Numbers 23:5
New International Version
The LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”

New Living Translation
The LORD gave Balaam a message for King Balak. Then he said, “Go back to Balak and give him my message.”

English Standard Version
And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.”

King James Bible
And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

New King James Version
Then the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”

New American Standard Bible
Then the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and this is what you shall speak.”

NASB 1995
Then the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and you shall speak thus.”

NASB 1977
Then the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and you shall speak thus.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Yahweh put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and you shall speak thus.”

Amplified Bible
Then the LORD put a speech in Balaam’s mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and you shall speak thus.”

Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak and say what I tell you.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak and say what I tell you.”

American Standard Version
And Jehovah put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD gave Balaam a message, then sent him back to tell Balak.

English Revised Version
And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD told Balaam, "Go back to Balak, and give him my message."

Good News Translation
The LORD told Balaam what to say and sent him back to Balak to give him his message.

International Standard Version
Then the LORD gave Balaam this message. "Return to Balak and speak to him."

Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.”

NET Bible
Then the LORD put a message in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and speak what I tell you."

New Heart English Bible
And God put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

World English Bible
Yahweh put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and YHWH puts a word in the mouth of Balaam and says, “Return to Balak, and thus you speak.”

Young's Literal Translation
and Jehovah putteth a word in the mouth of Balaam, and saith, 'Turn back unto Balak, and thus thou dost speak.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will put the word in Balaam's mouth, and say, Turn back to Balak, and thus shalt thou speak.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord put the word in his mouth, and said: Return to Balac, and thus shalt thou speak.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then the Lord placed the word in his mouth, and he said: “Return to Balak, and you shall say this.”

New American Bible
The LORD put an utterance in Balaam’s mouth, and said: Go back to Balak, and speak accordingly.

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and this is what you must say.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth and said to him, Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH put the word in the mouth of Balaam and said to him: “Go to Balaq and thus speak.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said: 'Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And God put a word into the mouth of Balaam, and said, thou shalt return to Balac, and thus shalt thou speak.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Balaam's First Oracle
4and God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.” 5Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.” 6So he returned to Balak, who was standing there beside his burnt offering, with all the princes of Moab.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 18:18
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.

Jeremiah 1:9
Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

Exodus 4:12
Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”

Isaiah 51:16
I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”

2 Peter 1:21
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.

Matthew 10:19-20
But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. / 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.”

Acts 4:8
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!

Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

1 Corinthians 2:13
And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Hebrews 1:1
On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets.

Isaiah 59:21
“As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit will not depart from you, and My words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and grandchildren, from now on and forevermore,” says the LORD.

Ezekiel 3:27
But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you are to tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’ Whoever listens, let him listen; and whoever refuses, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.

1 Kings 22:14
But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.

Numbers 23:16
And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.

Numbers 22:35
And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

Deuteronomy 18:18
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

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Numbers 23
1. Balak's sacrifices














Then the LORD
The phrase "Then the LORD" signifies a direct intervention by God, emphasizing His sovereignty and active role in the events unfolding. In Hebrew, "LORD" is often represented as "YHWH," the sacred and personal name of God, highlighting His eternal presence and covenant relationship with Israel. This divine involvement underscores the narrative's theological foundation, where God is not a distant deity but one who engages intimately with His creation and people.

put a message
The Hebrew root for "put" is "שׂוּם" (sum), which can mean to place, set, or appoint. This indicates a deliberate action by God, ensuring that Balaam speaks only what God intends. The "message" (Hebrew: "דָּבָר," davar) is not merely words but a divinely inspired proclamation. This reflects the biblical theme that true prophecy originates from God, not human invention, reinforcing the authority and reliability of God's word.

in Balaam’s mouth
Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, is chosen by God to convey His message, demonstrating that God can use anyone to fulfill His purposes. The phrase "in Balaam’s mouth" suggests that Balaam is merely a vessel for God's words, emphasizing the concept of divine inspiration. This highlights the power of God to control and direct human speech, ensuring that His will is communicated accurately, regardless of the speaker's intentions or background.

and said
The conjunction "and" connects God's action with His command, indicating a seamless transition from divine inspiration to instruction. The verb "said" (Hebrew: "אָמַר," amar) is frequently used in Scripture to denote God's communication, underscoring the importance of listening to and obeying God's voice. This reflects the biblical principle that God's words are authoritative and demand a response, whether in obedience or proclamation.

Return to Balak
The command to "Return to Balak" signifies a directive to go back to the Moabite king who sought to curse Israel. This instruction highlights God's control over the situation, as Balaam is sent back with a message contrary to Balak's desires. It serves as a reminder that God's plans cannot be thwarted by human schemes, and His purposes will prevail despite opposition.

and give him this message
The phrase "give him this message" underscores the responsibility of the prophet to deliver God's words faithfully. The Hebrew concept of "message" again ties back to "davar," emphasizing the weight and significance of what is to be communicated. This reflects the biblical theme of accountability in prophecy, where the messenger must accurately convey God's revelation, reinforcing the integrity and truth of God's communication to humanity.

(5) The Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth.--"God, who had opened the mouth of the ass," says Bishop Wordsworth, in loc., "in a manner contrary to her nature, now opens Balaam's mouth in a manner contrary to his own will."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the LORD
יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

put
וַיָּ֧שֶׂם (way·yā·śem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

a message
דָּבָ֖ר (dā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

in Balaam’s
בִלְעָ֑ם (ḇil·‘ām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1109: Balaam -- a prophet

mouth,
בְּפִ֣י (bə·p̄î)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

saying,
וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Return
שׁ֥וּב (šūḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Balak
בָּלָ֖ק (bā·lāq)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1111: Balak -- 'devastator', a Moabite king

and
וְכֹ֥ה (wə·ḵōh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

give him this message.”
תְדַבֵּֽר׃ (ṯə·ḏab·bêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue


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OT Law: Numbers 23:5 Yahweh put a word in Balaam's mouth (Nu Num.)
Numbers 23:4
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