Balaam

American  

[bey-luhm] / ˈbeɪ ləm /

noun

1. (in the Bible) a Mesopotamian diviner who, when commanded by Balak to curse the Israelites, blessed them and uttered favorable prophecies after having been rebuked by the ass he rode.

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Balaam British  

/ ˈbeɪlæm /

noun

1. Old Testament a Mesopotamian diviner who, when summoned to curse the Israelites, prophesied future glories for them instead, after being reproached by his ass (Numbers 22–23)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Balaamitical
  adjective
• Balaamite
  noun

Etymology

Origin of Balaam

From Late Latin Balaam, from Greek Balaám, from Hebrew Bilʿām, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Renner successfully towed the car free, but when he got out, the plough began to move while empty, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said at the time.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2023

"He was being a great neighbor and he was plowing those roads for his neighbor," Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam told CNN.

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2023

Renner had just hopped out of his snowplow to talk with his family member when the Sno-Cat began to roll on its own, Balaam said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2023

Renner used his PistenBully snowplow, which weighs at least seven tons, to help free the vehicle, Balaam said.

From Washington Post • Jan. 4, 2023

The reader will be reminded of the gospel given in the garden, the prediction by Enoch of a judgment to come, the promise of Shiloh and the prophecies through the Gentile Balaam.

From Authors and Writers Associated with Morristown With a Chapter on Historic Morristown by Colles, Julia Keese