King James Version

Numbers 24:17

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.

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Hebrew

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אֶרְאֶ֨נּוּ֙erenvseeרָאָהverb, qal, imperfect, 1st person, common, singular, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “see”, an unfinished actionH7200to 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…וְלֹ֣אveloand no , -r,לֹאconjunction, particle, negative — “and no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…עַתָּ֔הatahthis timeעַתָּהadverb — “this time”H6258at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletivehenceforth, now, straightway, this time, whereas.אֲשׁוּרֶ֖נּוּashurenvbeholdשׁוּרverb, qal, imperfect, 1st person, common, singular, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “behold”, an unfinished actionH7789to spy out, i.e. (generally) survey, (for evil) lurk for, (for good) care forbehold, lay wait, look, observe, perceive, regard, see.וְלֹ֣אveloand no , -r,לֹאconjunction, particle, negative — “and no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…קָר֑וֹבqarovnearקָרוֹבadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “near”, the ordinary formH7138near (in place, kindred or time)allied, approach, at hand, [phrase] any of kin, kinsfold(-sman), (that is) near (of kin), neighbour, (that is) next, (them that come) nigh (at hand), more ready, short(-ly).דָּרַ֨ךְdarakhtreadדָּרַךְverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “tread”, a completed actionH1869to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string abow (by treading on it in bending)archer, bend, come, draw, go (over), guide, lead (forth), thresh, tread (down), walk.כּוֹכָ֜בkokhavstarכּוֹכָבnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “star”, the ordinary formH3556a star (as round or as shining); figuratively, a princestar(-gazer).מִֽיַּעֲקֹ֗בmiyaaqovfrom Jacobיַעֲקֹבpreposition, noun, proper name — “from Jacob”H3290Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarchJacob.וְקָ֥םveqamand riseקוּםconjunction, verb, qal, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and rise”, a completed action in a sequenceH6965to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (u…שֵׁ֨בֶט֙shevetdartשֵׁבֶטnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “dart”, the ordinary formH7626a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan[idiom] correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe.מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔לmiyisraelfrom Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלpreposition, noun, proper name — “from Israel”H3478Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterityIsrael.וּמָחַץ֙umachatsand pierceמָחַץconjunction, verb, qal, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and pierce”, a completed action in a sequenceH4272to dash asunder; by implication, to crush, smash or violently plunge; figuratively, to subdue or destroydip, pierce (through), smite (through), strike through, wound.פַּאֲתֵ֣יpaatecornerפֵּאָהnoun, common, feminine, dual, construct — “corner”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6285properly, mouth in a figurative sense, i.e. direction, region, extremitycorner, end, quarter, side.מוֹאָ֔בmoavMoabמוֹאָבnoun, proper name — “Moab”H4124Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendantsMoab.וְקַרְקַ֖רveqarqarand break downקוּרconjunction, verb, pilpel, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and break down”, a completed actionH6979to trench; by implication, to throw forth; to wall up, whether literal (to build a wall) or figurative (to estop)break down, cast out, destroy, dig.כָּלkalallכֹּלnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “all”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3605properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).בְּנֵיbenesonבֵּןnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct — “son”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1121a 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.)[phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, […שֵֽׁתshetShethשֵׁתnoun, proper name — “Sheth”H8351tumultSheth.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh; there shall step forth a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of Seth.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of tumult.

Young’s Literal Translation

I see it, but not now; I behold it, but not near; A star hath proceeded from Jacob, And a sceptre hath risen from Israel, And hath smitten corners of Moab, And hath destroyed all sons of Sheth.

World English Bible

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 crush all the sons of Sheth.

Darby Translation

I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not nigh: There cometh a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and he shall cut in pieces the corners of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.

Douay-Rheims

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near. A STAR SHALL RISE out of Jacob and a sceptre shall spring up from Israel: and shall strike the chiefs of Moab, and shall waste all the children of Seth.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

I will point to him, but not now; I bless him, but he draws not near: a star shall rise out of Jacob, a man shall spring out of Israel; and shall crush the princes of Moab, and shall spoil all the sons of Seth.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Δείξω αὐτῷ, καὶ οὐχὶ νῦν· μακαρίζω, καὶ οὐκ ἐγγίζει· ἀνατελεῖ ἄστρον ἐξ Ἰακὼβ, ἀναστήσεται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ Ἰσραήλ· καὶ θραύσει τοὺς ἀρχηγοὺς Μωὰβ, καῒ προνομεύσει πάντας υἱοὺς Σήθ.

Alluded to in

Revelation 22:16 Revelation 22:16 · King James VersionI Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.Revelation 22:16 · King James VersionOpen the Source
star out of Jacob · early church, Edersheim’s rabbinic list
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.