Numbers 24:8

⁶ As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

⁷ He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

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.

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.

¹⁰ And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed 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
Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
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Psalms 2:9
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
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Numbers 23:22
God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
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Numbers 14:9
Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.
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Numbers 23:24
Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.
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Jeremiah 50:17
Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.
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Isaiah 38:13
I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.
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Jeremiah 50:9
For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.
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