Numbers 23:5

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

Numbers 23:5 in Other Translations

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

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

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

5 Then God gave Balaam a message: "Return to Balak and give him this message."

5 Then the Lord put a message in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak and say what I tell you."

Numbers 23:5 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 23:5

And the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth
&c.] Not grace into his heart, nor the fear of God within him, but suggested to him what to say; impressed it strongly on him, that he could not forget it, and with such power and weight, that he was obliged to deliver it:

and said, return unto Balak, and thus shalt thou speak;
that is, unto him, and what is expressed in ( Numbers 22:7-10 ) .

Numbers 23:5 In-Context

3 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.” Then he went off to a barren height.

4 God met with him, and Balaam said, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”

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

6 So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials.

7 Then Balaam spoke his message: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.’

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 4:12; Isaiah 59:21; Deuteronomy 18:18; Jeremiah 1:9
• 2. S Exodus 4:15
• 3. S Numbers 22:20