Boy Old & New Testament Known
Balak
who lays waste or destroys
בָּלָק Βαλάκ ba.laq
Balak (Hebrew: בָּלָק, ba.laq) means “who lays waste or destroys”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 42 verses across 5 books of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears in the same passages as Agag.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Balak
son of Zippor
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 42 across 5 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Both
- Era
- Exodus
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Numbers 22:2 |
| Last appears | Revelation 2:14 |
| Cross-references | 573 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Balaam co-occurrence Appears with Balaam in Numbers 22.
- Zippor co-occurrence Appears with Zippor in Numbers 22.
- Beor co-occurrence Appears with Beor in Micah 6.
- Antipas co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Antipas.
- Jezebel co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Jezebel.
- Agag co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Agag.
- Gilead co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Gilead.
- Nahor co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Nahor.
Origin & meaning
A man of the Moabites living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.22.2;
son of: Zippor (H6834)
Also named: Balak (Βαλάκ "Balak" G0904)
§ Balak = "devastator"
a king of Moab who hired Balaam to curse Israel
Balak, son of Zippor, was the king of Moab who tried to curse Israel through Balaam.
The biblical story
Balak was the king of Moab during the time when the Israelites were approaching the Promised Land (Num.22.4). Fearing the large number of Israelites, Balak hired the pagan prophet Balaam to curse them (Num.22.5-6). Despite Balak's repeated attempts and offerings, Balaam could only bless Israel as God commanded (Numbers 23-24). Balak became angry with Balaam for not cursing Israel and sent him away (Num.24.10-11). Balak is mentioned in the farewell speeches of Joshua (Jos.24.9) and Jephthah (Jdg.11.25) as an example of how God protected Israel from their enemies. The prophet Micah also refers to Balak's story as a reminder of God's righteousness (Mic.6.5). In Rev.2.14, Balak is associated with Balaam's scheme to entice Israel into idolatry and immorality. Balak's actions demonstrate the futility of opposing God's plan and people.
Key verses
Balak appears in 41 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
Numbers 22:2 -
And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
Numbers 22:4 -
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
Numbers 22:7 -
And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
Numbers 22:10 -
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
Numbers 22:13
Show all 41 references
Numbers (37)
- Numbers 22:2
- Numbers 22:4
- Numbers 22:7
- Numbers 22:10
- Numbers 22:13
- Numbers 22:14
- Numbers 22:15
- Numbers 22:16
- Numbers 22:18
- Numbers 22:35
- Numbers 22:36
- Numbers 22:37
- Numbers 22:38
- Numbers 22:39
- Numbers 22:40
- Numbers 22:41
- Numbers 23:1
- Numbers 23:2
- Numbers 23:3
- Numbers 23:5
- Numbers 23:7
- Numbers 23:11
- Numbers 23:13
- Numbers 23:15
- Numbers 23:16
- Numbers 23:17
- Numbers 23:18
- Numbers 23:25
- Numbers 23:26
- Numbers 23:27
- Numbers 23:28
- Numbers 23:29
- Numbers 23:30
- Numbers 24:10
- Numbers 24:12
- Numbers 24:13
- Numbers 24:25
Joshua (1)
- Joshua 24:9
Judges (1)
- Judges 11:25
Micah (1)
- Micah 6:5
Revelation (1)
- Revelation 2:14