Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Numbers 23:8–9

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?
For 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.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapter
More
Report an issueTell us about a text or study problem

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

2 selected · 8 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

10 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

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.

From verse 9

  1. Deuteronomy 33:28Rank 1 from verse 9
    Open

    28Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.

  2. Deuteronomy 32:8Rank 2 from verse 9
    Open

    8When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

  3. Exodus 33:16Rank 3 from verse 9
    Open

    16For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

  4. Esther 3:8Rank 4 from verse 9
    Open

    8¶ And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.

  5. Ezra 9:2Rank 5 from verse 9
    Open

    2For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

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

DEFINED WORDS

Numbers 23:9

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

see

↗

Sense 1: To perceive or behold with the eyes or in a vision. Sense 2: To observe, examine, discover, ascertain, consider, understand, know, or recognize. Sense 3: To visit, meet, converse with, or be in the presence of. Sense 4: To experience, undergo, endure, or enjoy. Sense 5: To attend to, take care, ensure, or beware.

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

COMBINED MEANING

behold

↗

1. Used as an attention word or command directing someone to look at or take notice of the person, thing, statement, or event presented: look; see; take notice. 2. As a verb, to look upon, see, observe, or witness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

lo

↗

An exclamation meaning look, see, behold, observe, or take notice, used to call immediate attention to what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

people

↗

Persons collectively; a nation, community, or group considered as a body.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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

alone

↗

1. Without others, company, or help; by oneself. 2. Only or solely. 3. In "let ... alone," to leave undisturbed or refrain from interfering with.

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

COMBINED MEANING

reckoned

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of reckon, meaning to count, calculate, consider, regard, or place to an account.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

nations

↗

Sense 1: Distinct peoples or political communities. Sense 2: The Gentile peoples as distinguished from Israel.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

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.

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

Selected passage

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.

Selected passage

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

Find 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.