Numbers 24:15 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: The man whose eyes are open - See on Numbers 24:3 (note). It seems strange that our version should have fallen into such a mistake as to render שתם shethum, open, which it does not signify, when the very sound of the word expresses the sense. The Vulgate has very properly preserved the true meaning, by rendering the clause cujus obturatus est oculus, he whose eyes are shut. The Targum first paraphrased the passage falsely, and most of the versions followed it.