New King James Version
Numbers 24:13
13‘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’?
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 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 therefore, flee to your place. I said I would greatly honor you, but in fact, the Lord has kept you back from honor.” 12So Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, ‘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’? 14And now, indeed, I am going to my people. Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.” 15So he took up his oracle and said: “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, And the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened;
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 shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.
- Numbers 31:7And they warred against the Midianites, just as the Lord commanded Moses, and they killed all the males.
- Micah 6:5O My people, remember now What Balak king of Moab counseled, And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, From Acacia Grove to Gilgal, That you may know the righteousness of the Lord.”
- Revelation 2:10Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- Genesis 49:1And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:
- Isaiah 24:22They will be gathered together, As prisoners are gathered in the pit, And will be shut up in the prison; After many days they will be punished.
- Jeremiah 48:47“Yet I will bring back the captives of Moab In the latter days,” says the Lord. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.
- Jeremiah 49:39‘But it shall come to pass in the latter days: I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the Lord.”
- Daniel 2:28But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:
- Daniel 10:14Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”
- Hosea 3:5Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.
- Acts 2:17‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.
- 2 Timothy 3:1But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries