בִּלְעָם
Balaam
BDB lists 3 entries for ‘Balaam’ fuller range ↓
Full lexicon entry — Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
From Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
Where this word appears
Grammar key — what these labels mean
Part of speech
- Noun
- A naming word — a person, place, thing, or idea.
Noun type
- Proper
- A name of a specific person, place, or people (e.g. Abraham, Zion, Israel).
Every verse where H1109 appears — 57 distinct verses across 6 books. Click any verse to open its interlinear word-by-word view. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context — . Each verse’s Hebrew form is shown with its reference; the English is not keyword-highlighted, since the data carries no word-level English alignment. Use “Compare translations” on any verse to read it across multiple English versions. This concordance covers the Hebrew Bible; Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) occurrences are not indexed here.
Numbers 49 verses
- Numbers 22:5 בִּלְעָ֣ם n Proper He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they abide over against me.
- Numbers 22:7 בִּלְעָ֔ם n Proper The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
- Numbers 22:8 בִּלְעָֽם n Proper He said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Yahweh shall speak to me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
- Numbers 22:9 בִּלְעָ֑ם n Proper God came to Balaam, and said, What men are these with you?
- Numbers 22:10 בִּלְעָ֖ם n Proper Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, [saying],
- Numbers 22:12 בִּלְעָ֔ם n Proper God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people; for they are blessed.
- Numbers 22:13 בִּלְעָם֙ n Proper Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Get you into your land; for Yahweh refuses to give me leave to go with you.
- Numbers 22:14 בִּלְעָ֖ם n Proper The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.
- Numbers 22:16 בִּלְעָ֑ם n Proper They came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me:
- Numbers 22:18 בִּלְעָ֗ם n Proper Balaam answered the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of Yahweh my God, to do less or more.
- Numbers 22:20 בִּלְעָם֮ n Proper God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men are come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that shall you do.
- Numbers 22:21 בִּלְעָם֙ n Proper Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
- Numbers 22:23 בִּלְעָם֙ n Proper The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the way.
- Numbers 22:25 בִּלְעָ֖ם n Proper The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he struck her again.
- Numbers 22:27 בִּלְעָ֑ם בִּלְעָ֔ם n Proper n Proper The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
- Numbers 22:28 לְ/בִלְעָם֙ prep + n Proper Yahweh 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 22:29 בִּלְעָם֙ n Proper Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed you.
- Numbers 22:30 בִּלְעָ֗ם n Proper The donkey said to Balaam, Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? was I ever wont to do so to you? and he said, No.
- Numbers 22:31 בִלְעָם֒ n Proper Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
- Numbers 22:34 בִּלְעָ֜ם n Proper Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, I have sinned; for I didn't know that you stood in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease you, I will get me back again.
- Numbers 22:35 בִּלְעָ֗ם בִּלְעָ֖ם n Proper n Proper The angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
- Numbers 22:36 בִלְעָ֑ם n Proper When Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.
- Numbers 22:37 בִּלְעָ֗ם n Proper Balak said to Balaam, Didn't I earnestly send to you to call you? why didn't you come to me? am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?
- Numbers 22:38 בִּלְעָ֜ם n Proper Balaam said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
- Numbers 22:39 בִּלְעָ֖ם n Proper Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.
- Numbers 22:40 לְ/בִלְעָ֔ם prep + n Proper Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.
- Numbers 22:41 בִּלְעָ֔ם n Proper It happened in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there the utmost part of the people.
- Numbers 23:1 בִּלְעָם֙ n Proper Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams.
- Numbers 23:2 בִּלְעָ֑ם וּ/בִלְעָ֛ם n Proper conj + n Proper Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bull and a ram.
- Numbers 23:3 בִּלְעָ֜ם n Proper Balaam said to Balak, Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go: perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me; and whatever he shows me I will tell you. He went to a bare height.
- Numbers 23:4 בִּלְעָ֑ם n Proper God met Balaam: and he said to him, I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.
- Numbers 23:5 בִלְעָ֑ם n Proper Yahweh put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.
- Numbers 23:11 בִּלְעָ֔ם n Proper Balak said to Balaam, What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have blessed them altogether.
- Numbers 23:16 בִּלְעָ֔ם n Proper Yahweh met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak.
- Numbers 23:25 בִּלְעָ֔ם n Proper Balak said to Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.
- Numbers 23:26 בִּלְעָ֔ם n Proper But Balaam answered Balak, Didn't I tell you, saying, All that Yahweh speaks, that I must do?
- Numbers 23:27 בִּלְעָ֔ם n Proper Balak said to Balaam, Come now, I will take you to another place; peradventure it will please God that you may curse me them from there.
- Numbers 23:28 בִּלְעָ֑ם n Proper Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks down on the desert.
- Numbers 23:29 בִּלְעָם֙ n Proper Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams.
- Numbers 23:30 בִּלְעָ֑ם n Proper Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.
- Numbers 24:1 בִּלְעָ֗ם n Proper When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn't go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
- Numbers 24:2 בִלְעָ֜ם n Proper Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
- Numbers 24:3 בִּלְעָם֙ n Proper He took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, The man whose eye was closed says;
- Numbers 24:10 בִּלְעָ֔ם בִּלְעָ֗ם n Proper n Proper Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
- Numbers 24:12 בִּלְעָ֖ם n Proper Balaam said to Balak, Didn't I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,
- Numbers 24:15 בִּלְעָם֙ n Proper He took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, The man whose eye was closed says;
- Numbers 24:25 בִּלְעָ֔ם n Proper Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
- Numbers 31:8 בִּלְעָ֣ם n Proper They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they killed with the sword.
- Numbers 31:16 בִּלְעָ֔ם n Proper Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Yahweh.
Deuteronomy 2 verses
- Deuteronomy 23:4 בִּלְעָ֣ם n Proper because they didn't meet you with bread and with water in the way, when you came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
- Deuteronomy 23:5 בִּלְעָ֔ם n Proper Nevertheless Yahweh your God wouldn't listen to Balaam; but Yahweh your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because Yahweh your God loved you.
Joshua 3 verses
- Joshua 13:22 בִּלְעָ֥ם n Proper Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel kill with the sword among the rest of their slain.
- Joshua 24:9 לְ/בִלְעָ֥ם prep + n Proper Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel: and he sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you;
- Joshua 24:10 לְ/בִלְעָ֑ם prep + n Proper but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.
1 Chronicles 1 verse
Nehemiah 1 verse
Micah 1 verse
About this entry
At a glance — auto-summarized from this page’s data, not written by a person. Every figure links to its source below. This summary describes the numbers; it doesn’t interpret them.
בלעם (Bilʻâm) is a Hebrew name most often rendered “Balaam.” Numbers dominates its distribution — 49 of 57 verses. Spanning 57 verses in 6 books, it ranks among the moderately common words of the Hebrew Bible. It first appears in Numbers 22:5. The sections below give every occurrence and version rendering.
Gloss history
Strong's 1890 vs modern scholarship
About this word
Strong's H1109 catalogs a Hebrew word from the Hebrew Old Testament.
These counts are not copied from any lexicon or concordance. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged Hebrew Old Testament. What Lemma adds →
- 57
- distinct verses
- The word appears in 57 distinct verses.
- 6 / 39
- OT books
- The word appears in 6 of 39 Old Testament books.
- #629
- by frequency
- Top 1000 most frequent Hebrew words (rank 629 of 8,640 Hebrew words by occurrence).
View all 57 occurrences in the concordance →
Most concentrated in
- Numbers 49 verses 86%
- Joshua 3 verses 5%
- Deuteronomy 2 verses 4%
By section of the Old Testament
By traditional corpus
Conventional, traditional groupings — biblical authorship is debated, so this is a traditional corpus grouping, not an authorship claim. Each share is this word’s portion of its verses in that division of the Hebrew canon. Each figure is a share of the word’s 57 distinct verses.
- Torah (Pentateuch) 51 verses · 89%
- Prophets (Nevi'im) 4 verses · 7%
- Writings (Ketuvim) 2 verses · 4%
How translations render this word
Counts come from each version’s own published word-to-Strong’s tagging or interlinear alignment — an approximate guide to how each version renders this word, not a word-level alignment the data otherwise carries. Because each total is that version’s own tagged count, the per-version totals vary from one another and need not match the appearance or distinct-verse counts above. These counts may also differ from a printed concordance because Lemma counts each distinctly tagged rendering and does not collapse phrase taggings into a single head-word total. This is a fixed set of word-tagged versions (KJV, ASV, BSB, ULT) and does not change with the reading translation you choose elsewhere. Each version’s license is shown beside its name below (and on Sources).
BDB lists this Strong’s number as 2 distinct words (homographs). Each count above pools all of them and is not split by sense — see the Senses section below. A low-frequency rendering may belong to a different one of those words, not the primary meaning.
- King James Version†: Balaam 53×, Balaam's 3×
- American Standard Version†: Balaam 56×
- Berean Standard Bible†: Balaam 54×, Balaam’s 3×
- unfoldingWord Literal Text†: Balaam 60×
King James Version Public Domain
Renders H1109 across 61† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 5 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
American Standard Version Public Domain
Renders H1109 across 61† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 5 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Renders H1109 across 60† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 3 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 1 further occurrence.
unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
Renders H1109 across 61† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 1 rendering that appears only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Senses in the full BDB
What do BDB’s symbols mean?
BDB uses these scholarly abbreviations:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 𝔊 | the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation, LXX) |
| 𝔙 | the Vulgate (the Latin translation) |
| 𝔖 | the Syriac version (the Peshitta) |
| 𝔗 | the Targum (the Aramaic translation) |
| ψ | the Psalms |
| √ | root (the underlying root or stem) |
| ‖ | parallel passage (a synonymous or contrasted parallel) |
| † | the dagger: every passage where the word occurs is cited |
The 0 senses and sub-senses the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon distinguishes for this word, in lexicon order (not ranked by frequency), with BDB’s own verbatim wording and sub-sense lettering. Shown in Hebrew script with BDB’s own scholarly abbreviations. The condensed entry is in the Lexicon Entry tab. See also the Forms in the corpus table below.
בלעם I m. Balaam (according to Sta§ 293 = בלע + ם
בלעם II loc. town in Manasseh 1 Ch 6
Senses from the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon (Brown, Driver, Briggs; Oxford 1906 — public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). Full attribution on Sources.
Word origin
I. n.pr.m. Balaam (according to Sta§ 293 = בלע + ם; NbrStud. Bib. i, 226 proposes בל = בעל + (god) עם), son of בְּעוֹר, prophet from פְּתוֹר (q.v.):—Nu 22:5, 7, 8, 9 + 47 times Nu 22–24 (all JE) 31:8, 16 (P) Dt 23:5, 6 (D) (cf. RD Jos 13:22) Jos 24:9, 10 (E) Mi 6:5 Ne 13:2.
II. n.pr.loc. town in Manasseh 1 Ch 6:55; A Ιβλααμ, 𝔊L Ιεβλααμ = יִבְלְעָם (q.v.) Jos 17:11 + 2 times mod. Belʿame, 6 hours N. of Nâblus, BdPal. 228, so Surveyii. 47.
— Brown-Driver-Briggs (Oxford 1906, public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). See Sources.
Derived from בל (bal) (H1077) — not.
Jastrow Dictionary
A second Hebrew/Aramaic lexicon for comparison, covering Aramaic and post-biblical (Talmudic, Targumic, Midrashic) usage that the biblical-Hebrew BDB does not. Matched by lemma rather than by Strong’s number, so a lemma may carry more than one Jastrow headword (shown separately below), and the entries cover usage well beyond the Bible.
בִּלְעָם
- (b. h.) pr. n. m. Balaam, the gentile prophet of the Pentateuch. Snh. 105ᵃ ב׳ בַּלַּע עם Ar. (Var. in Ar., a. ed. בַּלָּא) devourer (destroyer) of the people; other homilet. etymology ibid. שבִּלָּה עם he ruined the people (through debauchery; Rashi: = בִּלְבֵּל). Gen. R. s. 65. Ab. V, 19 (as type of false teachers); a. fr.
A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (Marcus Jastrow; London, Luzac, 1903) — Public Domain. Digitized via Sefaria. Digitized via Sefaria. Full attribution on Sources.
Forms in the corpus
The 18 distinct written forms H1109 takes in the Hebrew Bible, most frequent first — each parse links to that state’s occurrences in the concordance. Hebrew forms include their vowel points and cantillation, so a single lemma takes many written forms.
| Form | Parsing | Example | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| בִּלְעָ֔ם | Noun, Proper | Deuteronomy 23:5 | 13 |
| בִּלְעָם֙ | Noun, Proper | Nehemiah 13:2 | 9 |
| בִּלְעָ֑ם | Noun, Proper | Numbers 22:9 | 7 |
| בִּלְעָ֖ם | Noun, Proper | 1 Chronicles 6:70 | 7 |
| בִּלְעָ֗ם | Noun, Proper | Numbers 22:18 | 6 |
| בִּלְעָ֣ם | Noun, Proper | Deuteronomy 23:4 | 4 |
| בִּלְעָ֜ם | Noun, Proper | Numbers 22:34 | 3 |
| בִלְעָ֑ם | Noun, Proper | Numbers 22:36 | 2 |
| בִלְעָ֜ם | Noun, Proper | Numbers 24:2 | 1 |
| בִלְעָם֒ | Noun, Proper | Numbers 22:31 | 1 |
| בִּלְעָ֥ם | Noun, Proper | Joshua 13:22 | 1 |
| בִּלְעָֽם | Noun, Proper | Numbers 22:8 | 1 |
| בִּלְעָם֮ | Noun, Proper | Numbers 22:20 | 1 |
| וּ/בִלְעָ֛ם | Noun, Proper | Numbers 23:2 | 1 |
| לְ/בִלְעָ֑ם | Noun, Proper | Joshua 24:10 | 1 |
| לְ/בִלְעָ֔ם | Noun, Proper | Numbers 22:40 | 1 |
| לְ/בִלְעָ֥ם | Noun, Proper | Joshua 24:9 | 1 |
| לְ/בִלְעָם֙ | Noun, Proper | Numbers 22:28 | 1 |
Same root — word family
Other BDB entries built from the same root as H1109, grouped by Strong’s listed origin. These share a root / origin per the lexicon — not necessarily a shared meaning. Each links to that word’s own entry.
Derives from
Shares the same root
Proper names from this root
People and places named from this root — a name, not an additional meaning of the word.
Compare all same-root words → 1 of the same-root words is a proper name (a person or place). They share a root, not necessarily a meaning.
Bible dictionary
Public-domain dictionary articles matched to this entry by name (Balaam). A biblical name can be shared by more than one person or place, so an article may treat several.
Easton's Bible Dictionary · M. G. Easton, 1897
Lord of the people; foreigner or glutton, as interpreted by others, the son of Beor, was a man of some rank among the Midianites (Num. 31:8; comp. 16). He resided at Pethor (Deut. 23:4), in Mesopotamia (Num. 23:7). It is evident that though dwelling among idolaters he had some knowledge of the true God; and was held in such reputation that it was supposed that he whom he blessed was blessed, and he whom he cursed was cursed. When the Israelites were encamped on the plains of Moab, on the east of Jordan, by Jericho, Balak sent for Balaam "from Aram, out of the mountains of the east," to curse them; but by the remarkable interposition of God he was utterly unable to fulfil Balak's wish, however desirous he was to do so. The apostle Peter refers (2 Pet. 2:15, 16) to this as an historical event. In Micah 6:5 reference also is made to the relations between Balaam and Balak. Though Balaam could not curse Israel, yet he suggested a mode by which the divine displeasure might be caused to descend upon them (Num. 25). In a battle between Israel and the Midianites (q.v.) Balaam was slain while fighting on the side of Balak (Num. 31:8).
The "doctrine of Balaam" is spoken of in Rev. 2:14, in allusion to the fact that it was through the teaching of Balaam that Balak learned the way by which the Israelites might be led into sin. (See NICOLAITANES.) Balaam was constrained to utter prophecies regarding the future of Israel of wonderful magnificence and beauty of expression (Num. 24:5-9, 17).
Smith's Bible Dictionary · William Smith, 1863
(B.C. 1451), the son of beor, a man endowed with the gift of prophecy. (Numbers 22:5) He is mentioned in conjunction with the five kings of Midian, apparently as a person of the same rank. (Numbers 31:8) cf. Numb 31:16 He seems to have lived at Pethor, (23:4; Numbers 22:5) on the river Euphrates, in Mesopotamia. Such was his reputation that when the Israelites were encamped in the plains of Moab, Balak, the king of Moab, sent for Balaam to curse them. Balaam at first was prohibited by God from going. He was again sent for by the king and again refused, but was at length allowed to go. He yielded to the temptations of riches and honor which Balak set before him; but God's anger was kindled at this manifestation of determined self-will, and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. See (2 Peter 2:16) Balaam predicted a magnificent career for the people whom he was called to curse, but he nevertheless suggested to the Moabites the expedient of seducing them to commit fornication. The effect of this is recorded in (Numbers 25:1) ... A battle was afterwards fought against the Midianites, in which Balaam sided with them, and was slain by the sword of the people whom he had endeavored to curse. (Numbers 31:8)
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary · Roswell D. Hitchcock, 1869
the ancient of the people; the destruction of the people
Classic public-domain reference works; full attribution on Sources.
Septuagint verse parallels
This word appears in 55 verses that also exist in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), out of the 57 Hebrew verses it occurs in. You can read those verses in Greek by switching the Old Testament edition to the Septuagint.
Read these verses in the Septuagint
This is a verse-level parallel only — the same verses exist in both the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments. No word-level Hebrew↔Greek correspondence is claimed: the data carries no such alignment, so no Greek word is shown as this Hebrew word’s translation. Coverage is not total — the Septuagint omits the deuterocanon and renumbers the Psalms, so some Hebrew verses have no direct Greek parallel.
