The Meaning of Numbers 22:23 Explained

Numbers 22:23

KJV: And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

YLT: and the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand, and the ass turneth aside out of the way, and goeth into a field, and Balaam smiteth the ass to turn it aside into the way.

Darby: And the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field, and Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way.

ASV: And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the ass  saw  the angel  of the LORD  standing  in the way,  and his sword  drawn  in his hand:  and the ass  turned aside  out of the way,  and went  into the field:  and Balaam  smote  the ass,  to turn  her into the way. 

What does Numbers 22:23 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 22:23 mean?

And saw the donkey - the Angel of Yahweh standing in the way and with His sword drawn in His hand and turned aside the donkey out of the way and went into the field so struck Balaam the donkey to turn her back the onto road
וַתֵּ֣רֶא הָאָתוֹן֩ אֶת־ מַלְאַ֨ךְ יְהוָ֜ה נִצָּ֣ב בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ וְחַרְבּ֤וֹ שְׁלוּפָה֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ וַתֵּ֤ט הָֽאָתוֹן֙ מִן־ הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַיַּ֤ךְ בִּלְעָם֙ הָ֣אָת֔וֹן לְהַטֹּתָ֖הּ הַדָּֽרֶךְ

וַתֵּ֣רֶא  And  saw 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
הָאָתוֹן֩  the  donkey 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אָתֹון  
Sense: she-ass, she-donkey.
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.
מַלְאַ֨ךְ  the  Angel 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַלְאָךְ  
Sense: messenger, representative.
יְהוָ֜ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
נִצָּ֣ב  standing 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: הֻצַּב 
Sense: to stand, take one’s stand, stand upright, be set (over), establish.
בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ  in  the  way 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
וְחַרְבּ֤וֹ  and  with  His  sword 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
שְׁלוּפָה֙  drawn 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, feminine singular
Root: שָׁלַף  
Sense: to draw out or off, take off.
בְּיָד֔וֹ  in  His  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
וַתֵּ֤ט  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.
הָֽאָתוֹן֙  the  donkey 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אָתֹון  
Sense: she-ass, she-donkey.
מִן־  out 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ  of  the  way 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ  and  went 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה  into  the  field 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂדֶה 
Sense: field, land.
וַיַּ֤ךְ  so  struck 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
בִּלְעָם֙  Balaam 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בִּלְעָם 
Sense: the son of Beor, a man endowed with the gift of prophecy.
הָ֣אָת֔וֹן  the  donkey 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אָתֹון  
Sense: she-ass, she-donkey.
לְהַטֹּתָ֖הּ  to  turn  her  back 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, third person feminine singular
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
הַדָּֽרֶךְ  the  onto  road 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.