Revised Webster's Bible
Numbers 22:38
38And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I have come to thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
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
36And when Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost border. 37And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to thee to call thee? why camest thou not to me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour? And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I have come to thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. 39And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjathhuzoth. 40And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that 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
- Balaamבִּלְעָםbil‛âm · BalaamH1109
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Balakבָּלָקbâlâq · BalakH1111
- comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- powerיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
- sayדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- thingמְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
- wordדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- puttethשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
- mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
Cross-references for Numbers 22:38
- Numbers 22:18And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, If Balak would 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.
- Psalms 33:10The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of no effect.
- Psalms 76:10Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
- Proverbs 19:21There aremany devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
- Isaiah 44:25That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
- Isaiah 46:10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
- Isaiah 47:12Stand now with thy enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, in which thou hast laboured from thy youth; if thou shalt be able to profit, if thou mayest prevail.
- Numbers 23:16And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again to Balak, and say thus.
- Numbers 24:13If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?
- 1 Kings 22:14And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith to me, that will I speak.
- 2 Chronicles 18:13And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.
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
Revised Webster's Bible — 1833 — Public Domain
Commentaries