God’s Word Translation
Numbers 24:13
13‘Even if Balak would give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I couldn’t disobey the Lord’s command no matter how good or bad the request might seem to me. I must say only what the Lord says.’
Numbers 24:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?
- New International Version (NIV)‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord—and I must say only what the Lord says’?
- English Standard Version (ESV)'If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the Lord speaks, that will I speak'?
- New King James Version (NKJV)‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord, to do good or bad of my own will. What the Lord says, that I must speak’?
Context of Numbers 24:13
11Get out of here! Go home! I said I’d reward you richly, but the Lord has made you lose your reward.” 12Balaam answered Balak, “I told the messengers you sent me, ‘Even if Balak would give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I couldn’t disobey the Lord’s command no matter how good or bad the request might seem to me. I must say only what the Lord says.’ 14Even though I’m going back to my people, I’ll give you some advice. I’ll tell you what these people will do to your people in the days to come.” 15Then Balaam delivered this message: “This is the message of Balaam, son of Beor. This is the message of the man whose eyesight is clear.
Read all of Numbers 24Numbers 24:13 word by word
אִם־יִתֶּן־לִ֨י בָלָ֜ק מְלֹ֣א בֵיתוֹ֮ כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָב֒ לֹ֣א אוּכַ֗ל לַעֲבֹר֙ אֶת־פִּ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת טוֹבָ֛ה א֥וֹ רָעָ֖ה מִלִּבִּ֑י אֲשֶׁר־יְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֹת֥וֹ אֲדַבֵּֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- If Balakבָּלָקbâlâq · BalakH1111
- would giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- me his houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- fullמְלֹאmelô' melô' melô · fullnessH4393
- of silverכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701
- and goldזָהָבzâhâb · goldH2091
- I cannotיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
- go beyondעָבַר‛âbar · to pass: trespassH5674
- the commandmentפֶּהpeh · lip: wordH6310
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- goodטוֹבָהţôb · welfareH2896
- or badרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: harmfulH7451
- of mine own mindלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- saithדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
Cross-references for Numbers 24:13
- Numbers 24:17I see someone who is not here now. I look at someone who is not nearby. A star will come from Jacob. A scepter will rise from Israel. He will crush the heads of the Moabites and destroy all the people of Sheth.
- Numbers 31:7They went to war against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and killed every man.
- Micah 6:5My people, remember what King Balak of Moab planned ⌞to do to you⌟ and how Balaam, son of Beor, responded to him. Remember ⌞your journey⌟ from Shittim to Gilgal so that you may know the victories of the Lord.”
- Revelation 2:10Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. The devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. Your suffering will go on for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- Genesis 49:1Jacob called for his sons and said, “Come here, and let me tell you what will happen to you in the days to come.
- Isaiah 24:22They’ll be gathered like prisoners in a jail and locked in prison. After a long time they’ll be punished.
- Jeremiah 48:47But I will restore Moab in the last days,” declares the Lord. The judgment against Moab ends here.
- Jeremiah 49:39But afterward, I’ll return the captives of Elam, declares the Lord.
- Daniel 2:28But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets. He will tell King Nebuchadnezzar what is going to happen in the days to come. This is your dream, the vision you had while you were asleep:
- Daniel 10:14I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the last days, because the vision is about times still to come.”
- Hosea 3:5After that, the Israelites will turn and look to the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord for his blessings in the last days.
- Acts 2:17‘In the last days, God says, I will pour my Spirit on everyone. Your sons and daughters will speak what God has revealed. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.
- 2 Timothy 3:1You must understand this: In the last days there will be violent periods of time.
Commentaries on Numbers 24:13
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-14Verses 10-14 This vain attempt to curse Israel is ended. Balak broke out into a rage against Balaam, and expressed great vexation. Balaam has a very full excuse; God restrained him from saying what he would have said, and constrained him to say what he would not have uttered.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-14Unhappy with Balaam's blessing, Balak hoped a new location would change the outcome. Although the exact location of Mount Peor is unknown, it was probably near a worship site for Baal of Peor and the Beth-peor (compare 25:3, 5). See Deuteronomy 3:29; 34:6 for where they buried Moses.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-1410-14. Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together--The "smiting of the hands together" is, among Oriental people, an indication of the most violent rage (see Eze 21:17; 22:13) and ignominious dismissal.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 24:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 24
- 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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