Numbers 22:34

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:

³³ 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.

And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

³⁵ And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

³⁶ And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.

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: “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.”
KJV: And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
WEB: Balaam said to the LORD’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again.”
ASV: And Balaam said unto the angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
DARBY: And Balaam said to the Angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me; and now, if it be evil in thine eyes, I will get me back again.
BLB: And Balaam said to the angel of YHWH, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood against me in the road. And now, if it is evil in your eyes, I will turn back by myself.”

ÅB: Da sa Bileam til Herrens engel: Jeg har syndet, fordi jeg ikke skjønte at du sto imot meg på veien; men hvis det er deg imot, så vil jeg vende tilbake.
OTB: Bileam sa til Herrens engel: «Jeg har syndet. Jeg skjønte ikke at du sto i veien for å motsette deg meg. Hvis du er misfornøyd, vil jeg gå tilbake.»
B1930: Da sa Bileam til Herrens engel: Jeg har syndet, fordi jeg ikke skjønte at du stod imot mig på veien; men hvis det er dig imot, så vil jeg vende tilbake.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 15:24
And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
Read in context
Job 34:31–32
Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
Read in context
2 Samuel 12:13
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
Read in context
1 Samuel 15:30
Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
Read in context
1 Samuel 26:21
Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
Read in context
1 Chronicles 21:7
And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.
Read in context
Matthew 27:4–5
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
Read in context
Exodus 10:16–17
Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.
Read in context