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 also came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: Please let nothing keep you from coming to me! 17I will richly reward you, and everything you tell me I will do! Just come now and curse this people for me!” But Balaam answered Balak’s servants, “Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot cross beyond the mouth of Adonai my God, to do anything small or great! 19But now, you may spend the night here, too. Then I may find out anything else Adonai may say to me.” 20God came to Balaam by night and said to him, “Since the men came to you to summon you, arise and go with them. However, only the word I tell you are 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‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the mouth of Adonai, to do good or bad from my own heart? Whatever Adonai may speak, I will speak!’
• Numbers 23:26Balaam answered and said to Balak, “Haven’t I told you, ‘All that Adonai says, I must do?’
• 1 Kings 22:14But Micaiah said, “As Adonai lives, what Adonai says to me, that will I speak.”
• 2 Chronicles 18:13But Micaiah replied, “As Adonai lives, what my God says that is what I will say.”
• Daniel 5:17Then Daniel answered the king saying, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and tell him its meaning.
• Acts 8:20Peter said to him, “May your silver go to ruin, and you with it—because you thought you could buy God’s gift with money!

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