Numbers 22:18

Numbers 22:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And 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 the Lord my God, to do less or more.
• New International Version (NIV)But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.

Context of Numbers 22:18

16They came to Balaam and said to him, “This is what Balak the son of Zippor says: ‘I beg you, let nothing keep you from coming to me; 17for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you tell me. Please come then, curse this people for me.’” But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the Lord my God. 19Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the Lord will say to me.” 20And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise and go with them; but you shall do only the thing that I tell you.”

Numbers 22:18 word by word

וַיַּ֣עַן בִּלְעָ֗ם וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־עַבְדֵ֣י בָלָ֔ק אִם־יִתֶּן־לִ֥י בָלָ֛ק מְלֹ֥א בֵית֖וֹ כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֑ב לֹ֣א אוּכַ֗ל לַעֲבֹר֙ אֶת־פִּי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔י לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת קְטַנָּ֖ה א֥וֹ גְדוֹלָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• But Balaamבִּלְעָםbil‛âm · BalaamH1109
• repliedעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• to the servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• of Balakבָּלָקbâlâq · BalakH1111
• ifאִם'im · ifH518
• were to giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• me his houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• fullמְלֹאmelô' melô' melô · fullnessH4393
• of silverכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701
• and goldזָהָבzâhâb · goldH2091
• I couldיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• not doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• smallקָטָןqâţân qâţôn · smallH6996
• orאוֹ'ô 'av · orH176
• greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• contraryעָבַר‛âbar · to pass: trespassH5674
• commandפֶּהpeh · lip: wordH6310
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• my Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430

Cross-references for Numbers 22:18

• Numbers 24:13‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of the Lord, either good or bad, of my own accord. What the Lord speaks, I will speak’?
• Numbers 23:26But Balaam replied to Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘Whatever the Lord speaks, I must do’?”
• 1 Kings 22:14But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, I shall speak it.”
• 2 Chronicles 18:13But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, I will speak it.”
• Daniel 5:17Then Daniel replied and said before the king, “Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription to the king and make the interpretation known to him.
• Acts 8:20But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire the gift of God with money!

Commentaries on Numbers 22:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God - Balaam knew God too well to suppose he could reverse any of his purposes; and he respected him too much to attempt to do any thing without his permission. Though he was covetous, yet he dared not, even when strongly tempted both by riches and honors, to go contrary to the command of his God. Many make all the professions of Balaam, without justifying them by their conduct. "They pretend," says one, "they…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-21Verses 15-21 A second embassy was sent to Balaam. It were well for us, if we were as earnest and constant in prosecuting a good work, notwithstanding disappointments. Balak laid a bait, not only for Balaam's covetousness, but for his pride and ambition. How earnestly should we beg of God daily to mortify such desires in us! Thus sinners stick at no pains, spare no cost, and care not how low they stoop, to gratify their luxury, or their malice. Shall we…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18Some people think Balaam answered the second group of messengers in a way that tried to gain a larger reward. They suggest that he wanted a more profitable offer. However, Balaam later said that he could not go beyond the command of the Lord, even for a great reward (24:13). This statement makes that view less likely. Instead, Balaam appeared determined to obey the Lord. He even called the Lord “my God,” which shows that he recognized the Lord’s authority.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-201. Israel ... pitched in the plains of Moab--so called from having formerly belonged to that people, though wrested from them by Sihon. It was a dry, sunken, desert region on the east of the Jordan valley, opposite Jericho.Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 22:18

• Decision
• Minister, Christian
• Prophets
• Temptation

In the dictionaries

• Balaam
• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Crush
• Curse
• Lick
• Promote
• Abel-Shittim
• Angel
• Ass

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