The Meaning of Numbers 22:4 Explained

Numbers 22:4

KJV: And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

YLT: and Moab saith unto the elders of Midian, 'Now doth the assembly lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the green thing of the field.' And Balak son of Zippor is king of Moab at that time,

Darby: And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this company lick up all that is round about us, as an ox licks up the green herb of the field. Now Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.

ASV: And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Moab  said  unto the elders  of Midian,  Now shall this company  lick up  all [that are] round about  us, as the ox  licketh up  the grass  of the field.  And Balak  the son  of Zippor  [was] king  of the Moabites  at that time. 

What does Numbers 22:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 22:1-20 - Balaam Sent For, To Curse Israel
These chapters present a surprising contrast between the covetous prophet and his sublime prophecies. It is clearly possible to be the mouthpiece of truth and yet have neither part nor lot in it.
Balak, as had been predicted, was sore afraid. Compare Numbers 22:3 with Exodus 15:15. The elders of Midian were his friends and allies. It was very important for them to stand together. The journey across the desert to Mesopotamia, where Balaam lived, was long and tedious, but he was a famous magician, who could marshal unseen forces into the battle by his incantations. He knew the only true God, but loved the wages of unrighteousness and erred for reward. See 2 Peter 2:14-16; Judges 1:11.
He made up his mind to win Balak's promised gifts, and sought to persuade God to become his accomplice, first, by letting him go, and, secondly, by letting him say what Balak wished said. But God demands our loyalty and unison with Him, and will not swerve from the path of truth and righteousness by a hair's-breadth to help our desires and ambitions. [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 22:4 mean?

So said Moab to the elders of Midian now will lick up this company - everything around us as licks up an ox - the grass of the field And Balak son of Zippor [was] king of the Moabites at time that
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מוֹאָ֜ב אֶל־ זִקְנֵ֣י מִדְיָ֗ן עַתָּ֞ה יְלַחֲכ֤וּ הַקָּהָל֙ אֶת־ כָּל־ סְבִ֣יבֹתֵ֔ינוּ כִּלְחֹ֣ךְ הַשּׁ֔וֹר אֵ֖ת יֶ֣רֶק הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּבָלָ֧ק בֶּן־ צִפּ֛וֹר מֶ֥לֶךְ לְמוֹאָ֖ב בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִֽוא

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר  So  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
מוֹאָ֜ב  Moab 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.
זִקְנֵ֣י  the  elders 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: זָקֵן  
Sense: old.
מִדְיָ֗ן  of  Midian 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִדְיָן  
Sense: son of Abraham by Keturah and progenitor of the tribe of Midianites or Arabians.
עַתָּ֞ה  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
יְלַחֲכ֤וּ  will  lick  up 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: לָחַךְ  
Sense: to lick, lick up.
הַקָּהָל֙  this  company 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קָהָל  
Sense: assembly, company, congregation, convocation.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
כָּל־  everything 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
סְבִ֣יבֹתֵ֔ינוּ  around  us 
Parse: Adverb, first person common plural
Root: מוּסָב 
Sense: places round about, circuit, round about adv.
כִּלְחֹ֣ךְ  as  licks  up 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: לָחַךְ  
Sense: to lick, lick up.
הַשּׁ֔וֹר  an  ox 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֹׁור  
Sense: ox, bull, a head of cattle.
אֵ֖ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יֶ֣רֶק  the  grass 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יֶרֶק  
Sense: green, greenness, green plants, greenery.
הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה  of  the  field 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂדֶה 
Sense: field, land.
וּבָלָ֧ק  And  Balak 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בָּלָק  
Sense: a king of Moab who hired Balaam to curse Israel.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
צִפּ֛וֹר  of  Zippor 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: צִפֹּור  
Sense: father of Balak the king of Moab at the time of the exodus.
מֶ֥לֶךְ  [was]  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
לְמוֹאָ֖ב  of  the  Moabites 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.
בָּעֵ֥ת  at  time 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
הַהִֽוא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person feminine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.