Numbers 22:28

“Then YHWH opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?””

Numbers 22:28 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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28

Theme · 2 Peter 2:15-16

Go to 2 Peter 2:15-16

2 Peter recalls Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, and the donkey that spoke with a human voice; Numbers 22:28 tells that YHWH opened the donkey’s mouth.

The same term appears in both passages.

  • בִלְעָםvilamH1109ΒαλαὰμBalaamG903“Balaam”

Numbers 22:28, word by word

Then YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears
openedיִּפְתַּחyiftach

open

To open a door, mouth or eyes.

Where else “yiftach” appears
the mouthפִּיpi

mouth

The part of the face with which one speaks, eats and kisses.

Where else “pi” appears
of the donkeyאָתוֹןaton

female donkey

Female donkey.

Where else “aton” appears
and she saidתֹּאמֶרtomer

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “tomer” appears
to Balaamבִלְעָםvilam

Balaam

Balaam, a diviner from Mesopotamia whom the king of Moab called to curse Israel. The name perhaps means "not of the people," that is, a foreigner.

Where else “vilam” appears
have I doneעָשִׂיתִיasiti

do

To carry out an act or to deal with someone in a certain way, for good or ill.

Where else “asiti” appears
you have struck meהִכִּיתַhikita

strike

To give a blow to someone or something, with the hand or a weapon.

Where else “hikita” appears
threeשָׁלֹשׁshalosh

three

A quantity of three: three persons or things together.

Where else “shalosh” appears
timesרְגָלִיםregalim

time

Each of the occasions when something happens.

Where else “regalim” appears

The context

27And the donkey saw the angel of YHWH and lay down under Balaam; and Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with the stick.

28 · This verse (above)

29And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me! If only there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you!”

Read all of Numbers 22

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