New International Version
Numbers 24:13
13‘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’?
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?
- 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’?
- New Living Translation (NLT)‘Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord.’ I told you that I could say only what the Lord says!
Context of Numbers 24:13
11Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.” 12Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, ‘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’? 14Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.” 15Then he spoke his message: “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
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 24:17“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
- Numbers 31:7They fought against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and killed every man.
- Micah 6:5My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”
- Revelation 2:10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
- Genesis 49:1Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.
- Isaiah 24:22They will be herded together like prisoners bound in a dungeon; they will be shut up in prison and be punished after many days.
- Jeremiah 48:47“Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in days to come,” declares the Lord. Here ends the judgment on Moab.
- Jeremiah 49:39“Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come,” declares the Lord.
- Daniel 2:28but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these:
- Daniel 10:14Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”
- Hosea 3:5Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.
- Acts 2:17“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
- 2 Timothy 3:1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
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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