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Numbers 24:3-5
New English Translation
Numbers 24:3-5
New English Translation
3 Then he uttered this oracle:[a]
“The oracle[b] of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eyes are open,[c]
4 the oracle of the one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
although falling flat on the ground[d] with eyes open:[e]
5 ‘How[f] beautiful are your tents, O Jacob,
and your dwelling places, O Israel!
Footnotes
- Numbers 24:3 tn Heb “and he took up his oracle and said.”
- Numbers 24:3 tn The word נְאֻם (neʾum) is an “oracle.” It is usually followed by a subjective genitive, indicating the doer of the action. The word could be rendered “says,” but this translations is more specific.
- Numbers 24:3 tn The Greek version reads “the one who sees truly.” The word has been interpreted in both ways, “shut” or “open.”
- Numbers 24:4 tn The phrase “flat on the ground” is supplied in the translation for clarity. The Greek version interprets the line to mean “falling asleep.” It may mean falling into a trance.
- Numbers 24:4 tn The last colon simply has “falling, but opened eyes.” The falling may simply refer to lying prone; and the opened eyes may refer to his receiving a vision. See H. E. Freeman, An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets, 37-41.
- Numbers 24:5 tn Here מָה (mah) has an exclamatory sense: “How!” (see Gen 28:17).
New English Translation (NET)
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