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 went to Balaam and delivered this message to him: “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Please don’t let anything stop you from coming to help me. 17I will pay you very well and do whatever you tell me. Just come and curse these people for me!” But Balaam responded to Balak’s messengers, “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 my God. 19But stay here one more night, and I will see if the Lord has anything else to say to me.” 20That night God came to Balaam and told him, “Since these men have come for you, get up and go with them. But do only what I tell you to do.”

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Balaamבִּלְעָםbil‛âm · BalaamH1109
• answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto the servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• of 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 wordפֶּהpeh · lip: wordH6310
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• my Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• lessקָטָןqâţân qâţôn · smallH6996
• or moreגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419

Cross-references for Numbers 22:18

• Numbers 24:13‘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!
• Numbers 23:26But Balaam replied to Balak, “Didn’t I tell you that I can do only what the Lord tells me?”
• 1 Kings 22:14But Micaiah replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, I will say only what the Lord tells me to say.”
• 2 Chronicles 18:13But Micaiah replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, I will say only what my God says.”
• Daniel 5:17Daniel answered the king, “Keep your gifts or give them to someone else, but I will tell you what the writing means.
• Acts 8:20But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought!

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