King James Version

Numbers 22:29

And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

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Hebrew

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וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvayomerand sayאָמַרconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and say”, the next action in the storyH559to say (used with great latitude)answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [id…בִּלְעָם֙bilamBalaamבִּלְעָםnoun, proper name — “Balaam”H1109Bilam, a Mesopotamian prophet; also a place in PalestineBalaam, Bileam.לָֽאָת֔וֹןlaatonto assאָתוֹןpreposition, with the article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “to ass”, the ordinary formH860a female donkey (from its docility)(she) ass.כִּ֥יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…הִתְעַלַּ֖לְתְּhitalaltegleanעָלַלverb, hithpael, perfect, 2nd person, feminine, singular — “glean”, a completed actionH5953to effect thoroughly; specifically, to glean (also figuratively); by implication (in a bad sense) to overdo, i.e. maltreat, be saucy to, pain, impose (also literal)abuse, affect, [idiom] child, defile, do, glean, mock, practise, thoroughly, work (wonderfully).בִּ֑יbiinבִּ֑יpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “in”inל֤וּlvifלוּאconjunction — “if”H3863a conditional particle; if; by implication (interj. as a wish) would that!if (haply), peradventure, I pray thee, though, I would, would God (that).יֶשׁyeshareיֵשׁparticle, demonstrative — “are”H3426there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)(there) are, (he, it, shall, there, there may, there shall, there should) be, thou do, had, hast, (which) hath, (I, shalt, that) have, (he, it, there) is, substance, it (there) was, (there) were, ye will, thou wilt, wouldest.חֶ֨רֶב֙cherevknifeחֶרֶבnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “knife”, the ordinary formH2719drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implementaxe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.בְּיָדִ֔יbeyadiin handיָדpreposition, noun, common, both genders, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “in hand”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3027a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, […כִּ֥יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…עַתָּ֖הatahthis timeעַתָּהadverb — “this time”H6258at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletivehenceforth, now, straightway, this time, whereas.הֲרַגְתִּֽיךְharagtikhedestroyהָרַגverb, qal, perfect, 1st person, common, singular, suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, feminine, singular — “destroy”, a completed actionH2026to smite with deadly intentdestroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), [idiom] surely.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

And Balaam said unto the ass: 'Because thou hast mocked me; I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.'

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.

Young’s Literal Translation

and Balaam saith to the ass, 'Because thou hast rolled thyself against me; oh that there were a sword in my hand, for now I had slain thee;'

World English Bible

Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you.”

Darby Translation

And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee!

Douay-Rheims

Balaam answered: Because thou hast deserved it, and hast served me ill: I would I had a sword that I might kill thee.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

And Balaam said unto the ass: 'Because thou hast mocked me; I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.'

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me; and if I had had a sword in my hand, I would now have killed thee.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καὶ εἶπε Βαλαὰμ τῇ ὄνῳ, ὅτι ἐμπέπαιχάς μοι, καὶ εἰ εἶχον μάχαιραν ἐν τῇ χειρὶ ἤδη ἂν ἐξεκέντησά σε.