The Meaning of Numbers 22:33 Explained

Numbers 22:33

KJV: 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.

YLT: and the ass seeth me, and turneth aside at my presence these three times; unless she had turned aside from my presence, surely now also, thee I had slain, and her kept alive.'

Darby: And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times; had she not turned from me, I had now certainly slain thee, and saved her alive.

ASV: and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Numbers 22:33 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 22:21-40 - Balaam Warned What To Speak
If only Balaam had abided by his first answer to Balak's request, he would have been saved from the disgrace and suffering which ensued. But he seemed to think that it was possible to alter God's mind; hence his request to the second company of messengers that they give him time to ascertain God's will. Already that will had been clearly made known to him; what object had he in pressing for a further response?
When, finally, he was told that he might go, he rose up in the morning, saddled his ass, and started post-haste. He was trying to serve two masters-to speak as God bade him, but to please Balak and pocket his gold.
How many agencies God uses to arrest our evil courses! Peter specially refers to this incident, 2 Peter 2:16. Many cries are raised to stop the boat that is caught in the rapids above Niagara! Thus the way of transgressors is made hard by the love of God! [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 22

1  Balak's first message for Balaam is refused
15  His second message obtains him
22  An angel would have slain him, if he had not been saved by his donkey
36  Balak entertains him

What do the individual words in Numbers 22:33 mean?

And saw Me the donkey and turned aside from Me this [is] three times If not she had turned aside from Me surely by now also you I would have killed and her let live
וַתִּרְאַ֙נִי֙ הָֽאָת֔וֹן וַתֵּ֣ט לְפָנַ֔י זֶ֖ה שָׁלֹ֣שׁ רְגָלִ֑ים אוּלַי֙ נָטְתָ֣ה מִפָּנַ֔י כִּ֥י עַתָּ֛ה גַּם־ אֹתְכָ֥ה הָרַ֖גְתִּי וְאוֹתָ֥הּ הֶחֱיֵֽיתִי

וַתִּרְאַ֙נִי֙  And  saw  Me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
הָֽאָת֔וֹן  the  donkey 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אָתֹון  
Sense: she-ass, she-donkey.
וַתֵּ֣ט  and  turned  aside 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
לְפָנַ֔י  from  Me 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
זֶ֖ה  this  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
שָׁלֹ֣שׁ  three 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
רְגָלִ֑ים  times 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.
אוּלַי֙  If  not 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אוּלַי  
Sense: perhaps, peradventure.
נָטְתָ֣ה  she  had  turned  aside 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
מִפָּנַ֔י  from  Me 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
כִּ֥י  surely 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
עַתָּ֛ה  by  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
גַּם־  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
הָרַ֖גְתִּי  I  would  have  killed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: הָרַג  
Sense: to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand.
וְאוֹתָ֥הּ  and  her 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Direct object marker, third person feminine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הֶחֱיֵֽיתִי  let  live 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.

What are the major concepts related to Numbers 22:33?

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