Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

NUMBERS 22:11KJV
Know the Bible

Numbers 22:11 (KJV)

What does Numbers 22:11 mean?

Numbers 22:11 records Balak’s message to Balaam, asking him to come and curse the Israelites who have come out of Egypt and now cover the land, so that Balak might be able to defeat and drive them away. The verse shows Balak’s fear of Israel’s numbers and his hope that a curse will give him the upper hand.

In this verse, Balak, king of Moab, is speaking through messengers to Balaam, a well-known diviner. Balak describes the Israelites as a vast people who have left Egypt and now seem to fill the land ("covereth the face of the earth"). Balak’s request is urgent and strategic—he believes that Balaam’s curse could change the outcome of a coming conflict.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 22:11

  • "Curse" (קָבַב, qabab): This word means to pronounce a curse or speak harm over someone. Balak is not asking for a general insult, but for a specific act believed to have real power to harm the Israelites.
  • "Covereth" (כָּסָה, kasah): This word means to cover or conceal. Balak exaggerates the size of Israel, saying they "cover the face of the earth," expressing his alarm at their overwhelming presence.
  • "Face" (עַיִן, ayin): Literally "eye," but here it means "surface" or "face" of the land. The phrase paints a picture of the Israelites as so numerous they seem to blanket the landscape.
  • "Overcome" (לָחַם, lacham): This word means to fight or wage war. Balak’s hope is that with Balaam’s curse, he will be able to defeat the Israelites in battle.

Why Numbers 22:11 matters

  • Numbers 22:11 shows the depth of Balak’s fear and his belief in supernatural intervention as a way to solve political and military threats.
  • The verse highlights how the reputation of Israel’s exodus from Egypt had spread, causing anxiety among neighboring nations.
  • This request sets up the larger story of Balaam, showing the tension between human plans and God’s intentions for Israel.

Where else these words appear

“curse” Hebrew H6895 · used in 8 verses

  • Numbers 22:17 For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
  • Numbers 23:11 And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.
  • Numbers 23:25 And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.

“out” Hebrew H1644 · used in 45 verses

  • Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
  • Leviticus 21:7 They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.
  • 1 Chronicles 17:21 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

“covereth” Hebrew H3680 · used in 149 verses

  • Genesis 7:19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
  • 1 Samuel 19:13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
  • Proverbs 24:31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.