Numbers 24:20

King James Version

And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
He looked at `Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, `Amalek was the first of the nations; But his latter end shall come to destruction.

Lexham English Bible
And he looked at Amalek, uttered his oracle, and said, "Amalek is first of the nations, but his future will be forever ruin."

English Standard Version
Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said, "Amalek was the first among the nations, but its end is utter destruction."

New Century Version
Then Balaam saw Amalek and gave this message: "Amalek was the most important nation, but Amalek will be destroyed at last."

New English Translation
Then Balaam looked on Amalek and delivered this oracle: "Amalek was the first of the nations, but his end will be that he will perish."

Amplified Bible
Balaam looked at Amalek and took up his [fifth] discourse (oracle) and said: "Amalek was the first of the [neighboring] nations [to oppose the Israelites after they left Egypt], But his end shall be destruction."

New American Standard Bible
And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations, But his end shall be destruction."

Geneva Bible (1587)
And when he looked on Amalek, he vttered his parable, and sayd, Amalek was the first of the nations: but his latter ende shal come to destruction.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said,"Amalek was the first of the nations,But his end shall be destruction."

Contemporary English Version
"And I saw this vision about the Amalekites: Their nation is now great, but it will someday disappear forever.

Complete Jewish Bible
He saw ‘Amalek and made this pronouncement: "First among nations was ‘Amalek, but destruction will be its end."

Darby Translation
And he saw Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek is the first of the nations, but his latter end shall be for destruction.

Easy-to-Read Version
Then Balaam saw the Amalekites and said this: "Amalek is the strongest of all nations, but even Amalek will be destroyed!"

George Lamsa Translation
And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable and said, Amalek is the chief of the nations; but in the end he shall perish for ever.

Good News Translation
Then in his vision Balaam saw the Amalekites and uttered this prophecy: "Amalek was the most powerful nation of all, But at the end it will perish forever."

Christian Standard Bible®
Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem:

Literal Translation
And he looked upon Amalek, and took up his parable and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end is to destruction forever.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And wha he sawe ye Amalechites, he toke vp his parable, & sayde: Amalec the first amoge the Heithe, but at ye last thou shalt perishe vtterly.

American Standard Version
And he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; But his latter end shall come to destruction.

Bible in Basic English
Then, turning his eyes to Amalek, he went on with his story and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, but his part will be destruction for ever.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when he loked on Amaleck, he toke vp his parable, and said: Amaleck is the first of the nations, but his latter ende shall perishe vtterly.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said: Amalek was the first of the nations; but his end shall come to destruction.

King James Version (1611)
And when he looked on Amalek, he tooke vp his parable, and sayd, Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end shall bee, that hee perish for euer.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And having seen Amalec, he took up his parable and said, Amalec is the first of the nations; yet his seed shall perish.

English Revised Version
And he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; But his latter end shall come to destruction.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: "Amalek was first among the nations, but his end shall be destruction."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne he hadde seyn Amalech, he took a parable, and seide, Amalech is the bigynning of hethene men, whos laste thingis schulen be lost.

Young's Literal Translation
And he seeth Amalek, and taketh up his simile, and saith: `A beginning of the Goyim [is] Amalek; And his latter end -- for ever he perisheth.'

Update Bible Version
And he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; But his latter end will be to perish forever.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek [was] the first of the nations, but his latter end [shall be] that he shall perish for ever.

World English Bible
He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; But his latter end shall come to destruction.

New King James Version
Then he looked on Amalek, and he took up his oracle and said: "Amalek was first among the nations, But shall be last until he perishes."

New Living Translation
Then Balaam looked over toward the people of Amalek and delivered this message: "Amalek was the greatest of nations, but its destiny is destruction!"

New Life Bible
Then Balaam looked at Amalek and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations. But he will be destroyed in the end."

New Revised Standard
Then he looked on Amalek, and uttered his oracle, saying: "First among the nations was Amalek, but its end is to perish forever."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, when he saw Amalek, he took up, his parable, and said - The beginning of nations, - Amalek, But his latter end is even to perish.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he saw Amalec, he took up his parable, and said: Amalec the beginning of nations, whose latter ends shall be destroyed.

Revised Standard Version
Then he looked on Am'alek, and took up his discourse, and said, "Am'alek was the first of the nations, but in the end he shall come to destruction."

THE MESSAGE
Then Balaam spotted Amalek and delivered an oracle-message. He said, Amalek, you're in first place among nations right now, but you're going to come in last, ruined.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations, But his end shall be destruction."

Contextual Overview

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: ¹⁶ He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: ¹⁷ I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. ¹⁸ And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. ¹⁹ Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. ²⁰ And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. ²¹ And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. ²² Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. ²³ And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! ²⁴ And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the first of the nations: or, the first of the nations that warred against Israel, Exodus 17:8, Exodus 17:16

his latter end: Judges 6:3, 1 Samuel 14:48, 1 Samuel 15:3-8, 1 Samuel 27:8, 1 Samuel 27:9, 1 Samuel 30:1, 1 Samuel 30:17, 1 Chronicles 4:43, Esther 3:1, Esther 7:9, Esther 7:10, Esther 9:14

shall be that he perish for ever: or, shall be even to destruction, Exodus 17:14, 1 Samuel 15:3, 1 Samuel 15:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 14:7 - Amalekites Numbers 13:29 - Amalekites Deuteronomy 4:30 - in the latter Deuteronomy 25:17 - General 1 Samuel 15:2 - Amalek 2 Samuel 1:8 - an Amalekite 2 Peter 2:20 - the latter

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when he looked on Amalek,.... The country of Amalek, which lay to the south of the land of Canaan, Numbers 13:29 and which Balaam had a view of from the mountain of Peor, where he now was:

and he took up his parable, and said; the parable of his prophecy, as the Targum of Jonathan, and pronounced it aloud:

Amalek was the first of the nations; not the first nation in the world, nor the chief and principal for numbers, riches, or strength, but the first that made war with Israel, as all the three Targums paraphrase it, as they did, see Exodus 17:8,

but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever; this was threatened to them by the Lord upon that battle, and is confirmed by this prophecy of Balaam: and after this, orders were given to Israel to blot out their remembrance, Deuteronomy 25:19, and which, in a good measure, though not completely, was done in the times of Saul, 1 Samuel 15:8 and after that they were distressed by David, 1 Samuel 27:9 and the rest of them were smitten by the sons of Simeon, in the days of Hezekiah, 1 Chronicles 4:41, after which we hear of them no more: Amalek may be considered as a type of antichrist, the son of perdition, who shall go into it, shall come to his end, and there shall be none to help him; which will be true of all the antichristian party, the enemies of Christ, who will be destroyed by him, and perish eternally; see Daniel 11:45.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

When he looked - i. e., in spirit, as he saw the Star Numbers 24:17.

Amalek was the first of the nations - Rather, is pre-eminent among the neighboring nations: compare the same expression in Amos 6:1. Hence, the force of the words Numbers 24:7 “higher than Agag,” i. e., than the king of this powerful nation (compare Numbers 14:45; Exodus 17:8). This rank, due to the warlike prowess of the tribe, Balaam contrasts with its approaching downfall and extinction.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 24:20. Amalek was the first of the nations — The most ancient and most powerful of all the nations or states then within the view of Balaam; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever, or his posterity אחריתו acharitho, shall be destroyed, or shall utterly fail. This oracle began to be fulfilled by Saul, 1 Samuel 15:7-8, who overthrew the Amalekites, and took their king, Agag, prisoner. Afterwards they were nearly destroyed by David, 1 Samuel 27:8, and they were finally exterminated by the sons of Simeon in the days of Hezekiah, 1 Chronicles 4:41-43; since that time they have ceased to exist as a people, and now no vestige of them remains on the face of the earth; so completely is their posterity cut off, according to this prophecy. The marginal reading does not appear to give the proper sense.