Numbers 22:38
Numbers 22:38 in Multiple Translations
“See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”
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.
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Then Balaam said to Balak, Now I have come to you; but have I power to say anything? Only what God puts into my mouth may I say.
“Look, I'm here with you now, aren't I?” Balaam replied. “But do you think I can just say anything? I can only speak the words that God gives me to say.”
And Balaam made answere vnto Balak, Lo, I am come vnto thee, and can I nowe say any thing at all? the worde that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speake.
And Balaam saith unto Balak, 'Lo, I have come unto thee; now — am I at all able to speak anything? the word which God setteth in my mouth — it I do speak.'
Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth.”
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.
He answered him: Lo, here I am: shall I have power to speak any other thing but that which God shall put in my mouth?
Balaam replied, “I have come here now, but I am not able to say anything that I want to. I will say only the words that God tells me to say [MTY].”
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 22:38
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Numbers 22:38 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 22:38
Study Notes — Numbers 22:38
- Context
- Cross References
- Numbers 22:38 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Numbers 22:38
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 22:38
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 22:38
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Numbers 22:38
- Cambridge Bible on Numbers 22:38
- Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 22:38
- Sermons on Numbers 22:38
Context — The Angel and Balaam’s Donkey
38“See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”
39So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 22:18 | But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. |
| 2 | Proverbs 19:21 | Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail. |
| 3 | Numbers 23:16 | And the LORD met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and speak what I tell you.” |
| 4 | Numbers 23:26 | But Balaam replied, “Did I not tell you that whatever the LORD says, I must do?” |
| 5 | Psalms 76:10 | Even the wrath of man shall praise You; with the survivors of wrath You will clothe Yourself. |
| 6 | Isaiah 47:12 | So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! |
| 7 | 1 Kings 22:14 | But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.” |
| 8 | Isaiah 44:25 | who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense, |
| 9 | Numbers 24:13 | that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says. |
| 10 | Psalms 33:10 | The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples. |
Numbers 22:38 Summary
[Balaam is saying that he can only speak what God tells him to say, which means he is trying to be obedient to God's will. This is similar to what we are called to do as followers of God, as seen in Matthew 10:19-20, where Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say. By being mindful of the words we speak, we can be more faithful to God's message and bring glory to Him. As it says in Ephesians 4:29, we should only speak words that are helpful for building others up, and Balaam's statement reminds us of the importance of being careful with our words.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Balaam mean when he says he can only speak the word that God puts in his mouth?
Balaam is acknowledging that as a prophet, he is only a messenger of God and can only speak what God has instructed him to say, much like the prophets in Deuteronomy 18:18 and Jeremiah 1:9.
Is Balaam being sincere in his response to Balak?
While Balaam's words may sound sincere, his actions later in the story reveal that he is not fully committed to following God's will, as seen in Numbers 22:40 and Numbers 25:1-3, which shows the importance of being obedient to God's commands like in Deuteronomy 13:1-5.
What can we learn from Balaam's statement about the importance of speaking God's words?
Balaam's statement highlights the importance of speaking truth and being faithful to God's message, as emphasized in Proverbs 10:32 and Proverbs 12:17-19, which teach the value of honest and trustworthy speech.
How does Balaam's response relate to the concept of being a spokesperson for God?
As a prophet, Balaam is a spokesperson for God, and his words are meant to reflect God's message, similar to Moses in Exodus 4:10-12 and Isaiah 6:1-13, who also spoke on behalf of God to the people.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can ensure that my words are pleasing to God, and how can I be more mindful of the things I say?
- How can I, like Balaam, learn to speak only the words that God puts in my mouth, and what are the benefits of doing so?
- In what ways can I be a faithful messenger of God's words, and what are some challenges that I may face in doing so?
- What are some examples from my own life where I have spoken words that were not from God, and how can I learn from those experiences to be more faithful in the future?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 22:38
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 22:38
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 22:38
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Numbers 22:38
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 22:38
Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 22:38
Sermons on Numbers 22:38
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Balaam- Hired of Balak and Used of God by John Nelson Darby | John Nelson Darby explores the narrative of Balaam and Balak, emphasizing how God's sovereignty turns the wicked intentions of Balaam into a means of blessing for Israel. Despite B |
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Spiritual Religion by Ian Murray | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of handling the word of God with sincerity and genuine love for scripture. He warns that simply preaching orthodox teachings d |
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"His Plan for Me" by Leonard Ravenhill | This sermon reflects on the poem 'His Plan for Me' and delves into the concept of surrendering to God's will. It explores the idea of standing before Christ at the judgment seat an |
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K-490 False Prophets of the Last Days by Art Katz | In this sermon transcript, the speaker shares his personal experience of witnessing a demonstration of power without the presence of the living God. He describes a situation where |
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The Eternal Purpose of God - Part 2 by Stephen Kaung | This sermon emphasizes the importance of knowing God's purpose to find meaning in life. It shares a powerful story of a woman who discovered the true meaning of life through unders |
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The Eternal Purpose of God - Part 7 by Stephen Kaung | This sermon emphasizes the importance of knowing God's ways, counsel, and work in order to align ourselves with His righteous and merciful nature. It highlights how Moses understoo |
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Ten Shekels and a Shirt - Part 3 by Paris Reidhead | This sermon delves into the contrast between liberalism, fundamentalism, and humanism in Christianity, highlighting the shift towards a focus on human happiness rather than true re |






