American Standard Version
Numbers 22:38
38And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Numbers 22:38 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
- New International Version (NIV)“Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.”
Context of Numbers 22:38
36And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border. 37And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor? And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. 39And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kiriath-huzoth. 40And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
Read all of Numbers 22Numbers 22:38 word by word
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר בִּלְעָ֜ם אֶל־בָּלָ֗ק הִֽנֵּה־בָ֙אתִי֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ עַתָּ֕ה הֲיָכ֥וֹל אוּכַ֖ל דַּבֵּ֣ר מְא֑וּמָה הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׂ֧ים אֱלֹהִ֛ים בְּפִ֖י אֹת֥וֹ אֲדַבֵּֽר׃Read the interlinear
- Balaamבִּלְעָםbil‛âm · BalaamH1109
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Balakבָּלָקbâlâq · BalakH1111
- comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- nowעַתָּ֫ה‛attâh · nowH6258
- speakדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- anythingדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- wordדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
Cross-references for Numbers 22:38
- Numbers 22:18And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah my God, to do less or more.
- Psalms 33:10Jehovah bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought; He maketh the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.
- Psalms 76:10Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: The residue of wrath shalt thou gird upon thee.
- Proverbs 19:21There are many devices in a man’s heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.
- Isaiah 44:25that frustrateth the signs of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
- Isaiah 46:10declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;
- Isaiah 47:12Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast labored from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.
- Numbers 23:16And Jehovah met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus shalt thou speak.
- Numbers 24:13If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what Jehovah speaketh, that will I speak?
- 1 Kings 22:14And Micaiah said, As Jehovah liveth, what Jehovah saith unto me, that will I speak.
- 2 Chronicles 18:13And Micaiah said, As Jehovah liveth, what my God saith, that will I speak.
Commentaries on Numbers 22:38
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38The word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak - Here was a noble resolution, and he was certainly faithful to it: though he wished to please the king, and get wealth and honor, yet he would not displease God to realize even these bright prospects. Many who slander this poor semi-antinomian prophet, have not half his piety.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 36-41Verses 36-41 Balak has now nothing to complain of, but that Balaam did not come sooner. Balaam bids Balak not depend too much upon him. He seems to speak with vexation; but is really as desirous to please Balak, as ever he had pretended to be to please God. See what need we have to pray every day, Our Father which art in heaven, lead us not into temptation. Let us be jealous over our own hearts, seeing how far men may go in the knowledge of God, and yet…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 38Balaam’s answer showed that he had learned from what happened with the donkey (compare 22:20, 35).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3838. the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak--This appears a pious answer. It was an acknowledgment that he was restrained by a superior power.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 22:38
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries