"And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?"
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Balaam Meaning in the Bible
Balaam
boy
Balaam means "Devourer of the people; Lord of the people", a boy's name of Hebrew origin. Balaam appears in the King James Bible, and Numbers 22:28 is the passage most often tied to it. Balaam — who could prophesy beautifully but lived corruptly — warns that spiritual gifting without spiritual integrity is the most dangerous combination. He spoke God's words but served his own greed.
Is Balaam in the Bible?
Yes — Balaam appears in the King James Bible, including Numbers 22:28.
Pronunciation:/BAY-lum/
OriginHebrew
MeaningDevourer of the people; Lord of the people
What does Balaam mean?
Balaam is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning "Devourer of the people; Lord of the people". Balaam means "devourer of the people" or "lord of the people" in Hebrew.
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What does Balaam mean in the Bible?
Balaam means "Devourer of the people; Lord of the people" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Balaam means "devourer of the people" or "lord of the people" in Hebrew. He was a prophet-for-hire from Mesopotamia whose encounter with a talking donkey and whose inability to curse Israel make his story one of the Bible's most colorful narratives.
King Balak of Moab hired Balaam to curse Israel as they approached the Promised Land. On the journey, Balaam's donkey saw the Angel of the LORD blocking the path and refused to move. After Balaam struck the donkey three times, God opened the animal's mouth: "What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?" Then God opened Balaam's eyes to see the angel.
Three times Balak set up altars for Balaam to curse Israel, and three times God turned the curses into blessings. Balaam's most famous oracle includes the messianic prophecy: "There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel."
Yet Balaam's story doesn't end well. Unable to curse Israel directly, he counseled Balak to seduce Israel through Moabite women and idol worship — a strategy that succeeded. The New Testament uses Balaam as a warning about those who use spiritual gifts for profit.
Where does Balaam appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Balaam is connected to 1 key passage in the King James Bible, beginning with Numbers 22:28. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab."
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What are the variants and nicknames of Balaam?
Balaam has 1 recorded variant, short form, and translation across languages and biblical traditions.
Variants & related forms
Which books of the Bible mention Balaam?
Balaam is mentioned across 7 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Balaam?
Balaam — who could prophesy beautifully but lived corruptly — warns that spiritual gifting without spiritual integrity is the most dangerous combination. He spoke God's words but served his own greed.
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What names are related to Balaam?
Names like Balaam
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "Devourer of the people; Lord of the people" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Balaam
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
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Balaam name meaning: frequently asked questions
Yes — Balaam appears in the King James Bible, including Numbers 22:28.
Balaam means "Devourer of the people; Lord of the people." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in Numbers 22:28, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Hebrew. Balaam comes into English from Hebrew and carries the sense "Devourer of the people; Lord of the people." It appears in the King James Bible, including Numbers 22:28.
Common questions about the name Balaam
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Balaam?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Balaam?
You can read every verse where Balaam appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.