Numbers 22 · Verse 18

Numbers 22:18

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.
Numbers 22:18, King James Version

Numbers 22:18 in other translations

BSBBut 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.
WEBBalaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
ASVAnd 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 Jehovah my God, to do less or more.
YLTAnd Balaam answereth and saith unto the servants of Balak, ‘If Balak doth give to me the fulness of his house of silver and gold, I am not able to pass over the command of Jehovah my God, to do a little or a great thing;
DARBYAnd Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, If Balak give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of Jehovah my God, to do less or more.
BBEBut Balaam, in answer; said to the servants of Balak, Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, it would not be possible for me to do anything more or less than the orders of the Lord my God.
WebsterAnd 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.

What does Numbers 22:18 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 I 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 would not do any thing against the word of God for a house full of gold, and yet will do it for a handful!"

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 22:15-21

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…

Read the full comment on Numbers 22:15-21 →

Numbers 22:18 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיַּ֣עַןvai.Ya.'anand he answeredH6030
בִּלְעָ֗םbil.'AmBalaamH1109
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אֶל\־'el-toH413
עַבְדֵ֣י'av.Dei[the] servants ofH5650
בָלָ֔קva.LakBalakH1111
אִם\־'im-ifH518
יִתֶּן\־yi.ten-he will giveH5414
לִ֥יlito <the> me
בָלָ֛קva.LakBalakH1111
מְלֹ֥אme.Lo'[the] fullness ofH4393
בֵית֖וֹvei.Tohouse hisH1004
כֶּ֣סֶףKe.sefsilverH3701
וְזָהָ֑בve.za.Havand goldH2091
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
אוּכַ֗ל'u.KhalI will be ableH3201
לַעֲבֹר֙la.'a.Vorto transgressH5674
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
פִּי֙pi[the] mouth ofH6310
יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֱלֹהָ֔י'e.lo.HaiGod myH430
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.Sotby doingH6213
קְטַנָּ֖הke.ta.Naha small [thing]H6996
א֥וֹ'oorH176
גְדוֹלָֽה\׃ge.do.Laha large [thing]H1419

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Numbers 22:18

  • Numbers 24:13

    If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?

  • 2 Chronicles 18:13

    And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.

  • 1 Kings 22:14

    And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak.

  • Numbers 23:26

    But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do?

  • Numbers 22:38

    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.

  • Daniel 5:17

    Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

  • Titus 1:16

    They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

  • Acts 8:20

    But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
If Balak.
24:13; Tit 1:16
I cannot.
23:26; 24:13; 1Ki 22:14; 2Ch 18:13; Da 5:17; Ac 8:20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Numbers 22:17

    For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

  • Numbers 22:18

    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.

  • Numbers 22:19

    Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more.

Read all of Numbers 22

Numbers 22:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y Balaam respondió, y dijo á los siervos de Balac: Aunque Balac me diese su casa llena de plata y oro, no puedo traspasar la palabra de Jehová mi Dios, para hacer cosa chica ni grande.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Balaam répondit et dit aux serviteurs de Balak: Quand Balak me donnerait plein sa maison d’argent et d’or, je ne pourrais transgresser le commandement de l’ Éternel, mon Dieu, pour faire une chose petite ou grande;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Bileam antwortete und sprach zu den Knechten Balaks: Wenn Balak mir sein Haus voll Silber und Gold gäbe, so vermöchte ich nicht den Befehl Jehovas, meines Gottes, zu übertreten, um Kleines oder Großes zu tun.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Respondit Balaam: Si dederit mihi Balac plenam domum suam argenti et auri, non potero immutare verbum Domini Dei mei, ut vel plus, vel minus loquar.