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Numbers 24:9

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 24:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “He couched, he lay down as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, And cursed be every one that curseth thee.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

He couched, he lay down as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, And cursed be every one that curseth thee.
Numbers 24:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 24

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6As valleys are they spread forth, As gardens by the river-side, As lign-aloes which Jehovah hath planted, As cedar-trees beside the waters.
7Water shall flow from his buckets, And his seed shall be in many waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted.
8God bringeth him forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, And shall break their bones in pieces, And smite [them] through with his arrows.
9He couched, he lay down as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, And cursed be every one that curseth thee.
10And Balak`s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
11Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honor.
12And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers that thou sentest unto me, saying,
← Numbers 24:8Numbers 24:10 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“He couched, etc.] Which may respect the posture of the armies of Israel in the plains of Moab: he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion; as he would do, and did in the land of Canaan, when conquered by Israel; they took up their residence on it quietly, and dwelt in it securely, and in no more fear of their enemies than a lion, which lays itself down and sleeps without concern anywhere: who shall stir him up? who dare do it? as it would be a very rash, bold, daring, and dangerous thing to rouse up a lion lying down; so it is suggested it would be alike to provoke Israel to war at some certain times, in the days of David more especially: blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“He lay down - Having conquered his enemies the Canaanites, and their land, he shall quietly rest and settle himself there. Numbers 24:11”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“couched: Gen 49:9; Job 38:39, Job 38:40 who shall: Num 23:24; Job 41:10; Psa 2:12 Blessed: Gen 12:3, Gen 27:29; Psa 122:6; Mat 25:40, Mat 25:45; Act 9:5 Numbers 24:10”
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Related study paths

Read Numbers 24 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification