Numbers 24:8

⁶ They spread out like palm groves, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters.

⁷ Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.

God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.

⁹ He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”

¹⁰ Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.

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: God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.
KJV: God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.
WEB: God brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall consume the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows.
ASV: God bringeth him forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, And shall break their bones in pieces, And smite [them] through with his arrows.
DARBY: God brought him out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of a buffalo. He shall consume the nations his enemies, and break their bones, and with his arrows shall smite [them] in pieces.
BLB: God brings him out of Egypt; strength like a wild ox [is] unto him. He shall consume his enemies the nations, and their bones he shall break, and pierce [them] with his arrows.

ÅB: Gud førte ham ut av Egypt; styrke har han som en villokse; han skal fortære hedningefolkene som står ham imot, og knuse deres ben og gjennombore dem med sine piler.
OTB: Gud fører ham ut av Egypt; han har styrken til en vill okse. Han vil fortære nasjonene som er hans fiender, og vil knuse deres ben og gjennombore dem med sine piler.
B1930: Gud førte ham ut av Egypten; styrke har han som en villokse; han skal fortære hedningefolkene som står ham imot, og knuse deres ben og gjennembore dem med sine piler.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 45:5
Your arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s foes; the nations fall beneath your feet.
Read in context
Psalms 2:9
You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.”
Read in context
Numbers 23:22
God brought them out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox.
Read in context
Numbers 14:9
Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not be afraid of the people of the land, for they will be like bread for us. Their protection has been removed, and the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them!”
Read in context
Numbers 23:24
Behold, the people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion, not resting until they devour their prey and drink the blood of the slain.”
Read in context
Jeremiah 50:17
Israel is a scattered flock, chased away by lions. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria; the last to crush his bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”
Read in context
Isaiah 38:13
I composed myself until the morning. Like a lion He breaks all my bones; from day until night You make an end of me.
Read in context
Jeremiah 50:9
For behold, I stir up and bring against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north. They will line up against her; from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed.
Read in context