Who was Balaam in the Bible?
Prophet, during the years in Egypt and the wilderness
Balaam was a pagan prophet from Pethor near the Euphrates River (Num.22.5). Balaam appears in 56 verses across 8 books of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Balaam?
Balaam was a pagan prophet from Pethor near the Euphrates River (Num.22.5). Balak, king of Moab, hired him to curse the Israelites as they approached Moabite territory (Num.22.6). Despite initial resistance, Balaam agreed to go with Balak's messengers after God permitted him, but only to speak what God told him (Num.22.7-21). On the way, Balaam's donkey saw the Angel of the Lord and saved Balaam from being killed (Num.22.22-35). In three oracles, Balaam blessed Israel instead of cursing them (Numbers 23-24). Later, Balaam was killed in Israel's battle against Midian (Num.31.8). He had advised the Midianites to entice Israel into idolatry and immorality (Num.31.16; Rev.2.14). Balaam's story is remembered as an example of God's sovereignty (Deu.23.4-5; Jos.24.9-10; Neh.13.2; Mic.6.5) and as a warning against greed and false teaching (2Pe.2.15; Jud.1.11).
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Where does Balaam appear in the Bible?
Balaam is referenced in 56 verses across 8 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- 2 Peter 2:15
- Deuteronomy 23:4
- Deuteronomy 23:5
- Joshua 13:22
- Joshua 24:10
- Jude 1:11
- Micah 6:5
- Nehemiah 13:2
- Numbers 22:5
- Numbers 22:7
- Numbers 22:8
- Numbers 22:9
- Numbers 22:10
- Numbers 22:12
- Numbers 22:13
- Numbers 22:14
- Numbers 22:16
- Numbers 22:18
- Numbers 22:20
- Numbers 22:21
- Numbers 22:23
- Numbers 22:25
- Numbers 22:27
- Numbers 22:28
Showing the first 24 of 56.
Open all 56 references in ProtosWhat else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Balaam.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Balaam?
Balaam appears in 56 verses across 8 books, most often in Numbers, which accounts for 47 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Balaam?
Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, 2 Peter, Jude, Micah, Nehemiah, Revelation.
Where can I read every verse about Balaam?
This page lists 24 of them. Protos carries all 56, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
