Bible Strands
Numbers 24:9
He crouches, he lies down like a lion, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Balaam delivers this oracle to King Balak regarding Israel during a third prophetic session after previously blessing the nation twice. The declaration occurs at a moment when Balak expects a curse but receives a proclamation of divine protection instead.
The words — The text uses כָּרַ֨ע (ka.Ra'), "it crouched," and שָׁכַ֧ב (sha.Khav), "it lay down," paired with the similes כַּ/אֲרִ֛י (ka./'a.Ri), "like a lion," and וּ/כְ/לָבִ֖יא (u./khe./la.Vi'), "like a lioness." It closes with מְבָרֲכֶ֣י/ךָ (me.va.ra.Khei./kha), "[those who] bless you," and בָר֔וּךְ (va.Rukh), "[be] blessed."
The thread — The blessing and curse formula directly echoes Genesis 12:3, while the lion posture mirrors Genesis 49:9. The assertion of unshakable dominion over hostile forces aligns with the theme in Genesis 27:29.
Why it lands — The verse states that Israel's security rests on God's active defense and demands acknowledgment that opposing them means opposing His declared will. It requires the reader to accept that blessing or cursing this people carries direct spiritual consequence.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
Cross-references
- Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
- Genesis 27:29 May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.”
- Genesis 49:9 Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?
- Numbers 23:24 Behold, the people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion, not resting until they devour their prey and drink the blood of the slain.”
- Matthew 25:45 Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’
- Job 38:39 Can you hunt the prey for a lioness or satisfy the hunger of young lions
- Matthew 25:40 And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
- Job 41:10 No one is so fierce as to rouse Leviathan. Then who is able to stand against Me?
- Psalms 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
- Psalms 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you prosper.