Bible Strands
Numbers 24:3
and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Balaam speaks immediately after the Spirit of God comes upon him and he observes Israel encamped tribe by tribe. The text identifies the speaker as Balaam son of Beor, delivering a formal prophetic declaration.
The words — The phrase mĕšālô (oracle/his) and nĕʾûm (utterance of) mark the message as a structured prophetic pronouncement. Yissa (lifted up) denotes the physical or rhetorical raising of this oracle for proclamation.
The thread — This structural marker repeats in Numbers 23:7 and reappears in Numbers 24:16 with nearly identical prophetic titles. The emphasis on open eyes directly echoes Numbers 22:31, where the LORD opens Balaam’s eyes to see the angel.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to note that the prophecy originates from a man whose spiritual perception has been divinely activated. It establishes a clear boundary between ordinary speech and Spirit-empowered utterance before the oracle’s content unfolds.
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The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
Cross-references
- Numbers 23:7 And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the mountains of the east. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me; come and denounce Israel!’
- Numbers 24:16 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
- Numbers 22:31 Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.
- Numbers 23:18 Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Arise, O Balak, and listen; give ear to me, O son of Zippor.
- Numbers 24:4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: