New Living Translation
Numbers 22:38
38Balaam replied, “Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth.”
Numbers 22:38 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
- New International Version (NIV)“Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.”
Context of Numbers 22:38
36When King Balak heard that Balaam was on the way, he went out to meet him at a Moabite town on the Arnon River at the farthest border of his land. 37“Didn’t I send you an urgent invitation? Why didn’t you come right away?” Balak asked Balaam. “Didn’t you believe me when I said I would reward you richly?” Balaam replied, “Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth.” 39Then Balaam accompanied Balak to Kiriath-huzoth, 40where the king sacrificed cattle and sheep. He sent portions of the meat to Balaam and the officials who were with him.
Read all of Numbers 22Numbers 22:38 word by word
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר בִּלְעָ֜ם אֶל־בָּלָ֗ק הִֽנֵּה־בָ֙אתִי֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ עַתָּ֕ה הֲיָכ֥וֹל אוּכַ֖ל דַּבֵּ֣ר מְא֑וּמָה הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׂ֧ים אֱלֹהִ֛ים בְּפִ֖י אֹת֥וֹ אֲדַבֵּֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Balaamבִּלְעָםbil‛âm · BalaamH1109
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto Balakבָּלָקbâlâq · BalakH1111
- Lo, I am comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- unto thee: have I now any powerיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
- to sayדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- any thingמְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
- the wordדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- that Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- puttethשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
- in my mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
Cross-references for Numbers 22:38
- Numbers 22:18But 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.
- Psalms 33:10The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes.
- Psalms 76:10Human defiance only enhances your glory, for you use it as a weapon.
- Proverbs 19:21You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.
- Isaiah 44:25I expose the false prophets as liars and make fools of fortune-tellers. I cause the wise to give bad advice, thus proving them to be fools.
- Isaiah 46:10Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.
- Isaiah 47:12“Now use your magical charms! Use the spells you have worked at all these years! Maybe they will do you some good. Maybe they can make someone afraid of you.
- Numbers 23:16And the Lord met Balaam and gave him a message. Then he said, “Go back to Balak and give him my message.”
- 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!
- 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.”
Commentaries on Numbers 22:38
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38The word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak - Here was a noble resolution, and he was certainly faithful to it: though he wished to please the king, and get wealth and honor, yet he would not displease God to realize even these bright prospects. Many who slander this poor semi-antinomian prophet, have not half his piety.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 36-41Verses 36-41 Balak has now nothing to complain of, but that Balaam did not come sooner. Balaam bids Balak not depend too much upon him. He seems to speak with vexation; but is really as desirous to please Balak, as ever he had pretended to be to please God. See what need we have to pray every day, Our Father which art in heaven, lead us not into temptation. Let us be jealous over our own hearts, seeing how far men may go in the knowledge of God, and yet…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 38Balaam’s answer showed that he had learned from what happened with the donkey (compare 22:20, 35).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3838. the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak--This appears a pious answer. It was an acknowledgment that he was restrained by a superior power.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 22:38
In the dictionaries
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
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