Zippor צִפּוֹר
Father of Balak, king of Moab
Biography
Zippor was the father of Balak, the king of Moab who opposed the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. He is mentioned several times in the account of Balak's attempts to curse Israel through the prophet Balaam (Numbers 22-24). Zippor's name, which means "bird" or "sparrow," is consistently used in conjunction with Balak's name, emphasizing his role as the king's father. Although little is known about Zippor's life, his son Balak's actions suggest that he may have shared the same hostility towards the Israelites. In Jos.24.9 and Jdg.11.25, Zippor is mentioned in the context of recounting Israel's past conflicts with Moab, further highlighting the significance of his son's opposition to Israel. Some scholars speculate that Zippor may have been the "former king of Moab" mentioned in Num.21.26, but this is not explicitly stated in the text.
Family
In Scripture
3 biblical books ; 1 with study contentNumbers 5 verses
- Numbers 22:2
"Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites."
- Numbers 22:4
"Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time."
- Numbers 22:10
"Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me,"
- Numbers 22:16
"They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,"
- Numbers 23:18
"He took up his parable, and said, “Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me, you son of Zippor."
Joshua 1 verse Study available
- Joshua 24:9
"Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. He sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you,"
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Judges 1 verse
- Judges 11:25
"Now are you anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them?"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | צִפּוֹר | H6834 |