Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version He answered, “Must I not speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?” New Living Translation But Balaam replied, “I will speak only the message that the LORD puts in my mouth.” English Standard Version And he answered and said, “Must I not take care to speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?” Berean Standard Bible But Balaam replied, “Should I not speak exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?” King James Bible And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth? New King James Version So he answered and said, “Must I not take heed to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?” New American Standard Bible He replied, “Must I not be careful to speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?” NASB 1995 He replied, “Must I not be careful to speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?” NASB 1977 And he answered and said, “Must I not be careful to speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?” Legacy Standard Bible And he replied, “Must I not be careful to speak what Yahweh puts in my mouth?” Amplified Bible Balaam answered, “Must I not be obedient and careful to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?” Christian Standard Bible He answered, “Shouldn’t I say exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible He answered, “Shouldn’t I say exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?” American Standard Version And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which Jehovah putteth in my mouth? Contemporary English Version Balaam answered, "I can say only what the LORD tells me." English Revised Version And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD putteth in my mouth? GOD'S WORD® Translation Balaam answered, "I must say what the LORD tells me to say." Good News Translation He answered, "I can say only what the LORD tells me to say." International Standard Version But in response, Balaam asked, "Shouldn't I be careful to communicate only what the LORD puts in my mouth?" Majority Standard Bible But Balaam replied, ?Should I not speak exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?? NET Bible Balaam replied, "Must I not be careful to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?" New Heart English Bible He answered and said, "Must I not be careful to speak that which God puts in my mouth?" Webster's Bible Translation And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth? World English Bible He answered and said, “Must I not take heed to speak that which Yahweh puts in my mouth?” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand he answers and says, “That which YHWH puts in my mouth—do I not take heed to speak it?” Young's Literal Translation and he answereth and saith, 'That which Jehovah doth put in my mouth -- it do I not take heed to speak?' Smith's Literal Translation And he will answer and say, What Jehovah shall put in my mouth shall I not watch, to speak? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe answered him: Call I speak any thing else but what the Lord commandeth? Catholic Public Domain Version He answered him, “How can I say anything other than what the Lord orders?” New American Bible Balaam replied, “Is it not what the LORD puts in my mouth that I take care to repeat?” New Revised Standard Version He answered, “Must I not take care to say what the LORD puts into my mouth?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Balaam answered and said, Behold, whatever the LORD puts in my mouth that thing will I speak. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Balaam answered and said, “Behold, whatever LORD JEHOVAH puts in my mouth is what I observe to speak.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And he answered and said: 'Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD putteth in my mouth?' Brenton Septuagint Translation And Balaam said to Balac, Whatsoever the Lord shall put into my mouth, shall I not take heed to speak this? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Balaam's First Oracle…11Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, and behold, you have only blessed them!” 12But Balaam replied, “Should I not speak exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?” Cross References Deuteronomy 18:18-19 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. / And I will hold accountable anyone who does not listen to My words that the prophet speaks in My name. Jeremiah 1:7-9 But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak. / Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. / Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 1 Kings 22:14 But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.” Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. Amos 3:7-8 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. / The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy? 2 Peter 1:20-21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. / For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Acts 4:19-20 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. / For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. Matthew 10:20 For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. John 12:49-50 I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. / And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.” John 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works. John 8:28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me. Isaiah 55:11 so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it. Jeremiah 23:28 Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD. 1 Corinthians 9:16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! Treasury of Scripture And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD has put in my mouth? Numbers 23:20,26 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it… 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 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? Jump to Previous Careful Heed Mouth Ordered Puts Putteth SpeakJump to Next Careful Heed Mouth Ordered Puts Putteth SpeakNumbers 23 1. Balak's sacrificesBut Balaam replied Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, is a complex figure in the biblical narrative. Known for his ability to bless and curse, he is summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse Israel. Balaam's reply indicates his awareness of the divine authority he is under. This moment highlights the tension between human desires and divine will, a recurring theme in Scripture. “Should I not speak exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?” Persons / Places / Events 1. BalaamA non-Israelite prophet or diviner who is summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. Despite his intentions, Balaam is compelled to speak only what God commands. 2. Balak The king of Moab who fears the Israelites due to their numbers and seeks to weaken them by having Balaam curse them. 3. Moab A region east of the Dead Sea, whose king, Balak, is threatened by the presence of the Israelites. 4. The LORD (Yahweh) The God of Israel, who intervenes in Balaam's mission, ensuring that only His words are spoken. 5. Israelites The people of God, journeying to the Promised Land, whom Balak seeks to curse through Balaam. Teaching Points Obedience to God's WordBalaam's statement underscores the importance of speaking and acting according to God's will, even when it conflicts with personal desires or external pressures. God's Sovereignty The account illustrates God's control over events and His ability to use even those outside of His covenant people to accomplish His purposes. Integrity in Speech Balaam's experience challenges believers to ensure that their words align with God's truth, emphasizing the power and responsibility of speech. Divine Intervention God's intervention in Balaam's mission serves as a reminder that God actively works to protect His people and fulfill His promises. The Danger of Compromise Balaam's account warns against the temptation to compromise one's integrity for personal gain or favor with others. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew But [Balaam] replied,וַיַּ֖עַן (way·ya·‘an) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6030: To answer, respond “Should I not הֲלֹ֗א (hă·lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no speak לְדַבֵּֽר׃ (lə·ḏab·bêr) Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue exactly what אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that the LORD יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel puts יָשִׂ֤ים (yā·śîm) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set in my mouth?” בְּפִ֔י (bə·p̄î) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to Links Numbers 23:12 NIVNumbers 23:12 NLT Numbers 23:12 ESV Numbers 23:12 NASB Numbers 23:12 KJV Numbers 23:12 BibleApps.com Numbers 23:12 Biblia Paralela Numbers 23:12 Chinese Bible Numbers 23:12 French Bible Numbers 23:12 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 23:12 He answered and said Must I not (Nu Num.) |
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