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class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/numbers/22.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/numbers/22.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Then the LORD opened the donkey&#8217s mouth, and it said to Balaam, &#8220What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/numbers/22.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then the LORD gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/numbers/22.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/numbers/22.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/numbers/22.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/numbers/22.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/numbers/22.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/numbers/22.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, &#8220What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/numbers/22.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/numbers/22.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/numbers/22.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/numbers/22.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she asked Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times? ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/numbers/22.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD opened the donkey&#8217s mouth, and she asked Balaam, &#8220What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/numbers/22.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/numbers/22.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />When that happened, the LORD told the donkey to speak, and it asked Balaam, "What have I done that made you beat me three times?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/numbers/22.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/numbers/22.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Then the LORD made the donkey speak, and it asked Balaam, "What have I done to make you hit me three times?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/numbers/22.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Then the LORD gave the donkey the power of speech, and it said to Balaam, "What have I done to you? Why have you beaten me these three times?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/numbers/22.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />That's when the LORD enabled the donkey to speak. She asked Balaam, "What did I do to you that you would beat me in the space of only three footsteps?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/numbers/22.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD opened the donkey?s mouth, and she said to Balaam, ?What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/numbers/22.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/numbers/22.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And God opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/numbers/22.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/numbers/22.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/numbers/22.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And YHWH opens the mouth of the donkey, and she says to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/numbers/22.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Jehovah openeth the mouth of the ass, and she saith to Balaam, 'What have I done to thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/numbers/22.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Jehovah will open the mouth of the ass, and she will say to Balaam, What did I to thee that thou hast smitten me this three beats?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/numbers/22.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said: What have I done to thee? Why strikest thou me, lo, now this third time? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/numbers/22.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said: “What have I done to you? Why do strike you me, behold now, for the third time?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/numbers/22.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she asked Balaam, “What have I done to you that you beat me these three times?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/numbers/22.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/numbers/22.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD opened the mouth of the she-ass and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/numbers/22.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And LORD JEHOVAH opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam: “What have I done to you that you have hit me now three times?”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/numbers/22.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam: 'What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/numbers/22.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And God opened the mouth of the ass, and she says to Balaam, What have I done to thee, that thou hast smitten me this third time?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/numbers/22-28.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yauBFvKLNNo?start=7084" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/numbers/22.htm">The Angel and Balaam's Donkey</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">27</span>When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff. <span class="reftext">28</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">Then the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6605.htm" title="6605: way·yip̄·taḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve. A primitive root; to open wide; specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve.">opened</a> <a href="/hebrew/860.htm" title="860: hā·’ā·ṯō·wn (Art:: N-fs) -- A female donkey. Probably from the same as 'eythan; a female donkey.">the donkey’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/6310.htm" title="6310: pî (N-msc) -- Mouth. From pa'ah; the mouth, whether literal or figurative; specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially according to.">mouth,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wat·tō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">and she said</a> <a href="/hebrew/1109.htm" title="1109: lə·ḇil·‘ām (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- Probably from bal and am; not people, i.e. Foreigner; Bilam, a Mesopotamian prophet; also a place in Palestine.">to Balaam,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: meh- (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">“What</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ‘ā·śî·ṯî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">have I done</a> <a href="/hebrew/lə·ḵā (Prep:: 2ms) -- ">to you</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/5221.htm" title="5221: hik·kî·ṯa·nî (V-Hifil-Perf-2ms:: 1cs) -- To smite. A primitive root; to strike.">you have beaten me</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: zeh (Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">these</a> <a href="/hebrew/7969.htm" title="7969: šā·lōš (Number-fs) -- A three, triad. Or shalosh; masculine shlowshah; or shloshah; a primitive number; three; occasionally third, or Thrice.">three</a> <a href="/hebrew/7272.htm" title="7272: rə·ḡā·lîm (N-fp) -- Foot. From ragal; a foot; by implication, a step; by euphem. The pudenda.">times?”</a> </span><span class="reftext">29</span>Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/2-16.htm">2 Peter 2:16</a></span><br />But he was rebuked for his transgression by a donkey, otherwise without speech, that spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/3-1.htm">Genesis 3:1-5</a></span><br />Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” / The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, / but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/4-11.htm">Exodus 4:11-12</a></span><br />And the LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, the sighted or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD? / Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/13-24.htm">1 Kings 13:24-28</a></span><br />As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. / And there were men passing by who saw the body lying in the road with the lion standing beside it, and they went and reported this in the city where the old prophet lived. / When the prophet who had brought him back from his journey heard this, he said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the command of the LORD. Therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion, and it has mauled him and killed him, according to the word that the LORD had spoken to him.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-3.htm">Isaiah 1:3</a></span><br />The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/43-20.htm">Isaiah 43:20</a></span><br />The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/8-7.htm">Jeremiah 8:7</a></span><br />Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons. The turtledove, the swift, and the thrush keep their time of migration, but My people do not know the requirements of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/12-7.htm">Job 12:7-8</a></span><br />But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you. / Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/32-9.htm">Psalm 32:9</a></span><br />Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding; they must be controlled with bit and bridle to make them come to you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/36-6.htm">Psalm 36:6</a></span><br />Your righteousness is like the highest mountains; Your judgments are like the deepest sea. O LORD, You preserve man and beast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/148-10.htm">Psalm 148:10</a></span><br />wild animals and all cattle, crawling creatures and flying birds,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/21-2.htm">Matthew 21:2-3</a></span><br />saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me. / If anyone questions you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/21-5.htm">Matthew 21:5</a></span><br />“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/19-30.htm">Luke 19:30-34</a></span><br />saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. / If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’” / So those who were sent went out and found it just as Jesus had told them. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/12-14.htm">John 12:14-15</a></span><br />Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written: / “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you, that you have smitten me these three times?</p><p class="hdg">the Lord opened.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/4-11.htm">Exodus 4:11</a></b></br> And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/1-37.htm">Luke 1:37</a></b></br> For with God nothing shall be impossible.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_corinthians/1-19.htm">1 Corinthians 1:19</a></b></br> For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.</p><p class="hdg">what have I</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/romans/8-22.htm">Romans 8:22</a></b></br> For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/22-27.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/numbers/22-27.htm">Balaam</a> <a href="/numbers/22-27.htm">Beat</a> <a href="/numbers/22-27.htm">Blows</a> <a href="/numbers/22-27.htm">Donkey</a> <a href="/genesis/49-11.htm">Donkey's</a> <a href="/numbers/21-24.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/numbers/16-32.htm">Opened</a> <a href="/numbers/18-15.htm">Openeth</a> <a href="/numbers/16-50.htm">Opening</a> <a href="/numbers/14-17.htm">Power</a> <a href="/numbers/14-42.htm">Smitten</a> <a href="/numbers/22-27.htm">Struck</a> <a href="/exodus/34-29.htm">Talking</a> <a href="/numbers/15-9.htm">Three</a> <a href="/numbers/19-4.htm">Times</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/22-29.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/numbers/22-30.htm">Balaam</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-44.htm">Beat</a> <a href="/numbers/22-32.htm">Blows</a> <a href="/numbers/22-29.htm">Donkey</a> <a href="/judges/15-16.htm">Donkey's</a> <a href="/numbers/22-38.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/numbers/22-31.htm">Opened</a> <a href="/numbers/26-10.htm">Openeth</a> <a href="/numbers/27-2.htm">Opening</a> <a href="/numbers/22-38.htm">Power</a> <a href="/numbers/22-32.htm">Smitten</a> <a href="/numbers/22-32.htm">Struck</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/6-7.htm">Talking</a> <a href="/numbers/22-32.htm">Three</a> <a href="/numbers/22-32.htm">Times</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 22</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/22-1.htm">Balak's first message for Balaam is refused</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/22-15.htm">His second message obtains him</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/22-22.htm">An angel would have slain him, if he had not been saved by his donkey</a></span><br><span class="reftext">36. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/22-36.htm">Balak entertains him</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/22.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/numbers/22.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth</b><br>This miraculous event highlights God's sovereignty and ability to use any means to communicate His will. In the ancient Near Eastern context, animals were not considered capable of human speech, making this event particularly striking. It underscores the theme of divine intervention found throughout Scripture, such as when God uses unexpected means to fulfill His purposes (e.g., the burning bush in <a href="/exodus/3.htm">Exodus 3</a>). This act also prefigures the New Testament concept of God using the foolish things of the world to shame the wise (<a href="/1_corinthians/1-27.htm">1 Corinthians 1:27</a>).<p><b>and she said to Balaam</b><br>Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, is a complex figure who appears in several biblical texts (Numbers 22-24, <a href="/deuteronomy/23-4.htm">Deuteronomy 23:4-5</a>, <a href="/joshua/13-22.htm">Joshua 13:22</a>). His story illustrates the tension between human free will and divine sovereignty. The donkey speaking to Balaam serves as a rebuke to the prophet, who, despite his spiritual insight, is blind to God's immediate presence and will. This moment foreshadows the New Testament's emphasis on spiritual blindness and the need for divine revelation (<a href="/john/9-39.htm">John 9:39-41</a>).<p><b>“What have I done to you</b><br>The donkey's question is a rhetorical device that highlights Balaam's unjust treatment of the animal. It serves as a mirror to Balaam's own spiritual blindness and stubbornness. This question can be compared to God's inquiries to humanity throughout Scripture, such as His questions to Adam and Eve in <a href="/genesis/3-9.htm">Genesis 3:9-13</a>, which are designed to provoke self-reflection and repentance.<p><b>that you have beaten me</b><br>The act of beating the donkey reflects Balaam's frustration and lack of understanding. In the cultural context, animals were often used for labor and transportation, but the ethical treatment of animals was also a concern, as seen in the Mosaic Law (<a href="/deuteronomy/25-4.htm">Deuteronomy 25:4</a>). This moment serves as a critique of Balaam's character and foreshadows his eventual downfall due to his greed and disobedience (<a href="/2_peter/2-15.htm">2 Peter 2:15-16</a>).<p><b>these three times?”</b><br>The repetition of "three times" emphasizes the completeness and severity of Balaam's actions. In biblical numerology, the number three often signifies completeness or perfection. This phrase also connects to other instances in Scripture where actions or events occur three times, such as Peter's denial of Christ (<a href="/matthew/26-34.htm">Matthew 26:34</a>) and Jesus' threefold restoration of Peter (<a href="/john/21-15.htm">John 21:15-17</a>). It serves as a reminder of the need for repentance and the possibility of redemption.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/b/balaam.htm">Balaam</a></b><br>A non-Israelite prophet or diviner who is summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. Balaam is known for his interactions with God and his eventual blessing of Israel instead of cursing them.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_donkey.htm">The Donkey</a></b><br>Balaam's donkey, which becomes a key figure in this account. God opens the donkey's mouth to speak to Balaam, highlighting the miraculous nature of the event.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_angel_of_the_lord.htm">The Angel of the LORD</a></b><br>A divine messenger who stands in the path of Balaam and his donkey, unseen by Balaam but visible to the donkey. The angel's presence is a critical element in the unfolding of God's will.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/moab.htm">Moab</a></b><br>The region ruled by King Balak, who is fearful of the Israelites and seeks Balaam's help to curse them.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The God of Israel, who intervenes in Balaam's journey, demonstrating His sovereignty and control over the situation.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_intervention.htm">Divine Intervention</a></b><br>God can use any means, even a donkey, to accomplish His purposes and communicate His will. We should remain open to unexpected ways God might speak to us.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_blindness.htm">Spiritual Blindness</a></b><br>Balaam's inability to see the angel initially highlights the danger of spiritual blindness. We must seek God's guidance to see His work in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god.htm">Obedience to God</a></b><br>Balaam's account reminds us of the importance of aligning our actions with God's will, even when it contradicts our desires or plans.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/humility_and_repentance.htm">Humility and Repentance</a></b><br>Balaam's encounter with the speaking donkey is a call to humility and repentance. We should be willing to admit when we are wrong and change our course.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>The account underscores God's ultimate control over all situations, reassuring us that His plans will prevail despite human intentions.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_22.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 22</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_a_donkey_speak_in_numbers_22.htm">How can a donkey speak in Numbers 22:28–30 without contradicting the known biological limitations of animals? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_balaam's_donkey_speak_to_him.htm">Why did Balaam's donkey speak to him?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_2_chr_35_20-22_conflict_with_the_bible.htm">Does 2 Chronicles 35:20–22, where Necho’s message is reportedly from God, conflict with the broader biblical narrative of prophets and divine warnings? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_the_bible_have_scientific_errors.htm">If God inspired the Bible, why does it include scientific errors (e.g., a flat Earth in Isaiah 40:22, talking donkeys in Numbers 22:28-30)?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/numbers/22.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(28) <span class= "bld">And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass.--</span>Many critics, who admit the miraculous character of the events recorded in this and the following verses, maintain the subjective character of some of the incidents, and they adduce arguments to show that, whilst the same results might have been brought about in either manner, it is more in accordance with the general analogy of Scripture to assign a subjective than an objective interpretation to the language which is here employed. The following remarks may be made in regard to this interpretation:--(1) Consistency requires that the whole of the narrative should be interpreted either objectively or subjectively; and hence, that if the voice of the ass be interpreted as a subjective impression made upon the mind of Balaam, the appearance of the angel must be understood in the same manner. In this case, however, a difficulty arises which is as great, or greater, than that which the subjective theory is thought to remove. If the appearance of the angel to Balaam was subjective, the appearance must have been subjective also to the ass. In this case, moreover, it may be fairly alleged that if the line which divides the intelligent from the brute creation is transgressed by ascribing articulate speech to the ass, much more is that line transgressed by the supposition that an impression was produced in a subjective manner upon the mind of the ass. But (2) the real question at issue is not whether the recorded results might have been accomplished on the supposition that the incidents are to be explained subjectively, but what is the interpretation which the narrative itself suggests, and which the words of St. Peter (<a href="/2_peter/2-16.htm" title="But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbade the madness of the prophet.">2Peter 2:16</a>) require? In regard to the narrative itself, there is no intimation given that its respective portions are to be differently interpreted; nor is it possible, without doing violence to its obvious meaning, to interpret some parts of it objectively and other parts subjectively; whilst in regard to the testimony of St. Peter, it would be impossible to conceive of a statement couched in terms more directly suggestive of a literal fact than the following--"The dumb ass, speaking with man's voice, forbad the madness of the prophet." In regard to the objections which have been raised to the literal interpretation, grounded on the absence of any expression of surprise on the part of Balaam, and of any allusion to the effect produced upon the Moabitish princes and Balaam's servants, it will suffice to observe (1) that here, as elsewhere, no just inference can be drawn from the silence of Scripture; and (2) that, as in the case of those who were with St. Paul as he went to Damascus, we have no means of determining, on the assumption of the presence of witnesses throughout the miraculous occurrences described, what amount of those occurrences they may have seen and heard. The angel was visible, in the first instance, only to the ass. In like manner the angel may have been visible only to Balaam, not to those who were with him. So also in regard to the voice: it may have been audible only to him to whom it was addressed.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/22.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 28.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass.</span> On the face of it this expression would seem decisive that an audible human voice proceeded from the ass's mouth, as St. Peter beyond doubt believed: <span class="greek">ὑποζύγιον</span> <span class="greek">ἀφωνον ἐν ἀνθρώτου φωνῇ φθεγξάμενον</span>. It is truly said, however, that a passing illusion of this kind, while it testifies that the Apostle understood the words, like all his contemporaries, in their most natural and simple sense, does not oblige us to hold the same view; if he was mistaken in this matter, it does not at all affect the inspired truth of his teaching. Two theories, therefore, have been proposed in order to avoid the difficulties of the ordinary belief, while vindicating the reality of the occurrence. It has been held by some that the whole affair took place in a trance, and resembled St. Peter's vision of the sheet let down from heaven (<a href="/acts/10-10.htm">Acts 10:10</a>), which we rightly conceive to have been purely subjective. This is open to the obvious and apparently fatal objection that no hint is given of any state of trance or ecstasy, and that, on the contrary, the wording of the narrative as given to us is inconsistent with such a thing. In verse 31 Balaam's eyes are said to have been opened so that he saw the angel; but to have the eyes open so that the (ordinarily) invisible became visible, and the (otherwise) inaudible became audible, was precisely the condition of which Balaam speaks (<a href="/numbers/24-3.htm">Numbers 24:3, 4</a>) as that of trance. According to the narrative, therefore, Balaam was in an ecstasy, if at all, after the speaking of the ass, and not before. By others it has been put forward, somewhat confusedly, that although Balaam was in his ordinary senses, he did not really hear a human voice, but that the "cries" of the ass became intelligible to his mind; and it is noted that as an augur he had been accustomed to assign meanings to the cries of animals. If instead of "cries" we read "brayings," for the ass is endowed by nature with no other capacity of voice, being indeed one of the dumbest of "dumb" animals, we have the matter more fairly before us. To most people it would appear more incredible that the brayings of an ass should convey these rational questions to the mind of its rider than that the beast should have spoken outright with a man's voice. It would indeed seem much more satisfactory to regard the story, if we cannot accept it as literally true, as a parable which Balaam wrote against himself, and which Moses simply incorporated in the narrative; we should at least preserve in this way the immense moral and spiritual value of the story, without the necessity of placing non-natural constructions upon its simple statements. Supposing the miracle to have really occurred, it must always be observed that the words put into the ass's mouth do nothing more than express such feeling's as a docile and intelligent animal of her kind would have actually felt. That domestic animals, and especially such as have been long in the service of man, feel surprise, indignation, and grief in the presence of injustice and ill-treatment is abundantly certain. In many well-authenticated cases they have done things in order to express these feelings which seemed as much beyond their "irrational" nature as if they had spoken. We constantly say of a dog or a horse that he can do everything but speak, and why should it seem incredible that God, who has given the dumb beast so close an approximation to human feeling and reason, should for once have given it human voice? With respect to Balaam's companions, their presence need not cause any difficulty. The princes of Midian and Moab had probably gone on to announce the coming of Beldam; his servants would naturally follow him at some little distance, unless he summoned them to his side. It is very likely too that Balaam was wont to carry on conversations with himself, or with imaginary beings, as he rode along, and this circumstance would account for any sound of voices which reached the ears of others. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/numbers/22-28.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Then the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">opened</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּפְתַּ֥ח</span> <span class="translit">(way·yip̄·taḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6605.htm">Strong's 6605: </a> </span><span class="str2">To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the donkey’s</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאָת֑וֹן</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ā·ṯō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_860.htm">Strong's 860: </a> </span><span class="str2">A female donkey</span><br /><br /><span class="word">mouth,</span><br /><span class="heb">פִּ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(pî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6310.htm">Strong's 6310: </a> </span><span class="str2">The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and she said</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתֹּ֤אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to Balaam,</span><br /><span class="heb">לְבִלְעָם֙</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḇil·‘ām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1109.htm">Strong's 1109: </a> </span><span class="str2">Balaam -- a prophet</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“What</span><br /><span class="heb">מֶה־</span> <span class="translit">(meh-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> </span><span class="str2">What?, what!, indefinitely what</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have I done</span><br /><span class="heb">עָשִׂ֣יתִֽי</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·śî·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to you</span><br /><span class="heb">לְךָ֔</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you have beaten</span><br /><span class="heb">הִכִּיתַ֔נִי</span> <span class="translit">(hik·kî·ṯa·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5221.htm">Strong's 5221: </a> </span><span class="str2">To strike</span><br /><br /><span class="word">me these</span><br /><span class="heb">זֶ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">three</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁלֹ֥שׁ</span> <span class="translit">(šā·lōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7969.htm">Strong's 7969: </a> </span><span class="str2">Three, third, thrice</span><br /><br /><span class="word">times?”</span><br /><span class="heb">רְגָלִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(rə·ḡā·lîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7272.htm">Strong's 7272: </a> </span><span class="str2">A foot, a step, the pudenda</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/22-28.htm">Numbers 22:28 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/numbers/22-28.htm">Numbers 22:28 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/numbers/22-28.htm">Numbers 22:28 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/numbers/22-28.htm">Numbers 22:28 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/numbers/22-28.htm">Numbers 22:28 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/22-28.htm">Numbers 22:28 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/22-28.htm">Numbers 22:28 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/22-28.htm">Numbers 22:28 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/22-28.htm">Numbers 22:28 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/numbers/22-28.htm">Numbers 22:28 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/numbers/22-28.htm">OT Law: Numbers 22:28 Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/22-27.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 22:27"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 22:27" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/22-29.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 22:29"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 22:29" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>