King James Version

Numbers 22:31

Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

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Hebrew

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וַיְגַ֣לvaygaland exileגָּלָהconjunction, verb, piel, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and exile”, the next action in the storyH1540to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal[phrase] advertise, appear, bewray, bring, (carry, lead, go) captive (into captivity), depart, disclose, discover, exile, be gone, open, [idiom] plainly, publish, remove, reveal, [idiom] shamelessly, shew, [idiom] surely, tell, uncover.יְהוָה֮yehvahJehovahיְהֹוָהnoun, proper name — “Jehovah”H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodJehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה).אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).עֵינֵ֣יeyneeye , , -sightעַיִןnoun, common, both genders, dual, construct — “eye , , -sight”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH5869an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him…בִלְעָם֒vilamBalaamבִּלְעָםnoun, proper name — “Balaam”H1109Bilam, a Mesopotamian prophet; also a place in PalestineBalaam, Bileam.וַיַּ֞רְאvayarand seeרָאָהconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and see”, the next action in the storyH7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), m…אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).מַלְאַ֤ךְmalakhangelמֲלְאָךְnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “angel”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4397a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)ambassador, angel, king, messenger.יְהוָה֙yehvahJehovahיְהֹוָהnoun, proper name — “Jehovah”H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodJehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה).נִצָּ֣בnitsavappointedנָצַבverb, niphal, participle, absolute — “appointed”, a verb used as a describing wordH5324to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively)appointed, deputy, erect, establish, [idiom] Huzzah (by mistake for a proper name), lay, officer, pillar, present, rear up, set (over, up), settle, sharpen, establish, (make to) stand(-ing, still, up, upright), best state.בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְbaderekhin alongדֶּרֶךְpreposition, with the article, noun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “in along”, the ordinary formH1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverbalong, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).וְחַרְבּ֥וֹvecharbvoand knifeחֶרֶבconjunction, noun, common, feminine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and knife”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH2719drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implementaxe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.שְׁלֻפָ֖הshelufahdrawשָׁלַףverb, qal, passive participle, absolute — “draw”, a verb used as a describing wordH8025to pull out, up or offdraw (off), grow up, pluck off.בְּיָד֑וֹbeyadvoin handיָדpreposition, noun, common, both genders, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, 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, […וַיִּקֹּ֥דvayiqodand stoopקָדַדconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and stoop”, the next action in the storyH6915to shrivel up, i.e. contract or bend the body (or neck) in deferencebow (down) (the) head, stoop.וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּvayishtachvand crouchשָׁחָהconjunction, verb, hithpael, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and crouch”, the next action in the storyH7812to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God)bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.לְאַפָּֽיוleapayvto faceאַףpreposition, noun, common, masculine, dual, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “to face”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH639properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ireanger(-gry), [phrase] before, countenance, face, [phrase] forebearing, forehead, [phrase] (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, [idiom] worthy, wrath.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.

Young’s Literal Translation

And Jehovah uncovereth the eyes of Balaam, and he seeth the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand, and he boweth and doth obeisance, to his face;

World English Bible

Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw Yahweh’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.

Darby Translation

Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel of Jehovah standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed and prostrated himself on his face.

Douay-Rheims

Forthwith the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel standing in the way with a drawn sword, and he worshipped him falling flat on the ground.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

And God opened the eyes of Balaam, and he sees the angel of the Lord withstanding him in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, and he stooped down and worshipped on his face.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἀπεκάλυψε δὲ ὁ Θεὸς τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς Βαλαὰμ, καὶ ὁρᾷ τὸν ἄγγελον Κυρίου ἀνθεστηκότα ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, καὶ τὴν μάχαιραν ἐσπασμένην ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ κύψας προσεκύνησε τῷ προσώπῳ αὐτοῦ.