Numbers 22:32

THE MESSAGE

God 's angel said to him: "Why have you beaten your poor donkey these three times? I have come here to block your way because you're getting way ahead of yourself. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she hadn't, I would have killed you by this time, but not the donkey. I would have let her off."

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
The angel of the LORD said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because your way is perverse before me:

King James Version
And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

Lexham English Bible
The angel of Yahweh said to him, "Why have you struck this donkey three times? Look, I have come out as an adversary because your conduct is perverse before me.

English Standard Version
And the angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me.

New Century Version
The angel of the Lord asked Balaam, "Why have you hit your donkey three times? I have stood here to stop you, because what you are doing is wrong.

New English Translation
The angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you because what you are doing is perverse before me.

Amplified Bible
The Angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your behavior was obstinate and contrary to Me.

New American Standard Bible
Then the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was reckless and contrary to me.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And the Angel of the Lord said vnto him, Wherefore hast thou nowe smitten thine asse three times? beholde, I came out to withstande thee, because thy way is not straight before me.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the angel of Yahweh said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary because your way was contrary to me.

Contemporary English Version
The angel said, "You had no right to treat your donkey like that! I was the one who blocked your way, because I don't think you should go to Moab.

Complete Jewish Bible
The angel of Adonai said to him, "Why did you hit your donkey three times like that? I have come out here to bar your way, because you are rushing to oppose me.

Darby Translation
And the Angel of Jehovah said to him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, it was I who came forth to withstand thee, for the way [thou walkest in] is for ruin before me.

Easy-to-Read Version
Then the Lord 's angel asked Balaam, "Why did you hit your donkey three times? I am the one who came to stop you. But just in time,

George Lamsa Translation
And the angel of the LORD said to him, Why have you struck your she-ass these three times? Behold, I went out to be an adversary against you, because you have directed your course contrary to me;

Good News Translation
The angel demanded, "Why have you beaten your donkey three times like this? I have come to bar your way, because you should not be making this journey.

Christian Standard Bible®
The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because I consider what you are doing to be evil.

Literal Translation
And the Angel of Jehovah said to him, Why have you struck your ass these three times? Behold, I have come out as an enemy because your way is contrary to Me.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the angell of the LORDE sayde vnto him: Wherfore hast thou smytte thine Asse now thre tymes? Beholde, I am come out to resiste ye, for yi waye is frowarde, & cotrary vnto me.

American Standard Version
And the angel of Jehovah said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me:

Bible in Basic English
And the angel of the Lord said to him, Why have you given your ass blows these three times? See, I have come out against you to keep you back, because your purpose is not pleasing to me.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the angell of the Lorde said vnto him: Wherfore hast thou smytten thine asse these three times? Beholde, I came out to withstande thee, because [thyne heart] hath declined out of the way before me.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the angel of the LORD said unto him: 'Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is contrary unto me;

King James Version (1611)
And the Angel of the Lord said vnto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine asse these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is peruerse before me.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the angel of God said to him, Why hast thou smitten thine ass this third time? and, behold, I came out to withstand thee, for thy way was not seemly before me; and when the ass saw me, she turned away from me this third time.

English Revised Version
And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me:

Berean Standard Bible
The Angel of the LORD asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before me.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
To whom the aungel seide, Whi `betist thou thi femal asse `the thridde tyme? Y cam to be aduersarie to thee, for thi weie is weiward, and contrarye to me;

Young's Literal Translation
and the messenger of Jehovah saith unto him, `Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? lo, I -- I have come out for an adversary, for [thy] way hath been perverse before me,

Update Bible Version
And the angel of Yahweh said to him, Why have you smitten your donkey these three times? look, I have come forth for an adversary, because your way is precipitous before me:

Webster's Bible Translation
And the angel of the LORD said to him, Why hast thou smitten thy ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because [thy] way is perverse before me:

World English Bible
The angel of Yahweh said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because your way is perverse before me:

New King James Version
And the Angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me.

New Living Translation
"Why did you beat your donkey those three times?" the angel of the Lord demanded. "Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me.

New Life Bible
The angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you hit your donkey these three times? See, I have come out against you, because your way was against me.

New Revised Standard
The angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the messenger of Yahweh said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass, these three times? Lo! I, myself, am come forth to withstand thee, because headlong was thy way before me.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the angel said to him: Why beatest thou thy ass these three times? I am come to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse, and contrary to me:

Revised Standard Version
And the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your ass these three times? Behold, I have come forth to withstand you, because your way is perverse before me;

New American Standard Bible (1995)
The angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me.

Contextual Overview

²⁴But as they were going through a vineyard, with a fence on either side, the donkey again saw God 's angel blocking the way and veered into the fence, crushing Balaam's foot against the fence. Balaam hit her again. ²⁶ God 's angel blocked the way yet again—a very narrow passage this time; there was no getting through on the right or left. Seeing the angel, Balaam's donkey sat down under him. Balaam lost his temper; he beat the donkey with his stick. ²⁸ Then God gave speech to the donkey. She said to Balaam: "What have I ever done to you that you have beat me these three times?" ²⁹ Balaam said, "Because you've been playing games with me! If I had a sword I would have killed you by now." ³⁰ The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your trusty donkey on whom you've ridden for years right up until now? Have I ever done anything like this to you before? Have I?" He said, "No." ³¹ Then God helped Balaam see what was going on: He saw God 's angel blocking the way, brandishing a sword. Balaam fell to the ground, his face in the dirt. ³² God 's angel said to him: "Why have you beaten your poor donkey these three times? I have come here to block your way because you're getting way ahead of yourself. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she hadn't, I would have killed you by this time, but not the donkey. I would have let her off." ³⁴ 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." ³⁵ But God 's angel said to Balaam, "Go ahead and go with them. But only say what I tell you to say—absolutely no other word." And so Balaam continued to go with Balak's nobles.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Wherefore: Numbers 22:28, Deuteronomy 25:4, Psalms 36:6, Psalms 145:9, Psalms 147:9, Jonah 4:11

withstand thee: Heb. be an adversary unto thee, Numbers 22:22

thy way: Deuteronomy 23:4, Proverbs 28:6, Micah 6:5, Acts 13:10, 2 Peter 2:14, 2 Peter 2:15

before me: Numbers 22:20, Numbers 22:22, Numbers 22:35, Exodus 3:2-6, Proverbs 14:2, Proverbs 28:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 8:1 - the cattle Ecclesiastes 11:9 - walk Jeremiah 3:21 - for they have

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the angel of the Lord said unto him,.... When risen up, and standing before him:

wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? the brute creatures are not to be beaten without cause, nor to be misused and abused by men, even their owners:

behold, I went out to withstand thee; the ass was not to be blamed, nor to be beaten for turning aside, or lying down, it was I that stood in the way, and hindered its going forward, and this was done by me on purpose to oppose and stop thee:

because thy way is perverse before me; the journey he took was not with his good liking and approbation, and especially seeing he went with an intention, if possible, to serve Balak, and curse Israel; the way of his heart was bad, which the Lord knew; it was not directed according to his will, but swerved from it; the Targum of Jonathan is,

"it is manifest before me that thou seekest to go and curse the people, and the thing is not agreeable to me.''

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Is perverse - Rather, is headlong. Compare Peter’s words 2 Peter 2:16, “the madness of the prophet.”