻּׂמ֥וֹ אֵֽל

וַיִּשָּׂ֥א  And  he  took  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
מְשָׁל֖וֹ  his  oracle 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מָשָׁל  
Sense: proverb, parable.
וַיֹּאמַ֑ר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
א֕וֹי  Alas 
Parse: Interjection
Root: אֹוי  
Sense: woe! alas! oh!.
יִחְיֶ֖ה  shall  live 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
מִשֻּׂמ֥וֹ  when  does  this 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
אֵֽל  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.

What are the major concepts related to Numbers 24:23?

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Similar Scriptures for Numbers 24:23

Numbers 23:23 [3]
Malachi 3:2 [2]
2 Kings 5:1 [2]