Numbers 22 · Verse 38

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.
Numbers 22:38, King James Version

Numbers 22:38 in other translations

BSB“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.”
WEBBalaam 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.”
ASVAnd 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.
YLTAnd 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.'
DARBYAnd Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I am come to thee; but shall I now be able at all to say anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
BBEThen 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.
WebsterAnd 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.

What does Numbers 22:38 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
38. 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 38 The 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 22:36-41

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…

Read the full comment on Numbers 22:36-41 →

Numbers 22:38 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.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
בִּלְעָ֜םbil.'AmBalaamH1109
אֶל\־'el-toH413
בָּלָ֗קba.LakBalakH1111
הִֽנֵּה\־hi.neh-here!H2009
בָ֙אתִי֙va.tiI have comeH935
אֵלֶ֔יךָ'e.Lei.khato youH413
עַתָּ֕ה'a.TahnowH6258
הֲיָכ֥וֹלha.ya.Khol¿ certainly <to able>H3201
אוּכַ֖ל'u.Khalam I ableH3201
דַּבֵּ֣רda.Berto speakH1696
מְא֑וּמָהme.'U.mahanythingH3972
הַדָּבָ֗רha.da.Varthe wordH1697
אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherwhichH834
יָשִׂ֧יםya.Simhe will putH7760
אֱלֹהִ֛ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
בְּפִ֖יbe.Fiin mouth myH6310
אֹת֥וֹ'o.To<obj.> itH853
אֲדַבֵּֽר\׃'a.da.BerI will speakH1696

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

Cross references for Numbers 22:38

  • 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.

  • Proverbs 19:21

    There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

  • 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 23:16

    And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.

  • 1 Kings 22:14

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

  • Isaiah 44:25

    That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

  • Isaiah 46:10

    Declaring 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:

  • 2 Chronicles 18:13

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

  • Psalms 33:10

    The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

  • Psalms 76:10

    Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

  • 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?

  • Isaiah 47:12

    Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
have I.
18; Ps 33:10; 76:10; Pr 19:21; Isa 44:25; 46:10; 47:12
the word.
23:16,26; 24:13; 1Ki 22:14; 2Ch 18:13

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

Context

  • Numbers 22:37

    And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?

  • 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.

  • Numbers 22:39

    And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath–huzoth.

Read all of Numbers 22

Numbers 22:38 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y Balaam respondió á Balac: He aquí yo he venido á ti: mas ¿podré ahora hablar alguna cosa? La palabra que Dios pusiere en mi boca, esa hablaré.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et Balaam dit à Balak: Voici, je suis venu vers toi; maintenant, puis -je dire quoi que ce soit? La parole que Dieu m’aura mise dans la bouche, je la dirai.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und Bileam sprach zu Balak: Siehe, ich bin zu dir gekommen; vermag ich nun wohl irgend etwas zu reden? Das Wort, das Gott mir in den Mund legt, das werde ich reden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Cui ille respondit: Ecce adsum: numquid loqui potero aliud, nisi quod Deus posuerit in ore meo?