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?
Numbers 24:13 in other translations
| BSB | 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. |
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| WEB | ‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the LORD’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what the LORD says’? |
| ASV | If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what Jehovah speaketh, that will I speak? |
| YLT | 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, to do good or evil of mine own heart--that which Jehovah speaketh--it I speak? |
| DARBY | If Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of Jehovah to do good or bad out of my heart: what Jehovah shall say, that will I speak? |
| BBE | Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, it would not be possible for me to go outside the orders of the Lord, doing good or evil at the impulse of my mind; whatever the Lord says I will say? |
| Webster | If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak? |
What does Numbers 24:13 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 24:10-14
10-14. Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together--The "smiting of the hands together" is, among Oriental people, an indication of the most violent rage (see Eze 21:17; 22:13) and ignominious dismissal.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 24:10-14
This vain attempt to curse Israel is ended. Balak broke out into a rage against Balaam, and expressed great vexation. Balaam has a very full excuse; God restrained him from saying what he would have said, and constrained him to say what he would not have uttered.
Numbers 24:13 in the original Hebrew
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Cross references for Numbers 24:13
- Numbers 16:28
And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.
- Numbers 22:20
And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
- 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.
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Context
- Numbers 24:12
And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
- 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?
- Numbers 24:14
And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
Numbers 24:13 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Si Balac me diese su casa llena de plata y oro, yo no podré traspasar el dicho de Jehová para hacer cosa buena ni mala de mi arbitrio; mas lo que Jehová hablare, eso diré yo? |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Quand Balak me donnerait plein sa maison d’argent et d’or, je ne pourrais transgresser le commandement de l’ Éternel pour faire de mon propre mouvement du bien ou du mal; ce que l’ Éternel dira, je le dirai. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wenn Balak mir sein Haus voll Silber und Gold gäbe, so vermöchte ich nicht den Befehl Jehovas zu übertreten, um aus meinem eigenen Herzen Gutes oder Böses zu tun; was Jehova reden wird, das werde ich reden? |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Si dederit mihi Balac plenam domum suam argenti et auri, non potero præterire sermonem Domini Dei mei, ut vel boni quid vel mali proferam ex corde meo: sed quidquid Dominus dixerit, hoc loquar? |