Numbers 23:15

Paleo Hebrew Niqqud

RBT Hebrew Interlinear:

ויאמר וַיֹּאמֶר

and he is saying

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ו

wāw

Definition

sequential 'and'

Root

From H8505; a prefix

Exhaustive

Vav Conversive/Consecutive: The category “vav conversive / vav consecutive” is not an ancient grammatical datum; it is a modern explanatory construct, developed by early Hebraists to force Biblical Hebrew into a Latin/chronological tense model that it simply does not share.

The notion arose in early modern grammar (17th–19th c.) when scholars assumed:
- verbs must encode tense,
- narratives must advance by past → present → future,
- therefore Hebrew forms that “don’t behave” must be converted.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

אמר

ʼâmar

Definition

to say (used with great latitude)

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H559

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אָמַר

verb • Root אמר • Strongs_Numbers • Page 155

1. (not used) to stand prominently upwards, to project upwards, hence to be elevated. 2. to say, to speak, to command; to press out sounds from within.

אָמַר

verb • Root אמר • Strongs_Numbers • Page 755

to say, speak

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אָמַר

verb • Root אמר • Page 58

1. to say (dico). Differs from דבר (to speak) in that אָמַר is almost uniformly followed by the words spoken (Lev. 1:2; Gen. 44:16). 2. to think. (Speaking and thinking).

אָמַר

verb • Root אמר • Page 59

To command (Est 1:17, 1 Chr 21:17); to praise (Ps 40:11). Niph.: to be said, to be called holy (Is 4:3). Hiph.: to declare solemnly, to promise (Deut 26:17, 18). Hithpa.: to boast one's self (Ps 94:4), or to exercise dominion.

conjunctive, Verb Qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0559:

No stats available

אל אֶל־

toward

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

אל

ʼêl

Definition

near, with or among; often in general, to

Root

(but only used in the shortened constructive form אל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e.

Exhaustive

(but only used in the shortened constructive form אל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e.; near, with or among; often in general, to; about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H413

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אֵל

pronominal stem • Strongs_Numbers • Page 127

Aramaic demonstrative pronoun, same as Hebrew II. in a variety of senses.

אֵל

noun masculine • Strongs_Numbers • Page 127

God (used in proper names like טָבְאֵל).

אֵל

noun • Strongs_Numbers • Page 127

Used as a groundform for אַלִי.

אֵל

pronoun demonstrative • Root אלה • Strongs_Numbers • Page 129

Pronominal stem abridged from 'ela, a demonstrative vocable. Demonstrative pronoun plural 'these'. A stronger form than 'ela, namely 'elle. Often found with the article הָאֵל (these).

אֵל

pronoun • Root אלה • Strongs_Numbers • Page 129

Aramaic equivalent to the Hebrew אֵל II. Found only in Ezr. 5, 15 K'ri, for which the K'tib has אֵלֶּה synonymous with the Targumic אִלֵּךְ.

אֵל

noun masculine • Root איל אול • Strongs_Numbers • Page 129

A very old Semitic name of the highest deity, which already appears in the pre-historic period: God. Stands both for the God of the Hebrews (Jehovah), gods of another nation, or idols. Also means 'strong' or 'mighty'.

אֵל

noun masculine • Strongs_Numbers • Page 130

God, Deity; applied to the true God, pagan gods, or in proper names. Also denotes strength, might, or power (e.g., in the phrase 'it is in the power of my hand').

אֵל

pronom. stem • Strongs_Numbers • Page 131

Collateral form of pronoun demonstrative אֵל (these).

אֵל

pronom. stem • Strongs_Numbers • Page 131

Construct of אֶל I. (preposition 'to', 'towards').

אֵל

abbreviation • Strongs_Numbers • Page 131

An abbreviation of God in proper names, e.g. אֶלְעָלָא, אֶלְזָבָד.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אֶל

chald. • Page 49

Chald. idem. [to Hebrew אַל]. Dan. 2: 24.

אֶל

preposition • Page 50

Primary preposition meaning: 1. to (sign of the dative); 2. towards, even to (Num. 24:1); 3. at, on, near (1 K. 13:20); 4. about, concerning (Gen. 20:2); 5. in, into (Gen. 8:9); 6. among (1 Sam. 10:22); 7. through (Ezek. 44:7); 8. for, on account of (1 K. 14:5); 9. in combination with other prepositions implies direction.

אֵל

m. verbal / dec. i. a. • Root אול • Page 49

1. strong, mighty (Ezek. 31:11). 2. strength, power (Gen. 31:29; Prov. 3:27). 3. most frequently God, applied both to Jehovah and heathen gods (Is. 44:10).

אֵל

pronoun • Page 49

pronoun plural; i. q. אֵלֶּה [these]. Also appears in the form הָאֵל.

אֵל

chald. • Page 50

Chald. idem. Ezra 5:15 Keri.

Preposition

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0413:

No stats available

בלק בָּלָק

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

בלק

Bâlâq

Definition

Balak, a Moabitish king

Root

from H1110 (בלק); waster;

Exhaustive

from בלק; waster; Balak, a Moabitish king; Balak.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H1111

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

בָּלַק

verb • Root בק • Consonantal / Medium • Page 251

To waste, destroy; Metaphor. to plunder.

Matched via consonantal key only

בָּלָק

noun proper masculine • Consonantal / Medium • Page 251

(waster, destroyer) Name of a king of Moab.

Matched via consonantal key only

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

בָּלַק

verb • Page 102

*to pour out, to make empty or desolate*. Is. 24:1. Pu. pass. Nah. 2:11.

בָּלָק

noun masculine • Page 102

(*a waste, emptiness*) proper name of a king of the Moabites. Num. 22:2; Josh. 24:9; Judg. 11:25; Mic. 6:5.

Noun proper name masculine

LXX: βαλακ

LXX Usage Statistics

H1111:

βαλακ 43× (100.0%)

התיצב הִתְיַצֵּב

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

יצב

yâtsab

Definition

to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue; present selves, remaining, resort, set (selves), (be able to, can, with-) stand (fast, forth, -ing, still, up).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H3320

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

יָצַב

verb • Root יצב • Strongs / High • Page 633

(Kal not used) Transitive: to set, to put, to place. Intransitive: to be firmly in a place, to stand firm or sit, to lie firmly.

יָצַב

verb • Root יצב • Strongs / High • Page 929

A root that interchanges with נָצַב, showing y/n interchange.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

יָצַב

verb • Root נצב • Page 292

To place. In Kal not used. In Hithpa. (הִתְיַצֵּב): (1) to place or present one's self (Ex. 2:4, Job 33:5); (2) to stand before any one, as a conqueror or in a judicial sense (Deut. 9:2, Job 41:2); (3) to stand by, to assist (Ps. 94:16).

Verb Hithpael imperative second person masculine singular

LXX: ἀντιστήσεται παραστῆναι κατάστητε στῆθι παράστηθι

LXX Usage Statistics

H3320:

ἀντιστήσεται 4× (7.8%)

παραστῆναι 4× (7.8%)

κατάστητε 4× (7.5%)

στῆθι 3× (5.3%)

παράστηθι 2× (3.9%)

δεῖ 2× (3.9%)

στῆτε 2× (3.6%)

παρέστη 2× (3.6%)

παρέστησαν 2× (3.6%)

παρεστάναι 2× (3.3%)

כה כֹּה

like this

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

כה

kôh

Definition

properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

Root

from the prefix k and H1931 (הוא);

Exhaustive

from the prefix k and הוא; properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now; also, here, + hitherto, like, on the other side, so (and much), such, on that manner, (on) this (manner, side, way, way and that way), + mean while, yonder.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H3541

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

כֹּה

adverb • Strongs / High • Page 668

A multi-purpose adverb with several meanings: 1. (Relative) how, in what way. 2. (Qualitative) as, so; used in comparisons, often doubled (כֹּה...כֹּה) to mean 'so...as'. 3. (Indefinite likeness) about, nearly, approximately, especially with numerals, measures, and time. 4. (Intensive) indicating completeness or a high degree: very, so much, even, extremely.

כֹּה

particle / adverb • Root כה • Strongs / High • Page 678

A demonstrative particle or adverb meaning: thus, so; now, here, there, in this or that way. It can refer to what precedes (by comparison) or what follows (in quotations). Also used specifically as a particle of time (now, so far), place (here, hither), or manner (in this manner, of this sort).

כֹּה

aramaic particle (aramaic) • Root כה • Strongs / High • Page 678

(Aramaic) The same as the Hebrew particle; hence, 'hitherto'.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

כֹּה

adv. prim. • Page 309

1. Thus (Gen. 32:5). 2. Here (Gen. 31:37). 3. In reference to time, now (Ex. 7:16).

Adverb

LXX: τάδε οὕτωσ '' --- ὧδε

LXX Usage Statistics

H3541:

τάδε 367× (64.0%)

οὕτωσ 158× (27.7%)

'' 20× (3.0%)

--- 10× (1.8%)

ὧδε 8× (1.4%)

ἐντεῦθεν 2× (0.4%)

τοῦτο 2× (0.3%)

על עַל־

upon/against/yoke

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

על

ʻal

Definition

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

Root

properly, the same as H5920 (על) used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following);

Exhaustive

properly, the same as על used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications; above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5921

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

עַל

adjective / noun • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1088

Highest; same as עֶלְיוֹן. This form is abridged from עָלָה and derived from עָלַי (like יַד from יָדָה I.), serving as the construct form עֲלֵי (out of עֲלַאי).

עַל

preposition / adverb • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1088

A preposition: upon, over, above, super, in the widest sense. It expresses protecting, covering, resting above upon (answering to 'where'); motion toward the upper surface (answering to 'whither?'); local direction to a more distant agency; or proximity/timing ('with, at'). Used figuratively as dat. commodi and incommodi, meaning a burden or duty upon one, or with certain verbs replacing the dative case. Also expresses motion down upon or up to, sometimes interchanging with אֶל.

עַל

preposition / adverb • Strongs / High • Page 1089

Preposition or Adverb meaning upon, over, at, above (denoting physical overtopping or mental superiority/dominion); expressing addition (to, reckoned to); proximity (by, around); suitability (according to); or occasionally used concessively (though, quanquam).

עַל

preposition / particle / conjunction • Strongs / High • Page 1090

Properly, over, upon, concerning, notwithstanding, against, towards, for the sake of, on account of. Used to express position, antithesis, or distance (away from). After certain verbs, signifies giving way, removing, or fleeing. Also forms various compound particles (e.g., עַל-מָה, עַל-כֵּן, עַל אֲשֶׁר).

עַל

preposition (aramaic) • Root אלא • Strongs / High • Page 1090

Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew עַל. Means: Upon, over, on account of, unto, against, or dative. (Used with suffixes like עָלַי, עָלֵךְ, עֲלֵיהוֹן).

עַל

noun / prepos. • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1092

Derivative of עָלָה, listed as a noun and a preposition.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

עַל

substantive / adverb / adjective • Root עלה • Page 507

Strictly a substantive meaning whatever is high or uppermost (Hos. 7:16, 11:7). Used as an adverb: (1.) 'above' (Gen. 27:39, 49:25; Ps. 50:4). Used as an adjective: (2.) 'high' (2 Sam. 23:1).

Preposition

LXX: ἐπὶ ἐπ' ἐφ' τοῦτο ''

LXX Usage Statistics

H5921a:

ἐπὶ 1722× (33.1%)

ἐπ' 701× (13.4%)

ἐφ' 195× (3.7%)

τοῦτο 116× (1.9%)

'' 116× (1.9%)

περὶ 113× (2.2%)

ἀπὸ 108× (2.1%)

--- 108× (2.1%)

αὐτοὺσ 95× (1.6%)

εἰσ 93× (1.8%)

עלתך עֹלָתֶךָ

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

עלה

ʻôlâh

Definition

a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)

Root

or עולה; feminine active participle of H5927 (עלה);

Exhaustive

or עולה; feminine active participle of עלה; a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke); ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to. See also עול.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5930

ך

Definition

your, personal posessive - noun suffix: 2nd person masculine singular

Root

Exhaustive

Personal posessive pronoun - suffix for nouns, adjectives and passive participles: 2nd person masculine singular

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H9021

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

עֹלָה

noun feminine • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1094

1. A whole burnt-offering, i.e. a sacrifice to be entirely consumed (holocauston). 2. (A contracted form from עָוֶל) perversity, wickedness. 3. (from עָלָה I.) a step, an ascent.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

עֹלָה

f. verbal / dec. x. • Root עלה • Page 509

1. Strictly what ascends the altar; a burnt-offering. Gen. 22: 3, 6; Lev. 1: 4 ff. 2. A step. Ezek. 40: 26.

Noun common feminine singular construct, Suffix pronominal second person masculine singular

LXX: ὁλοκαύτωμα ὁλοκαυτώματα ὁλοκαύτωσιν ὁλοκαυτώσεωσ ὁλοκαυτώσεισ

LXX Usage Statistics

H5930a:

ὁλοκαύτωμα 68× (23.9%)

ὁλοκαυτώματα 67× (24.1%)

ὁλοκαύτωσιν 31× (10.6%)

ὁλοκαυτώσεωσ 22× (7.5%)

ὁλοκαυτώσεισ 16× (5.9%)

ὁλοκαυτωμάτων 16× (5.6%)

'' 7× (2.4%)

ὁλοκάρπωσιν 6× (2.0%)

ὁλοκαύτωσισ 5× (1.7%)

--- 4× (1.6%)

ואנכי וְאָנֹכי

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ו

wə

Definition

and

Root

From H8505; a prefix

Exhaustive

The conjunctive ו is not merely a fixed coordinator with a stable semantic value (“and/but/or/then”). Its core function is linkage, not meaning. It binds units into a single discourse field—phrases, clauses, or whole scenes—while leaving the logical relation to be inferred from aspect, word order, genre, and context.

So the variability in translation (“and / but / or / even / then”) is not polyvalence in the particle; it is underspecification by design. The language expects the reader/hearer to perceive the relation rather than have it encoded.

Crucially, conjunctive ו does not imply temporal sequence. It implies continuity of attention. Think of it as:
- “this belongs with what precedes,”
- “remain within the same frame,”
“do not reset the discourse.”
This is why Hebrew can chain dozens of clauses with ו without subordination or explicit logic markers. The text advances by accumulation, not by branching syntactic trees. Meaning arises from the interaction:
- Aspect (qatal / yiqtol / participle),
- Position (fronted elements, resumptive nouns),
- Genre (law, narrative, oracle),
- Context (who speaks, to whom).
The ו simply keeps the circuit closed so these cues can operate together. Remove tense assumptions, and the system becomes coherent.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

אני

ʼănîy

Definition

I

Root

contracted from H595 (אנכי);

Exhaustive

lemma אני second vowel, corrected to אני; contracted from אנכי; I; I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, [idiom] which, [idiom] who.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H589

אנכי

ʼânôkîy

Definition

I

Root

sometimes, ; a primitive pronoun;

Exhaustive

sometimes, aw-no'-kee; a primitive pronoun; I; I, me, [idiom] which.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H595

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אֲנִי

pronoun personal • Root אנ • Strongs_Numbers • Page 162

I; the personal pronoun of the first person singular, common gender.

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אָנֹכִי

pronoun • Root אני • Strongs_Numbers • Page 163

pronominal stem; in pause אָנֹכִי personal pronoun I, a fuller form for אֲנִי

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אֲנִי

pronoun • Page 61

I. Also written אָנֹכִי. The form אֲנִי also occurs in the phrase חַי אָנִי (see חַי).

אָנֹכִי

pronoun • Page 61

I. Otherwise אֲנִי.

Conjunction, Pronoun personal first person both singular

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0589:

No stats available

H0595:

No stats available

אקרה אִקָּרֶה

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

קרה

qârâh

Definition

to light upon (chiefly by accident); causatively, to bring about; specifically, to impose timbers (for roof or floor)

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to light upon (chiefly by accident); causatively, to bring about; specifically, to impose timbers (for roof or floor); appoint, lay (make) beams, befall, bring, come (to pass unto), floor, (hap) was, happen (unto), meet, send good speed.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H7136

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

קָרָה

verb • Root קרה • Strongs / High • Page 1296

To meet, to encounter (sometimes hostilely); to happen, to befall, of good or bad fortune and accidents; to occur, to come to pass, of destinies; to come upon accidently/by chance.

קָרָה

verb hifil • Root קרה • Strongs / High • Page 1297

To cause to meet or come to, to let happen, to one (Hif. הִקְרָה).

קָרָה

verb • Root קרה • Strongs / High • Page 1297

To fit or pin together, beams, to bind, to connect; hence 1. to build. — 2. to join to one another, to put together in a series, huts or houses or villages and cities. (Kal not used.)

קָרָה

noun feminine • Root קרר • Strongs / High • Page 1297

Cold (derived from קָרַר).

קָרָה

verb • Root קרה • Strongs / High • Page 1296

To meet, to encounter one (often in a hostile sense); to happen, to befall (of good or bad fortune and accidents); to occur, to come to pass, of destinies.

קָרָה

verb • Root קרה • Strongs / High • Page 1297

To cause to meet or come to, to let happen, to one, to villages and cities.

קָרָה

verb • Root קרה • Strongs / High • Page 1297

II. To fit or pin together, beams, to bind, to connect; hence 1. to build. 2. to join to one another, to put together in a series, huts or houses, to villages and cities.

קָרָה

verb • Root קרה • Strongs / High • Page 1297

To erect (cities).

קָרָה

noun feminine • Root קרר • Strongs / High • Page 1297

Cold.

קָרָה

verb • Root קרה • Strongs / High • Page 1302

(Not used) tr. to arrange or bring together.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

קָרָה

noun feminine • Root קרר • Page 595

Cold. Prov. 25: 20.

קָרָה

verb • Root קרה • Page 595

To meet any one; spoken of persons (Deut. 25: 18), fate (Ecc. 2: 14), or punishment (1 Sam. 28: 10). Niph. to meet (Ex. 3: 18). Also to be by chance (2 Sam. 1: 6).

קָרָה

pi. v. • Root קרה • Page 595

To frame or lay beams for a house or gate, contignare, liter. to make the beams meet together.

Verb Niphal imperfect first person common singular

LXX: συναντήσεται στεγάσαι ἐστέγασαν

LXX Usage Statistics

H7136a:

συναντήσεται 2× (7.5%)

στεγάσαι 2× (7.5%)

ἐστέγασαν 2× (7.5%)

כה כֹּה׃

like this

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

כה

kôh

Definition

properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

Root

from the prefix k and H1931 (הוא);

Exhaustive

from the prefix k and הוא; properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now; also, here, + hitherto, like, on the other side, so (and much), such, on that manner, (on) this (manner, side, way, way and that way), + mean while, yonder.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H3541

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

כֹּה

adverb • Strongs / High • Page 668

A multi-purpose adverb with several meanings: 1. (Relative) how, in what way. 2. (Qualitative) as, so; used in comparisons, often doubled (כֹּה...כֹּה) to mean 'so...as'. 3. (Indefinite likeness) about, nearly, approximately, especially with numerals, measures, and time. 4. (Intensive) indicating completeness or a high degree: very, so much, even, extremely.

כֹּה

particle / adverb • Root כה • Strongs / High • Page 678

A demonstrative particle or adverb meaning: thus, so; now, here, there, in this or that way. It can refer to what precedes (by comparison) or what follows (in quotations). Also used specifically as a particle of time (now, so far), place (here, hither), or manner (in this manner, of this sort).

כֹּה

aramaic particle (aramaic) • Root כה • Strongs / High • Page 678

(Aramaic) The same as the Hebrew particle; hence, 'hitherto'.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

כֹּה

adv. prim. • Page 309

1. Thus (Gen. 32:5). 2. Here (Gen. 31:37). 3. In reference to time, now (Ex. 7:16).

Adverb

LXX: τάδε οὕτωσ '' --- ὧδε

LXX Usage Statistics

H3541:

τάδε 367× (64.0%)

οὕτωσ 158× (27.7%)

'' 20× (3.0%)

--- 10× (1.8%)

ὧδε 8× (1.4%)

ἐντεῦθεν 2× (0.4%)

τοῦτο 2× (0.3%)

RBT Translation:

No verse found

RBT Paraphrase:
No verse found

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
And he will say to Balak, Stand here by thy burnt-offering, and I will meet there.

LITV Translation:
And he said to Balak, Stand here by the burnt offering while I go to meet Him over there.

Brenton Septuagint Translation:
And Balaam said to Balak, Stand by thy sacrifice, and I will go to inquire of God.