Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Numbers 23:7–8

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapterReport issue
More

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

2 selected · 28 available

Add or remove verses within this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

All 34 ranked passages are available for comparison.

From verse 7

  1. Deuteronomy 23:4Rank 1 from verse 7
    Open

    4Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.

  2. Numbers 22:5–6Rank 2 from verse 7
    Open

    5He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

    6Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

  3. Numbers 23:18Rank 3 from verse 7
    Open

    18And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:

  4. Numbers 24:3Rank 4 from verse 7
    Open

    3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

  5. Job 29:1Rank 5 from verse 7
    Open

    1MOREOVER Job continued his parable, and said,

  6. Micah 2:4Rank 6 from verse 7
    Open

    4¶ In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.

  7. Numbers 24:15Rank 7 from verse 7
    Open

    15¶ And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

  8. Numbers 24:23Rank 8 from verse 7
    Open

    23And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

  9. Psalms 78:2Rank 9 from verse 7
    Open

    2I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

  10. 1 Samuel 17:45Rank 10 from verse 7
    Open

    45Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

  11. 2 Samuel 23:9Rank 11 from verse 7
    Open

    9And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:

  12. Job 27:1Rank 12 from verse 7
    Open

    1MOREOVER Job continued his parable, and said,

  13. Mark 12:12Rank 13 from verse 7
    Open

    12And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

  14. Matthew 13:33Rank 14 from verse 7
    Open

    33¶ Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

  15. Matthew 13:35Rank 15 from verse 7
    Open

    35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

  16. Proverbs 26:2Rank 16 from verse 7
    Open

    2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

  17. 1 Samuel 17:10Rank 17 from verse 7
    Open

    10And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

  18. 1 Samuel 17:25–26Rank 18 from verse 7
    Open

    25And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.

    26And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

  19. 1 Samuel 17:36Rank 19 from verse 7
    Open

    36Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

  20. 2 Samuel 21:21Rank 20 from verse 7
    Open

    21And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.

  21. Ezekiel 17:2Rank 21 from verse 7
    Open

    2Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

  22. Ezekiel 20:49Rank 22 from verse 7
    Open

    49Then said I, Ah Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

  23. Genesis 10:22Rank 23 from verse 7
    Open

    22The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

  24. Genesis 28:2Rank 24 from verse 7
    Open

    2Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother.

  25. Genesis 28:7Rank 25 from verse 7
    Open

    7And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padan-aram;

  26. Habakkuk 2:6Rank 26 from verse 7
    Open

    6Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!

  27. Numbers 22:11Rank 27 from verse 7
    Open

    11Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

  28. Numbers 22:17Rank 28 from verse 7
    Open

    17For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

  29. Numbers 24:21Rank 29 from verse 7
    Open

    21And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.

From verse 8

  1. Numbers 23:23Rank 1 from verse 8
    Open

    23Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!

  2. Isaiah 44:25Rank 2 from verse 8
    Open

    25That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

  3. Numbers 23:20Rank 3 from verse 8
    Open

    20Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.

  4. Numbers 22:12Rank 4 from verse 8
    Open

    12And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

  5. Isaiah 47:12–13Rank 5 from verse 8
    Open

    12Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

    13Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Numbers 23:7

COMBINED MEANING

parable

↗

A figurative saying, comparison, or narrative that sets one matter beside another to convey meaning.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

east

↗

The direction of sunrise; lands or regions toward that direction.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

curse

↗

Sense 1: A pronouncement, sentence, or imposed condition of evil, loss, or judgment; an oath invoking such a penalty. Sense 2: As a verb, to pronounce judgment or evil upon, condemn, or revile.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

defy

↗

To dare; to provoke to combat or strife, by appealing to the courage of another; to invite one to contest; to challenge.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

Israel

↗

The name given to Jacob and, by extension, his descendants, their nation, or the people so called.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Numbers 23:8

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

curse

↗

Sense 1: A pronouncement, sentence, or imposed condition of evil, loss, or judgment; an oath invoking such a penalty. Sense 2: As a verb, to pronounce judgment or evil upon, condemn, or revile.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

whom

↗

The objective form of who, referring to the person or persons acted upon or related to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

defy

↗

To dare; to provoke to combat or strife, by appealing to the courage of another; to invite one to contest; to challenge.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

defied

↗

Past-tense or past-participial form of defy (to dare; to provoke to combat or strife, by appealing to the courage of another; to invite one to contest; to challenge).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · Numbers 23:1–10

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

23:1AND Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.

23:2And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.

23:3And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the Lord will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.

23:4And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.

23:5And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

23:6And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.

23:7And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.

Selected passage

23:8How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?

Selected passage

23:9For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.

23:10Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Ask a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.