Balaam in the Bible — The Prophet Whose Donkey Saw the Angel
Balaam was a diviner from Mesopotamia hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse Israel as they approached his territory. God allowed him to go but sent the angel of the LORD to block his path. Balaam's donkey saw the angel and stopped three times — Balaam beat her. Then God opened the donkey's mouth and she spoke. Three times Balaam stood before Israel and instead of cursing, blessed them. His most famous utterance: Numbers 24:17 — 'a Star shall come out of Jacob' — a messianic prophecy fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Below are 6 key passages from the King James Version (KJV) on this theme.
What does the Bible say about balaam?
Who is Balaam in the Bible? A diviner hired by the king of Moab to curse Israel — whose donkey saw the angel of the LORD blocking the path and spoke to rebuke him. His prophecies over Israel include a stunning messianic prediction: 'A Star shall come out of Jacob.'
6 Bible Verses About Balaam (KJV)
“And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?”
Numbers 22:28 KJV — Balaam and His Donkey Read Numbers chapter 22 →
“And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:”
Numbers 22:32 KJV — Balaam and His Donkey Read Numbers chapter 22 →
“How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?”
Numbers 23:8 KJV Read Numbers chapter 23 →
“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.”
Numbers 24:17 KJV Read Numbers chapter 24 →
“Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”
Jude 1:11 KJV Read Jude chapter 1 →
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
2 Peter 2:15 KJV Read 2 Peter chapter 2 →
Read These Passages in Full Context
Frequently Asked Questions About Balaam in the Bible
- What does the Bible say about balaam?
- Balaam was a diviner from Mesopotamia hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse Israel as they approached his territory. God allowed him to go but sent the angel of the LORD to block his path. Balaam's donkey saw the angel and stopped three times — Balaam beat her. Then God opened the donkey's mouth and she spoke. Three times Balaam stood before Israel and instead of cursing, blessed them. His most famous utterance: Numbers 24:17 — 'a Star shall come out of Jacob' — a messianic prophecy fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Key KJV passages: Numbers 22:28, Numbers 22:32, Numbers 23:8, Numbers 24:17, Jude 1:11.
- What are the best Bible verses about balaam?
- The most important KJV passages on balaam include: Numbers 22:28, Numbers 22:32, Numbers 23:8, Numbers 24:17, Jude 1:11. Read all 6 passages free at The Living Sword Bible — no account, no ads.
- Where in the Bible does it talk about balaam?
- The Bible addresses balaam throughout both Testaments. Key references include Numbers 22:28, Numbers 22:32, Numbers 23:8, Numbers 24:17, Jude 1:11, 2 Peter 2:15. Explore every passage in context at thelivingsword.replit.app.
- What does the New Testament say about balaam?
- New Testament scriptures on balaam: Jude 1:11, 2 Peter 2:15. Read them free at The Living Sword Bible.
- What does the Old Testament say about balaam?
- Old Testament scriptures on balaam: Numbers 22:28, Numbers 22:32, Numbers 23:8, Numbers 24:17. See them in full context free at The Living Sword.
- How do I study Bible verses about balaam?
- The Living Sword Bible app offers word-by-word study with original Hebrew and Greek, multiple translations (KJV, World English Bible, Geneva Bible, Young's Literal, ASV, Darby), cross-references, and an AI companion that answers only from Scripture. Read all 6 passages on balaam at thelivingsword.replit.app — free, no account, no download required.
Read the Full Bible Free
The Living Sword is a free Bible app — no ads, no account, no paywall. Explore all 66 books, search the full text at Bible search, or browse all Bible topics.
Available translations: King James Version (KJV), World English Bible (WEB), Geneva Bible 1599, Darby Translation, Young's Literal Translation (YLT), American Standard Version (ASV), and the Living Sword Translation.