Christian Standard Bible
Numbers 22:38
38Balaam said to him, “Look, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth.”
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
36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border at the edge of his territory. 37Balak asked Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?” Balaam said to him, “Look, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth.” 39So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40Balak sacrificed cattle, sheep, and goats and sent for Balaam and the officials who 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Balaamבִּלְעָםbil‛âm · BalaamH1109
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto Balakבָּלָקbâlâq · BalakH1111
- Lo, I am comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- unto thee: have I now any powerיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
- to sayדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- any thingמְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
- the wordדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- that Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- puttethשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
- in my mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
Cross-references for Numbers 22:38
- Numbers 22:18But Balaam responded to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the Lord my God to do anything small or great.
- Psalms 33:10The Lord frustrates the counsel of the nations; he thwarts the plans of the peoples.
- Psalms 76:10Even human wrath will praise you; you will clothe yourself with the wrath that remains.
- Proverbs 19:21Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail.
- Isaiah 44:25who destroys the omens of the false prophets and makes fools of diviners; who confounds the wise and makes their knowledge foolishness;
- Isaiah 46:10I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.
- Isaiah 47:12So take your stand with your spells and your many sorceries, which you have wearied yourself with from your youth. Perhaps you will be able to succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror!
- Numbers 23:16The Lord met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth. Then he said, “Return to Balak and say what I tell you.”
- Numbers 24:13If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the Lord’s command, to do anything good or bad of my own will? I will say whatever the Lord says.
- 1 Kings 22:14But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, I will say whatever the Lord says to me.”
- 2 Chronicles 18:13But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, I will say whatever my God says.”
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
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