In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)
complete verse (Numbers 22:17)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 22:17:
- Kupsabiny: “I will bless you well and I shall do for you anything you ask. Come, please, come, come to curse these people for me.’ ’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
- Newari: “For I will honor you by giving [you] great rewards. And what you say, that I will do. Since it is like that, [just] come and curse these people."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
- Hiligaynon: “I will-pay you (sing.) well and I will-do whatever you (sing.) want. Well now, come here now and curse these people for me.’ ’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
- English: “I will pay you a lot of money/very well if you come, and I will do anything that you ask me to do. Just come and curse these Israeli people for me!’’” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Japanese honorifics (Numbers 22:17)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme rare (られ) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, ītsuke-rare-ru (言いつけられる) or “tell/command” is used.
Also, a benefactive construction is used. Here, kakete (かけて) or “cast upon” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”
(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
Translation commentary on Numbers 22:16-17
And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: Good News Bible uses indirect speech here by saying “They went to Balaam and gave him this message from Balak.” While this model may work in a number of languages, there is no reason to omit the phrase the son of Zippor since Zippor may have been better known than Balak at that time. Bible en français courant and PV also use indirect speech here, but they keep this phrase in Balak’s message by beginning it with “I, Balak, son of Zippor….” However, what Good News Bible, Bible en français courant, and PV do not take into account is that the expression Thus says Balak … mimics the so-called “divine messenger formula,” which is frequently used in the prophetic literature to indicate the beginning of an oracle from the LORD (see, for example, Jer 2.1; Ezek 16.3; Amos 1.3). Thus there may be an element of ironic usage here.
Let nothing hinder you from coming to me: Revised Standard Version omits the Hebrew particle meaning “please” (naʾ) here, as in verse 6 (see the comments there). Good News Bible keeps it by rendering this clause as “Please don’t let anything prevent you from coming to me!” The use of the word “Please” marks this request as urgent.
For I will surely do you great honor renders an emphatic Hebrew expression, which is literally “for to honor I will honor you greatly.” The Hebrew verb for “honor” is repeated, first as an infinitive absolute and then as a finite verb. This verb comes from the same root as the word translated “honorable” in verse 15. This clause does not specify what the honor will be, although it hints at material rewards or perhaps a position among Balak’s high court officials. Good News Bible says “I will reward you richly.” The sense of this rendering is wide enough to fit the context. Contemporary English Version has “I’ll pay you very well,” which narrows the meaning down too much to some monetary benefit and anyway is too explicit in the context of this diplomatic encounter.
And whatever you say to me I will do may be rendered “and I will do whatever you ask me to do.”
Come is better rendered “Please come” (Good News Bible), since the Hebrew particle naʾ occurs here again (see the comments above). Other possible models are “Do come” or “Just come” (Contemporary English Version).
Curse this people for me: See verse 6.
Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Translation commentary on Numbers 22:16-17
And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: Good News Bible uses indirect speech here by saying “They went to Balaam and gave him this message from Balak.” While this model may work in a number of languages, there is no reason to omit the phrase the son of Zippor since Zippor may have been better known than Balak at that time. Bible en français courant and PV also use indirect speech here, but they keep this phrase in Balak’s message by beginning it with “I, Balak, son of Zippor….” However, what Good News Bible, Bible en français courant, and PV do not take into account is that the expression Thus says Balak … mimics the so-called “divine messenger formula,” which is frequently used in the prophetic literature to indicate the beginning of an oracle from the LORD (see, for example, Jer 2.1; Ezek 16.3; Amos 1.3). Thus there may be an element of ironic usage here.
Let nothing hinder you from coming to me: Revised Standard Version omits the Hebrew particle meaning “please” (naʾ) here, as in verse 6 (see the comments there). Good News Bible keeps it by rendering this clause as “Please don’t let anything prevent you from coming to me!” The use of the word “Please” marks this request as urgent.
For I will surely do you great honor renders an emphatic Hebrew expression, which is literally “for to honor I will honor you greatly.” The Hebrew verb for “honor” is repeated, first as an infinitive absolute and then as a finite verb. This verb comes from the same root as the word translated “honorable” in verse 15. This clause does not specify what the honor will be, although it hints at material rewards or perhaps a position among Balak’s high court officials. Good News Bible says “I will reward you richly.” The sense of this rendering is wide enough to fit the context. Contemporary English Version has “I’ll pay you very well,” which narrows the meaning down too much to some monetary benefit and anyway is too explicit in the context of this diplomatic encounter.
And whatever you say to me I will do may be rendered “and I will do whatever you ask me to do.”
Come is better rendered “Please come” (Good News Bible), since the Hebrew particle naʾ occurs here again (see the comments above). Other possible models are “Do come” or “Just come” (Contemporary English Version).
Curse this people for me: See verse 6.
Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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