He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed.”
Parallel Translations
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He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed.”
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He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
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He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, and cursed be every one that curseth thee.
Cross-references (11)
Passages linked to Numbers 24:9 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
- Genesis 27:29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers. Let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you. Blessed be everyone who blesses you.”
- Genesis 49:9 Judah is a lion’s cub. From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. Who will rouse him up?
- Numbers 23:24 Behold, a people rises up as a lioness. As a lion he lifts himself up. He shall not lie down until he eats of the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain.”
- Matthew 25:45 “Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’
- Job 38:39-40 “Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?
- Matthew 25:40 “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
- Job 41:10 None is so fierce that he dare stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?
- Psalms 2:12 Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.
- Psalms 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you will prosper.
- Acts 9:5 He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (11 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Num 24:9 He couched, he lay down as a…
Num 24:9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed [is] he that blesseth thee, and cursed [is] he that curseth thee.
Ver. 9. He lay down as a lion.] {See Trapp on "Gen 49:9"}
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And cursed is he.] Here the sorcerer pronounceth a curse upon himself; for he desired to curse Israel, and therefore in God’s account he did it.
“ Qui, quia non licuit, non facit, ille facit. ” - Ovid.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Having conquered his enemies the Canaanites, and their land,…
Having conquered his enemies the Canaanites, and their land, he shall quietly and securely rest and settle himself there.
Stir him up, i.e. awake or provoke him.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain He couched,.... Which may respect the posture of the…
He couched,.... Which may respect the posture of the armies of Israel in the plains of Moab:
he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion; as he would do, and did in the land of Canaan, when conquered by Israel; they took up their residence on it quietly, and dwelt in it securely, and in no more fear of their enemies than a lion, which lays itself down and sleeps without concern anywhere:
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who shall stir him up? who dare do it? as it would be a very rash, bold, daring, and dangerous thing to rouse up a lion lying down; so it is suggested it would be alike to provoke Israel to war at some certain times, in the days of David more especially:
blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee; which are the very words in which Isaac blessed Jacob, the ancestor of these people, Gen 27:29 and which blessing is confirmed by Balaam against his will, and whereby he cursed himself instead of Israel; for though he could not curse him with words, he had cursed him in his heart, and would have done it verbally if he could (a).
(a) "Qui, quia non licuit, non facit, ille facit". Ovid.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain He lay down - Having conquered his enemies the…
He lay down - Having conquered his enemies the Canaanites, and their land, he shall quietly rest and settle himself there.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 9. He couched, he lay down as a…
Verse 9. He couched, he lay down as a lion, c.] See the original terms explained Nu 23:24.
These oracles, delivered by Balaam, are evident prophecies of the victories which the Israelites should gain over their enemies, and of their firm possession of the promised land. They may also refer to the great victories to be obtained by the Lord Jesus Christ, that Lion of the tribe of Judah, over sin, death, and Satan, the grand enemies of the human race and to that most numerous posterity of spiritual children which should be begotten by the preaching of the Gospel.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 9. He couched — This is Jacob’s blessing upon…
9. He couched — This is Jacob’s blessing upon Judah, the ancestor of Jesus Christ, the lion of his tribe, predicting his final triumph over the world. Gen_49:9; Joh_16:33, notes.
Who shall stir him up — None. Hence his victory and peace will be lasting.
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Blessed… blesseth — The conclusion of Isaac’s blessing upon Jacob, Gen_27:29, and of Jehovah’s upon Abraham. Gen_12:3. Thus God shows that he keeps in mind his own promises, puts honour upon words spoken centuries before, and shows Balak the immutability of his purposes.
Cursed — God so identifies himself with his people that he punishes malevolence toward them as a wrong to himself. Mat_25:41-45.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 9. Blessed be every one &c.] The clauses occur…
9. Blessed be every one &c.] The clauses occur inverted in Gen_27:29.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (9) He couched, he lay down as a lion,…
(9) He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion.—The Hebrew labi (great lion) should be rendered “a lioness,” as in Num_23:24. The image of a lion connects this verse with the preceding verse: “he shall eat up the nations.” (See Note on Num_23:24.)
Blessed is he that blesseth thee . . . —Compare the original blessing which was pronounced upon Abraham by the Lord (Gen_12:3), and which was afterwards adopted by Isaac in the blessing which he pronounced upon Jacob (Gen_27:29).
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain A lion. yria. A great lion. aybil. See on…
A lion. yria. A great lion. aybil. See on Num_23:24, and Gen_49:9. Blessed is he that blesseth thee, &c. In these words Balaam seems to refer to the terms of Balak"s first message. ; (Num_22:6) Far from being affected by blessings and cursings from without, Israel was itself a source of blessing or cursing to others according as they treated him.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is…
Num_24:9
Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
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God will be merciful to such as be merciful to the Church
God will bless those that do good to His people, they shall not lose their labour that favour the Church, but such as are enemies unto them shall find God an enemy unto them. We see how God blessed the house of Laban for Jacobs sake (Gen_30:27); and the house of Potiphar for Josephs sake (Gen_39:3). Rahab, the harlot, receiving the spies and preferring their life before her own life, was herself saved from the common destruction. The widow of Sarepta giving hospitality to Elijah, and offering him part of that poor pittance which was left her and her son in those days of drought, was with all her family miraculously sustained in the famine, continuing three years and six months (1Ki_17:10). The Shunamite receiving the prophet Elisha, making him a chamber, providing all necessaries for him. She showed some mercy, but received more mercy; she ministered comfort to the prophet, but herself received more comfort.
1. First, God will honour all those that honour Him, He will despise all those that despise Him. This is the gracious promise that is gone out of His own mouth, which He cannot but verify, for He is not as man that He should lie; He is not as the son of man that He should deceive. This is it which the Lord spake by the mouth and ministry of Samuel concerning Eli and his house (1Sa_2:30). And, therefore, they shall prosper that love the Church (Psa_122:1-9).
2. Secondly, God hath appointed it to be the end of our obedience; our mercy to others shall procure mercy upon ourselves. This the apostle setteth down (Rom_2:10).
3. Thirdly, mercy, a notable fruit of love received, kindleth the hearts, and inflameth the affections of Gods people, both to praise God for them, and to pray unto God for them that have been helpful and serviceable to the Church.
The uses follow--
1. First, from hence we have the confirmation of another holy truth in our Christian religion, that merciful, liberal, and kind men, shall be surely blessed.
2. Secondly, it is our duty to love Gods people, seeing such as favour them do fare the better for them.
3. Thirdly, hereby we are warned to exhort one another to this duty, and by all means to provoke one another to mercy, in regard of the great recompense of reward that is laid up for merciful men.
4. Lastly, this doctrine is both a great encouragement unto us in well doing and a great comfort in all adversities. (W. Attersoll.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 General Information:
General Information:
Balaam finishes the prophecy under the control of the Spirit of God.
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He crouches down like a lion, like a lioness
In this simile, Balaam compares the Israelites to both male and female lions. This means they are dangerous and always ready to attack. (See: Simile)
Who dares disturb him?
Balaam uses a question to warn all the people to not provoke the Israelites. This can be translated as a statement. AT: "No one dares to disturb him!" (See: Rhetorical Question)
May everyone who blesses him be blessed; may everyone who curses him be cursed
This can be stated in active form. AT: "May God bless those who bless the Israelites; may he curse those who curse the Israelites" (See: Active or Passive)
translationWords
lions
bless
curse
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.