The Meaning of Numbers 24:4 Explained

Numbers 24:4

KJV: He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

YLT: An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God -- Who a vision of the Almighty seeth, Falling -- and eyes uncovered:

Darby: He saith, who heareth the words of God, who seeth the vision of the Almighty, who falleth down, and who hath his eyes open:

ASV: He saith, who heareth the words of God, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He hath said,  which heard  the words  of God,  which saw  the vision  of the Almighty,  falling  [into a trance], but having his eyes  open: 

What does Numbers 24:4 Mean?

Study Notes

falling into
i.e. prostrated by the prophetic impulse. See, 1 Samuel 19:24 ; Ezekiel 1:23 ; Daniel 8:18 ; 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 ; Revelation 1:10 ; Revelation 1:17 .

Context Summary

Numbers 24:1-14 - Balaam's Vision Of Israel's Prosperity
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Chapter Summary: Numbers 24

1  Balaam, leaving divinations, prophesies the happiness of Israel
10  Balak, in anger, dismisses him
15  He prophesies of the Star of Jacob, and the destruction of some nations

What do the individual words in Numbers 24:4 mean?

The utterance of him who hears the words of God who the vision of the Almighty sees who falls down and open wide with eyes
נְאֻ֕ם שֹׁמֵ֖עַ אִמְרֵי־ אֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר מַחֲזֵ֤ה שַׁדַּי֙ יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה נֹפֵ֖ל וּגְל֥וּי עֵינָֽיִם

נְאֻ֕ם  The  utterance 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
שֹׁמֵ֖עַ  of  him  who  hears 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אִמְרֵי־  the  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֵמֶר 
Sense: utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command.
אֵ֑ל  of  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
מַחֲזֵ֤ה  the  vision 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַחֲזֶה  
Sense: vision (in the ecstatic state).
שַׁדַּי֙  of  the  Almighty 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁדַּי  
Sense: almighty, most powerful.
יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה  sees 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָזָה  
Sense: to see, perceive, look, behold, prophesy, provide.
נֹפֵ֖ל  who  falls  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
וּגְל֥וּי  and  open  wide 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: גָּלָה  
Sense: to uncover, remove.
עֵינָֽיִם  with  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cd
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.