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Numbers 24:17

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— 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.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— I see him, but not now: I behold him, but not nigh: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of tumult.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of tumult.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not nigh: There cometh a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and he shall cut in pieces the corners of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— I see One, who is not now, I observe One, who is not nigh,—There hath marched forth a Star out of Jacob. And arisen a Sceptre out of Israel, That hath dishonoured the beard of Moab, Yea the crown of the head of all the tumultuous;
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— I see it, but not now; I behold it, but not near; A star hath proceeded from Jacob, And a sceptre hath risen from Israel, And hath smitten corners of Moab, And hath destroyed all sons of Sheth.
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near. A STAR SHALL RISE out of Jacob and a sceptre shall spring up from Israel: and shall strike the chiefs of Moab, and shall waste all the children of Seth
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— I shal see him, but not nowe: I shal behold him, but not neere: there shall come a starre of Iaakob, and a scepter shal rise of Israel, and shall smite the coastes of Moab, and destroy all the sonnes of Sheth.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: There shall come a starre out of Iacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— I have seen him, but not clearly enough; I beheld him, but he was not nigh; there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Prince shall rise out of Israel, and shall destroy the mighty men of Moab and subdue all the children of Sheth.
Brenton Greek Septuagint (LXX, Restored Names)
— I will point to him, but not now; I bless him, but he draws not near: a star shall rise out of Jacob, a man shall spring out of Israel; and shall crush the princes of Moab, and shall spoil all the sons of Seth.
Full Hebrew Names / Holy Name KJV (2008) [2] [3]
— I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Yaaqov, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Yisrael, and shall smite the corners of Moav, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

Strong's Numbers & Hebrew NamesHebrew Old TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
I shall see 7200
{7200} Prime
רָאָה
ra'ah
{raw-aw'}
A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitively, intransitively and causatively).
z8799
<8799> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Imperfect (See H8811)
Count - 19885
him, but not x3808
(3808) Complement
לֹא
lo'
{lo}
lo; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abstract negation); by implication no; often used with other particles.
now: x6258
(6258) Complement
אַתָּה
`attah
{at-taw'}
From H6256; at this time, whether adverbial, conjugational or expletive.
I shall behold 7789
{7789} Prime
שׁוּר
shuwr
{shoor}
A primitive root (rather identical with H7788 through the idea of going round for inspection); to spy out, that is, (generally) survey, (for evil) lurk for, (for good) care for.
z8799
<8799> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Imperfect (See H8811)
Count - 19885
him, but not x3808
(3808) Complement
לֹא
lo'
{lo}
lo; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abstract negation); by implication no; often used with other particles.
nigh: 7138
{7138} Prime
קָרוֹב
qarowb
{kaw-robe'}
From H7126; near (in place, kindred or time).
there shall come 1869
{1869} Prime
דָּרַךְ
darak
{daw-rak'}
A primitive root; to tread; by implication to walk; also to string a bow (by treading on it in bending).
z8804
<8804> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Perfect (See H8816)
Count - 12562
a Star 3556
{3556} Prime
כּוֹכָב
kowkab
{ko-kawb'}
Probably from the same as H3522 (in the sense of rolling) or H3554 (in the sense of blazing); a star (as round or as shining); figuratively a prince.
out of Ya`áköv יַעֲקֹב, 3290
{3290} Prime
יַעֲקֹב
Ya`aqob
{yah-ak-obe'}
From H6117; heel catcher (that is, supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch.
x4480
(4480) Complement
מִן
min
{min}
For H4482; properly a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses.
and a Sceptre 7626
{7626} Prime
שֵׁבֶט
shebet
{shay'-bet}
From an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion, that is, (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan.
shall rise 6965
{6965} Prime
קוּם
quwm
{koom}
A primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literally, figuratively, intensively and causatively).
z8804
<8804> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Perfect (See H8816)
Count - 12562
out of Yiŝrä´ël יִשׂרָאֵל, 3478
{3478} Prime
יִשְׂרָאֵל
Yisra'el
{yis-raw-ale'}
From H8280 and H0410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity.
x4480
(4480) Complement
מִן
min
{min}
For H4482; properly a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses.
and shall smite 4272
{4272} Prime
מחץ
machats
{maw-khats'}
A primitive root; to dash asunder; by implication to crush, smash or violently plunge; figuratively to subdue or destroy.
z8804
<8804> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Perfect (See H8816)
Count - 12562
the corners 6285
{6285} Prime
פֵּאָה
pe'ah
{pay-aw'}
Feminine of H6311; properly mouth in a figurative sense, that is, direction, region, extremity.
of Mô´äv מוֹאָב, 4124
{4124} Prime
מוֹאָב
Mow'ab
{mo-awb'}
From a prolonged form of the prepositional prefix 'm-' and H0001; from (her (the mother's)) father; Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants.
and destroy y6979
[6979] Standard
קוּר
quwr
{koor}
A primitive root; to trench; by implication to throw forth; also (denominative from H7023) to wall up, whether literally (to build a wall) or figuratively (to estop).
z8773
<8773> Grammar
Stem - Pilpel (See H8842)
Mood - Perfect (See H8816)
Count - 19
x4272
(4272) Complement
מחץ
machats
{maw-khats'}
A primitive root; to dash asunder; by implication to crush, smash or violently plunge; figuratively to subdue or destroy.
all x3605
(3605) Complement
כֹּל
kol
{kole}
From H3634; properly the whole; hence all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense).
the children 1121
{1121} Prime
בֵּן
ben
{bane}
From H1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like H0001, H0251, etc.).
of Šëŧ שֵׁת. 8352
{8352} Prime
שֵׁת
Sheth
{shayth}
From H7896; put, that is, substituted; Sheth, third son of Adam.
z8676
<8676> Grammar
Qere Reading

Where the translators of the Authorised Version followed the kethiv reading rather than the qere.
y8351
[8351] Standard
שֵׁת
sheth
{shayth}
Used in Numbers 24:17; from H7582; tumult.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Numbers 24:17

_ _ I shall see him — rather, “I do see” or “I have seen him” — a prophetic sight, like that of Abraham (John 8:56).

_ _ him — that is, Israel.

_ _ there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel — This imagery, in the hieroglyphic language of the East, denotes some eminent ruler — primarily David; but secondarily and pre-eminently, the Messiah (see on Genesis 49:10).

_ _ corners — border, often used for a whole country (Exodus 8:2; Psalms 74:17).

_ _ children of Sheth — some prince of Moab; or, according to some, “the children of the East.”

Matthew Henry's Commentary

See commentary on Numbers 24:15-25.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Numbers 24:17

I shall see him — Or, I have seen, or do see the star, and sceptre as it here follows, that is, a great and eminent prince, which was to come out of Israel's loins, the Messiah, as both Jewish and Christian interpreters expound it, who most eminently and fully performed what is here said, in destroying the enemies of Israel or of God's church, here described under the names of the nearest and fiercest enemies of Israel: And to him alone agrees the foregoing verb properly, I shall see him, in my own person, as every eye shall see him, when he comes to judgment. Not now — Not yet, but after many ages. A star — A title often given to, princes and eminent persons, and particularly to the Messiah, Revelation 2:28, Revelation 22:16. A sceptre — That is, a sceptre — bearer, a king or ruler, even that sceptre mentioned Genesis 49:10. The corners — The borders, which are often used in scripture for the whole country to which they belong. Of Sheth — This seems to be the name of some then eminent, though now unknown place or prince in Moab; there being innumerable instances of such places or persons sometime famous, but now utterly lost as to all monuments and remembrances of them.

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

Numbers 24:17

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a (i) Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the (k) corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of (l) Sheth.

(i) Meaning Christ.

(k) That is, the princes.

(l) He shall subdue all that resist: for of Sheth came Noah, and of Noah all the world.

Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
I shall see him:
The Targum of Onkelos translates this passage in the following manner: "I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but he is not near. When a king shall arise from the house of Jacob, and the Messiah be anointed from the house of Israel; he shall slay the princes of Moab, and rule over all the children of men." The marginal references will direct the reader to the fulfilment of these remarkable prophecies.
Job 19:25-27 For I know [that] my redeemer liveth, and [that] he shall stand at the latter [day] upon the earth: ... Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; [though] my reins be consumed within me.
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.
Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Jude 1:14-15 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, ... To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

a Star:

Matthew 2:2-9 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. ... When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
Luke 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star.

a Sceptre:

Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him [shall] the gathering of the people [be].
Psalms 45:6 Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom [is] a right sceptre.
Psalms 78:70-72 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: ... So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
Psalms 110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Luke 1:32-33 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: ... And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son [he saith], Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness [is] the sceptre of thy kingdom.

smite the corners of Moab:
or, smite through the princes of Moab,
1 Samuel 14:38 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
*marg.
Zechariah 10:4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.

Moab:

2 Samuel 8:2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And [so] the Moabites became David's servants, [and] brought gifts.
2 Kings 3:5 But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
2 Kings 3:26-27 And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through [even] unto the king of Edom: but they could not. ... Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him [for] a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to [their own] land.
1 Chronicles 18:2 And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, [and] brought gifts.
Jeremiah 48:45 They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.

all the children:

Genesis 4:25-26 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, [said she], hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. ... And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
Genesis 5:3-29 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat [a son] in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: ... And he called his name Noah, saying, This [same] shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.

Sheth:

Psalms 72:8-11 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. ... Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Gn 4:25; 5:3; 49:10. 1S 14:38. 2S 8:2. 2K 3:5, 26. 1Ch 18:2. Jb 19:25. Ps 45:6; 72:8; 78:70; 110:2. Is 9:7. Jr 48:45. Zc 10:4; 12:10. Mt 2:2. Lk 1:32, 78. He 1:8. 2P 1:19. Jde 1:11, 14. Rv 1:7; 11:15; 22:16.

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