The Meaning of Numbers 24:9 Explained

Numbers 24:9

KJV: He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

YLT: He hath bent, he hath lain down as a lion, And as a lioness: who doth raise him up? He who is blessing thee is blessed, And he who is cursing thee is cursed.'

Darby: He stooped, he lay down like a lion, and like a lioness: who will stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

ASV: He couched, he lay down as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, And cursed be every one that curseth thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He couched,  he lay down  as a lion,  and as a great lion:  who shall stir him up?  Blessed  [is] he that blesseth  thee, and cursed  [is] he that curseth  thee. 

What does Numbers 24:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 24:1-14 - Balaam's Vision Of Israel's Prosperity
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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 24:9 mean?

He bows down he lies down as a lion and as a lion who shall rouse him [is] he who blesses you Blessed and [is] he who curses you cursed
כָּרַ֨ע שָׁכַ֧ב כַּאֲרִ֛י וּכְלָבִ֖יא מִ֣י ؟ יְקִימֶ֑נּוּ מְבָרֲכֶ֣יךָ בָר֔וּךְ וְאֹרְרֶ֖יךָ אָרֽוּר

כָּרַ֨ע  He  bows  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּרַע  
Sense: to bend, kneel, bow, bow down, sink down to one’s knees, kneel down to rest (of animals), kneel in reverence.
שָׁכַ֧ב  he  lies  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַב  
Sense: to lie down.
כַּאֲרִ֛י  as  a  lion 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲרִי 
Sense: lion.
וּכְלָבִ֖יא  and  as  a  lion 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶבֶא 
Sense: lion.
؟ יְקִימֶ֑נּוּ  shall  rouse  him 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
מְבָרֲכֶ֣יךָ  [is]  he  who  blesses  you 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
בָר֔וּךְ  Blessed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
וְאֹרְרֶ֖יךָ  and  [is]  he  who  curses  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָרַר  
Sense: to curse.
אָרֽוּר  cursed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: אָרַר  
Sense: to curse.