Numbers 24:23

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this?

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר א֕וֹי מִ֥י יִחְיֶ֖ה מִשֻּׂמ֥וֹ אֵֽל׃

Transliteration

And wayyiśśāʾ his məšālô and wayyōʾmar: ʾôy, who yiḥyeh from miśśumô ʾēl.

Grammar Details

*wayyiśśāʾ*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - 'and he took up'
*məšālô*: noun ms with 3ms suffix - 'his oracle/proverb'
*wayyōʾmar*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - 'and he said'
*ʾôy*: interjection - 'alas/woe'
*yiḥyeh*: qal imperfect 3ms - 'he will live'
*miśśumô*: preposition + qal infinitive construct with 3ms suffix - 'from his establishing'
*ʾēl*: noun ms - 'God/deity'

Word Meanings

*ʾôy*: alas/woe/ah
*miśśumô*: from his establishing/when he establishes/from his appointing
*ʾēl*: God/deity/Mighty One

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Num 23:23 : 23 Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; Neither is there any divination with Israel: Now shalt it be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!
2 Kgs 5:1 : 1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Jehovah had given victory unto Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, [but he was] a leper.
Mal 3:2 : 2 But who can abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap:

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