Tree of Life Version
Numbers 22:38
38“Look, I have come to you now!” Balaam said to Balak. “Can I just say anything? I must speak only the message which God puts into 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 Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to greet him at the Moabite city on the border of the Arnon, the frontier of the territory. 37Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really unable to reward you?” “Look, I have come to you now!” Balaam said to Balak. “Can I just say anything? I must speak only the message which God puts into my mouth.” 39Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath-huzoth. 40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep and sent some to Balaam and the princes 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 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!
- Psalms 33:10Adonai foils the purpose of the nations. He thwarts the plans of the peoples.
- Psalms 76:10when God rose up to judgment, to save all the humble of the land. Selah
- Proverbs 19:21Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the counsel of Adonai will stand.
- Isaiah 44:25causing the omens of boasters to fail, making fools of diviners, turning wise men backward and making their knowledge foolish,
- Isaiah 46:10declaring the end from the beginning, from ancient time, what is yet to come, saying, “My purpose will stand, and I will accomplish all that I please.”
- Isaiah 47:12Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, which you have toiled over since your youth. Perhaps you will succeed? Perhaps you will cause terror?
- Numbers 23:16Adonai met Balaam there and put a message into his mouth, and said, “Return to Balak and speak thus.”
- 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!’
- 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.”
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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