Bible/Numbers/24

Numbers 24:17

24:16 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:
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. smite: or, smite through the princes of

KJV

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I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of Sheth.

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

24:18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

What does Numbers 24:17 mean?

Numbers 24:17 is a verse in the book of Numbers, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include רָאָה (râʼâh), שׁוּר (shûwr), קָרוֹב (qârôwb). It connects to 19 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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I
shall
seeרָאָהrâʼâh/raw-aw'/H7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
him,
but
not
now:
I
shall
beholdשׁוּרshûwr/shoor/H7789to spy out, i.e. (generally) survey, (for evil) lurk for, (for good) care for
him,
but
not
nigh:קָרוֹבqârôwb/kaw-robe'/H7138near (in place, kindred or time)
there
shall
comeדָּרַךְdârak/daw-rak'/H1869to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string abow (by treading on it in bending)
a
Starכּוֹכָבkôwkâb/ko-kawb'/H3556a star (as round or as shining); figuratively, a prince
out
of
Jacob,יַעֲקֹבYaʻăqôb/yah-ak-obe'/H3290Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch
and
a
Sceptreשֵׁבֶטshêbeṭ/shay'-bet/H7626a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
shall
riseקוּםqûwm/koom/H6965to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
out
of
Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלYisrâʼêl/yis-raw-ale'/H3478Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
and
shall
smiteמָחַץmâchats/maw-khats'/H4272to dash asunder; by implication, to crush, smash or violently plunge; figuratively, to subdue or destroy
the
cornersפֵּאָהpêʼâh/pay-aw'/H6285properly, mouth in a figurative sense, i.e. direction, region, extremity
of
Moab,מוֹאָבMôwʼâb/mo-awb/H4124Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants
and
destroyקוּרqûwr/koor/H6979to trench; by implication, to throw forth; to wall up, whether literal (to build a wall) or figurative (to estop)
all
the
childrenבֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
of
Sheth.שֵׁתShêth/shayth/H8352Sheth, third son of Adam
smite:
or,
smite
through
the
princes
of

Commentary on Numbers 24:17

HENRY_FULL · Numbers 24:17
.19" This chapter is only concerning the preparing and using of the ashes which were to impregnate the water of purification. The people had complained of the strictness of the law, which forbade their near approach to the tabernacle, ch. xvii. 13 . In answer to this complaint, they are here directed to purify themselves, so as that they might come as far as they had occasion without fear. Here is, I. The method of preparing these ashes, by the burning of a red heifer, with a great deal of ceremony, ver. 1-10 . II. The way of using them. 1. They were designed to purify persons from the pollution contracted by a dead body, ver. 11-16 . 2. They were to be put into running water (a small quantity of them), with which the person to be cleansed must be purified, ver. 17-22 . And that this ceremonial purification was a type and figure of the cleansing of the consciences of believers from the pollutions of sin appears by the apostle's discourse, Heb. ix. 13, 14 , where he compares the efficacy of the blood of Christ with the sanctifying virtue that was in "the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean."

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 12:5

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: of: Heb. son of a year

Leviticus 14:6

As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:

Numbers 24:6

As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

Numbers 31:21

And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses;

Deuteronomy 21:3

And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;

1 Samuel 6:7

Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:

Isaiah 1:18

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Lamentations 1:14

The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.

Malachi 1:13

Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD. and ye have: or, whereas ye might have blown it away

Malachi 1:14

But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen. which: Heb. in whose flock is

Luke 1:35

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

John 10:17John 10:18Philippians 2:6Hebrews 7:26Hebrews 9:101 Peter 1:191 Peter 2:22Revelation 1:5

Topics

MoabitesScepterStars, theTitles and Names of Christ

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Numbers 24:17.

1 Kings 18:31

And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:

Isaiah 49:6

And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. It is: or, Art thou lighter than that thou shouldest, etc preserved: or, desolations

Frequently asked questions

What does Numbers 24:17 say?

Numbers 24:17 (King James Version) reads: "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. smite: or, smite through the princes of"

Is Numbers 24:17 in the Old or New Testament?

Numbers 24:17 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Numbers.

Reflect

As you read Numbers 24:17, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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