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If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/numbers/22.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/numbers/22.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/numbers/22.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/numbers/22.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/numbers/22.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/numbers/22.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I certainly would have killed you just now, and let her live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/numbers/22.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/numbers/22.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/numbers/22.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If it had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let it live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/numbers/22.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The donkey saw Me and turned away from Me these three times. If she had not turned away from Me, I would have certainly killed you now, and let her live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/numbers/22.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I would have killed you by now and let her live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/numbers/22.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The donkey saw Me and turned away from Me these three times. If she had not turned away from Me, I would have killed you by now and let her live.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/numbers/22.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/numbers/22.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />If your donkey had not seen me and stopped those three times, I would have killed you and let the donkey live." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/numbers/22.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/numbers/22.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away from me, I would certainly have killed you by now but spared the donkey."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/numbers/22.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But your donkey saw me and turned aside three times. If it hadn't, I would have killed you and spared the donkey." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/numbers/22.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The donkey saw me and turned in front of me in the space of those three footsteps. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/numbers/22.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/numbers/22.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The donkey saw me and turned from me these three times. If she had not turned from me, I would have killed you but saved her alive."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/numbers/22.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />and the donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. Unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/numbers/22.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/numbers/22.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The donkey saw me, and turned away before me these three times. Unless she had turned away from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/numbers/22.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and the donkey sees Me and turns aside at My presence these three times; unless she had turned aside from My presence, surely I had also slain you now, and kept her alive.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/numbers/22.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and the ass seeth me, and turneth aside at my presence these three times; unless she had turned aside from my presence, surely now also, thee I had slain, and her kept alive.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/numbers/22.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the ass will see me, and will turn before me this three beats: unless she turned from before me for now also I had slain thee, and preserved her alive.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/numbers/22.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And unless the ass had turned out of the way, giving place to me who stood against thee, I had slain thee, and she should have lived. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/numbers/22.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And unless the donkey had turned aside from the way, allowing a place for my opposition, I would have killed you, and she would have lived.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/numbers/22.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />When the donkey saw me, she turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, you are the one I would have killed, though I would have spared her.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/numbers/22.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The donkey saw me, and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let it live.”<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 she-ass saw me and turned aside from me these three times; and if she had not turned aside from me, surely now I would have slain you, and saved her alive.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/numbers/22.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the she donkey saw me and turned aside from before me, behold, three times, and if she had not turned aside from before me, now I would have killed you and I would have let her live.<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 ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times; unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/numbers/22.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And if she had not turned out of the way, surely now, I should have slain thee, and should have saved her alive.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/numbers/22-33.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=7137" 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">32</span>The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before me. <span class="reftext">33</span><span class="highl"><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</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: wat·tir·’a·nî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs:: 1cs) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">saw me</a> <a href="/hebrew/5186.htm" title="5186: wat·têṭ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- A primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away; used in a great variety of application.">and turned away</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: lə·p̄ā·nay (Prep-l:: N-mpc:: 1cs) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">from 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> <a href="/hebrew/194.htm" title="194: ’ū·lay (Adv) -- Perhaps. Or rulay; from 'ow; if not; hence perhaps.">If she had not</a> <a href="/hebrew/5186.htm" title="5186: nā·ṭə·ṯāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- A primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away; used in a great variety of application.">turned away,</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: mip·pā·nay (Prep-m:: N-mpc:: 1cs) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6258.htm" title="6258: ‘at·tāh (Adv) -- Now. From eth; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive.">then by now</a> <a href="/hebrew/1571.htm" title="1571: gam- (Conj) -- Also, moreover, yea. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/2026.htm" title="2026: hā·raḡ·tî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To kill, slay. A primitive root; to smite with deadly intent.">I would surely have killed</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯə·ḵāh (DirObjM:: 2ms) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">you</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’ō·w·ṯāh (Conj-w:: DirObjM:: 3fs) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">and let her</a> <a href="/hebrew/2421.htm" title="2421: he·ḥĕ·yê·ṯî (V-Hifil-Perf-1cs) -- To live, to revive. A primitive root; to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive.">live.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">34</span>“I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”…<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/2-15.htm">2 Peter 2:15-16</a></span><br />They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. / 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="/jude/1-11.htm">Jude 1:11</a></span><br />Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/2-14.htm">Revelation 2:14</a></span><br />But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/23-4.htm">Deuteronomy 23:4-5</a></span><br />For they did not meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you. / Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, and the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/24-9.htm">Joshua 24:9-10</a></span><br />Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you, / but I would not listen to Balaam. So he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you from his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/6-5.htm">Micah 6:5</a></span><br />My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/13-2.htm">Nehemiah 13:2</a></span><br />because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-10.htm">1 Corinthians 10:10-11</a></span><br />And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. / Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/13-8.htm">Acts 13:8-11</a></span><br />But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. / Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas / and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/6-9.htm">1 Timothy 6:9-10</a></span><br />Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/31-24.htm">Genesis 31:24</a></span><br />But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/23-20.htm">Exodus 23:20-21</a></span><br />Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. / Pay attention to him and listen to his voice; do not defy him, for he will not forgive rebellion, since My Name is in him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/106-23.htm">Psalm 106:23</a></span><br />So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/63-9.htm">Isaiah 63:9</a></span><br />In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-14.htm">Hosea 13:14</a></span><br />I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain you, and saved her alive.</p><p class="hdg">surely</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/14-37.htm">Numbers 14:37</a></b></br> Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/16-33.htm">Numbers 16:33-35</a></b></br> They, and all that <i>appertained</i> to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/13-24.htm">1 Kings 13:24-28</a></b></br> And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/21-35.htm">Alive</a> <a href="/numbers/22-32.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/numbers/22-29.htm">Death</a> <a href="/numbers/22-32.htm">Donkey</a> <a href="/numbers/19-9.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/numbers/22-29.htm">Killed</a> <a href="/numbers/21-9.htm">Live</a> <a href="/numbers/22-3.htm">Presence</a> <a href="/numbers/10-9.htm">Saved</a> <a href="/numbers/22-24.htm">Side</a> <a href="/numbers/22-29.htm">Slain</a> <a href="/exodus/12-27.htm">Spared</a> <a href="/numbers/22-17.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/numbers/22-32.htm">Three</a> <a href="/numbers/22-32.htm">Times</a> <a href="/numbers/22-23.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/numbers/21-15.htm">Turneth</a> <a href="/numbers/22-26.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-6.htm">Unless</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/31-15.htm">Alive</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-14.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/numbers/23-10.htm">Death</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-14.htm">Donkey</a> <a href="/numbers/24-11.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/numbers/25-18.htm">Killed</a> <a href="/numbers/23-9.htm">Live</a> <a href="/numbers/27-19.htm">Presence</a> <a href="/numbers/31-15.htm">Saved</a> <a href="/numbers/24-6.htm">Side</a> <a href="/numbers/23-24.htm">Slain</a> <a href="/numbers/31-15.htm">Spared</a> <a href="/numbers/22-37.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/numbers/24-10.htm">Three</a> <a href="/numbers/24-1.htm">Times</a> <a href="/numbers/24-1.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/numbers/23-6.htm">Turneth</a> <a href="/numbers/24-1.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-30.htm">Unless</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>The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times.</b><br>In this passage, the angel of the Lord is speaking to Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet. The donkey's ability to see the angel while Balaam could not highlights the spiritual blindness of Balaam, who was enticed by the promise of wealth from Balak, king of Moab. The number three often signifies completeness or divine intervention in the Bible, as seen in other instances such as Peter's denial of Christ three times (<a href="/matthew/26-34.htm">Matthew 26:34</a>) and Jesus' resurrection on the third day (<a href="/1_corinthians/15-4.htm">1 Corinthians 15:4</a>). The donkey's actions demonstrate God's intervention to prevent Balaam from making a grave mistake, emphasizing the theme of divine protection and guidance.<p><b>If she had not turned away,</b><br>This phrase underscores the importance of the donkey's actions in saving Balaam's life. It suggests that God can use any means, even a humble animal, to accomplish His purposes and protect His people. This reflects the biblical theme that God often uses the weak or unexpected to fulfill His plans, as seen in <a href="/1_corinthians/1-27.htm">1 Corinthians 1:27</a>, where God chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. The donkey's turning away is a physical manifestation of divine mercy and intervention.<p><b>then by now I would surely have killed you</b><br>The angel's words indicate the seriousness of Balaam's disobedience and the imminent danger he was in. This serves as a warning about the consequences of opposing God's will. The phrase also reflects the justice of God, who does not tolerate rebellion or sin. It is a reminder of the severity of divine judgment, as seen in other biblical narratives such as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) and the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7-12).<p><b>and let her live.”</b><br>The decision to spare the donkey while threatening Balaam's life highlights the innocence and obedience of the animal compared to Balaam's misguided intentions. This can be seen as a type of Christ, where the innocent suffer for the sake of the guilty, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, who was without sin yet died for the sins of humanity (<a href="/2_corinthians/5-21.htm">2 Corinthians 5:21</a>). The sparing of the donkey also emphasizes God's compassion and care for all His creation, as seen in <a href="/proverbs/12-10.htm">Proverbs 12:10</a>, which speaks of the righteous caring for the needs of their animals.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/b/balaam.htm">Balaam</a></b><br>A non-Israelite prophet who is summoned by Balak, 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_angel_of_the_lord.htm">The Angel of the LORD</a></b><br>A divine messenger who stands in Balaam's path to oppose him. The Angel's presence signifies God's intervention and protection over Israel.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_donkey.htm">The Donkey</a></b><br>Balaam's donkey, which sees the Angel of the LORD and turns aside three times to avoid Him. The donkey's actions are pivotal in revealing God's will to Balaam.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/balak.htm">Balak</a></b><br>The king of Moab who fears the Israelites and seeks Balaam's help to curse them. His actions set the stage for the events in this chapter.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/moab.htm">Moab</a></b><br>The region where Balak rules and where the Israelites are encamped, causing fear among the Moabites.<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 communicate His will and protect His people. 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 of the LORD contrasts with the donkey's spiritual perception. We must seek spiritual discernment to recognize God's presence and guidance in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_and_repentance.htm">Obedience and Repentance</a></b><br>Balaam's account reminds us of the importance of aligning our actions with God's will. When confronted with our errors, we should be quick to repent and obey.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Despite human intentions, God's purposes will prevail. We can trust in His sovereign plan, even when circumstances seem contrary.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/m/moral_integrity.htm">Moral Integrity</a></b><br>Balaam's initial willingness to curse Israel for gain warns us against compromising our integrity for personal benefit.<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/how_to_explain_the_lion's_behavior.htm">In 1 Kings 13:24-28, how can we reconcile the lion's unnatural behavior with known animal instincts?</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><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><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/numbers/22.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(33) <span class= "bld">Unless she had turned from me.</span>--There may be an aposiopesis in this verse. <span class= "ital">Perhaps she turned aside from </span>(or, <span class= "ital">before</span>)<span class= "ital"> me </span>. . . <span class= "ital">for </span>(otherwise) <span class= "ital">now I had killed thee, &c. </span>According to this view the angel does not assign a reason why the ass turned aside, but leaves this to be inferred by Balaam. (Comp. Keil, <span class= "ital">in loc.</span>)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/22.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 33.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Unless ... surely.</span> <span class="hebrew">אוּלַיאּאּ־כִּי</span>. It is somewhat doubtful whether this phrase can be translated as in the Septuagint (<span class="greek">εἰ μὴ</span>.. <span class="greek">νῦν οῦν</span>)and in all the versions; but even if the construction of the sentence be broken, this is no doubt the meaning of it. <span class="cmt_word">And saved her alive.</span> Compare the case of the ass of the disobedient prophet in <a href="/1_kings/13-24.htm">1 Kings 13:24</a>. It is plainly a righteous thing with God that obedience and faithfulness should be respected, and in some sense rewarded, even in an ass. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/numbers/22-33.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">The donkey</span><br /><span class="heb">הָֽאָת֔וֹן</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">saw</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתִּרְאַ֙נִי֙</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tir·’a·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">me and turned away</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתֵּ֣ט</span> <span class="translit">(wat·têṭ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5186.htm">Strong's 5186: </a> </span><span class="str2">To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from me</span><br /><span class="heb">לְפָנַ֔י</span> <span class="translit">(lə·p̄ā·nay)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">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">שָׁלֹ֣שׁ</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">רְגָלִ֑ים</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 /><br /><span class="word">If she had not</span><br /><span class="heb">אוּלַי֙</span> <span class="translit">(’ū·lay)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_194.htm">Strong's 194: </a> </span><span class="str2">Perhaps</span><br /><br /><span class="word">turned away,</span><br /><span class="heb">נָטְתָ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(nā·ṭə·ṯāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5186.htm">Strong's 5186: </a> </span><span class="str2">To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I would surely have killed</span><br /><span class="heb">הָרַ֖גְתִּי</span> <span class="translit">(hā·raḡ·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2026.htm">Strong's 2026: </a> </span><span class="str2">To smite with deadly intent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאוֹתָ֥הּ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’ō·w·ṯāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> </span><span class="str2">Untranslatable mark of the accusative case</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by now,</span><br /><span class="heb">עַתָּ֛ה</span> <span class="translit">(‘at·tāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6258.htm">Strong's 6258: </a> </span><span class="str2">At this time</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and let her live.”</span><br /><span class="heb">הֶחֱיֵֽיתִי׃</span> <span class="translit">(he·ḥĕ·yê·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2421.htm">Strong's 2421: </a> </span><span class="str2">To live, to revive</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/22-33.htm">Numbers 22:33 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/numbers/22-33.htm">Numbers 22:33 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/numbers/22-33.htm">Numbers 22:33 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/numbers/22-33.htm">Numbers 22:33 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/numbers/22-33.htm">Numbers 22:33 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/22-33.htm">Numbers 22:33 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/22-33.htm">Numbers 22:33 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/22-33.htm">Numbers 22:33 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/22-33.htm">Numbers 22:33 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/numbers/22-33.htm">Numbers 22:33 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/numbers/22-33.htm">OT Law: Numbers 22:33 And the donkey saw me and turned (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/22-32.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 22:32"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 22:32" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/22-34.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 22:34"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 22:34" /></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>