Lectionary Calendar
Friday, July 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

The Darby Translation

Numbers 22:34

And Balaam said to the Angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me; and now, if it be evil in thine eyes, I will get me back again.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Balaam;   Repentance;   Thompson Chain Reference - Confession of Sin;   Sin;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Desert, Journey of Israel through the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Midianites;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Balaam;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Kill, Killing;   Miracle;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Vision;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ass;   Balaam;   Balak;   Moab, Moabites;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Angels;   Miracles;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Balaam;   Balak;   Midian;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Canaan;   Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Balaam;   Numbers, Book of;   Repentance;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Balaam;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Confession of Sin;   Hafá¹­arah;   Joshua, the Samaritan Book of;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Bil`am said to the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I didn't know that you stood in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease you, I will get me back again.
King James Version
And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord , I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
Lexham English Bible
Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, "I have sinned because I did not know that you were standing to meet me in the road. Now, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back."
English Standard Version
Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord , "I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back."
New Century Version
Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord , "I have sinned; I did not know you were standing in the road to stop me. If I am wrong, I will go back."
New English Translation
Balaam said to the angel of the Lord , "I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood against me in the road. So now, if it is evil in your sight, I will go back home."
Amplified Bible
Balaam said to the Angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that You were standing in the way against me. But now, if my going displeases You, I will turn back."
New American Standard Bible
So Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back."
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Balaam saide vnto the Angel of the Lorde, I haue sinned: for I wist not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore if it displease thee, I will turne home againe.
Legacy Standard Bible
And Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. So now, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back."
Contemporary English Version
Balaam replied, "I was wrong. I didn't know you were trying to stop me. If you don't think I should go, I'll return home right now."
Complete Jewish Bible
Bil‘am said to the angel of Adonai , "I have sinned. I didn't know that you were standing on the road to block me. Now, therefore, if what I am doing displeases you, I will go back."
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Balaam said to the Lord 's angel, "I have sinned. I did not know that you were standing in the road. If I am doing wrong, I will go back home."
George Lamsa Translation
And Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I did not know that thou didst stand in the way against me; now therefore, if my mission is evil in thy eyes, I will turn back again.
Good News Translation
Balaam replied, "I have sinned. I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me; but now if you think it is wrong for me to go on, I will return home."
Christian Standard Bible®
Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the path to confront me. And now, if it is evil in your sight, I will go back.”
Literal Translation
And Balaam said to the Angel of Jehovah, I have sinned, for I did not know that You stood against me in the way. Now if evil is in Your eyes, I will turn back by myself.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then sayde Balaam vnto ye angell of ye LORDE: I haue synned, for I wyst not, that thou stodest in the waye agaynst me. And now yf it displease ye, I wil turne agayne.
American Standard Version
And Balaam said unto the angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
Bible in Basic English
And Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have done wrong, for I did not see that you were in the way against me: but now, if it is evil in your eyes, I will go back again.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Balaam sayde vnto the angell of the Lorde: I haue sinned, for I wyst not that thou stoodest in the way agaynst me: Nowe therefore if it displease thee, I wyll turne home agayne.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD: 'I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me; now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back.'
King James Version (1611)
And Balaam said vnto the Angel of the Lord, I haue sinned: for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against mee: Now therefore if it displease thee, I will get mee backe againe.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I did not know that thou wert standing opposite in the way to meet me; and now if it shall not be pleasing to thee for me to go on, I will return.
English Revised Version
And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
Berean Standard Bible
"I have sinned," Balaam said to the Angel of the LORD, "for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in Your sight, I will go back home."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Balaam seide, Y synnede, not witynge that thou stodist ayens me; and now, if it displesith thee that Y go, Y schal turne ayen.
Young's Literal Translation
And Balaam saith unto the messenger of Jehovah, `I have sinned, for I did not know that thou [art] standing to meet me in the way; and now, if evil in thine eyes -- I turn back by myself.'
Update Bible Version
And Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, I have sinned; for I didn't know that you stood in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease you, I will get myself back again.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displeaseth thee, I will return again.
World English Bible
Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, I have sinned; for I didn't know that you stood in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease you, I will get me back again.
New King James Version
And Balaam said to the Angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back."
New Living Translation
Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the Lord , "I have sinned. I didn't realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going."
New Life Bible
Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, "I have sinned. For I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. But now, if it does not please you, I will turn back."
New Revised Standard
Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord , "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now therefore, if it is displeasing to you, I will return home."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said Balaam unto the messenger of Yahweh - I have sinned, for I knew not, that, thou, wast stationed to meet me in the road, - Now, therefore, if it be displeasing in thine eyes, I must get me back again.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Balaam said: I have sinned, not knowing that thou didst stand against me: and now if it displease thee that I go, I will return.
Revised Standard Version
Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that thou didst stand in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in thy sight, I will go back again."
THE MESSAGE
Balaam said to God 's angel, "I have sinned. I had no idea you were standing in the road blocking my way. If you don't like what I'm doing, I'll head back."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back."

Contextual Overview

22 And God's anger was kindled because he went; and the Angel of Jehovah set himself in the way to withstand him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two young men were with him. 23 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. 24 And the Angel of Jehovah stood in a hollow of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25 And the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah, and she pressed herself against the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote her again. 26 Then the Angel of Jehovah went still further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah, and lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff. 28 And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 29 And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee! 30 And the ass said to Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine to this day? was I ever wont to do so to thee? And he said, No. 31 Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel of Jehovah standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed and prostrated himself on his face.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I Have sinned: Exodus 9:27, Exodus 10:16, Exodus 10:17, 1 Samuel 15:24, 1 Samuel 15:30, 1 Samuel 24:17, 1 Samuel 26:21, 2 Samuel 12:13, Job 34:31, Job 34:32, Psalms 78:34, Matthew 27:4, Matthew 27:5

if it displease thee: Heb. be evil in thine eyes, Numbers 22:12, Numbers 11:1, 1 Chronicles 21:7, Proverbs 24:18, *marg.

I will get: Job 34:31, Job 34:32

Reciprocal: Genesis 38:10 - displeased Genesis 48:17 - displeased him Deuteronomy 1:41 - We have sinned Joshua 7:20 - Indeed 1 Samuel 18:8 - displeased him 1 Samuel 29:7 - displease 1 Kings 9:12 - they pleased him not

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned,.... That is, in beating the ass; not that he was sensible of his sin of covetousness, and of the evil disposition of his mind, and of his wicked intention in going along with the princes to curse Israel, if possible, and get Balak's presents and preferments:

for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me; signifying, that if he had known it, he should not have smitten the ass, but submitted himself to the will of the angel:

now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again; which he spoke very coldly and faintly, not caring heartily to go back, unless forced to it; for seeing a drawn sword in his hand, he might be afraid of his life should he persist in his journey, and therefore feigns a readiness to go back, quitting it on condition that his going forwards was displeasing; whereas he knew it was, especially his going with an evil mind to hurt Israel if possible.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 22:34. If it displease thee, I will get me back again. — Here is a proof, that though he loved the wages of unrighteousness, yet he still feared God; and he is now willing to drop the enterprise if God be displeased with his proceeding. The piety of many called Christians does not extend thus far; they see that the thing displeases God, and yet they proceed. Reader, is this thy case?


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile