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Numbers 22:30

Balaam

28 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?

29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

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

32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he replied.
KJV
And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
WEB
The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” He said, “No.”
ASV
And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.
DARBY
And the ass said to Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine to this day? was I ever wont to do so to thee? And he said, No.
BLB
And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden always until this day? Have I at all been accustomed to do to you, [acting] this [way]?” And he said, “No.”
ÅB
Da sa eselhoppen til Bileam: Er ikke jeg din eselhoppe, som du har ridd på all din tid like til denne dag? Har jeg nogensinne hatt for vis å gjøre slik mot deg? Han sa: Nei!
OTB
Eselet sa til Bileam: «Er jeg ikke ditt eget esel, som du har ridd på hele ditt liv til denne dag? Har jeg noen gang hatt for vane å gjøre dette mot deg?» «Nei,» svarte han.
B1930
Da sa aseninnen til Bileam: Er ikke jeg din aseninne, som du har ridd på all din tid like til denne dag? Har jeg nogensinne hatt for vis å gjøre således mot dig? Han sa: Nei!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Peter 2:16

    But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

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  • 1 Corinthians 1:27–28

    But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

    Read in context