Numbers 23:5
◄  Numbers 23:5  ►
New International Version (©2011)
The LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, "Go back to Balak and give him this word."

New Living Translation (©2007)
The LORD gave Balaam a message for King Balak. Then he said, "Go back to Balak and give him my message."

English Standard Version (©2001)
And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Then the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and you shall speak thus."

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Then the LORD put a message in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak and say what I tell you."

International Standard Version (©2012)
Then the LORD gave Balaam this message. "Return to Balak and speak to him."

NET Bible (©2006)
Then the LORD put a message in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and speak what I tell you."

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The LORD told Balaam, "Go back to Balak, and give him my message."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus you shall speak.

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

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

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord put the word in his mouth, and said: Return to Balac, and thus shalt thou speak.

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

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

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.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:1-10 With the camps of Israel full in view, Balaam ordered seven altars to be built, and a bullock and a ram to be offered on each. Oh the sottishness of superstition, to imagine that God will be at man's beck! The curse is turned into a blessing, by the overruling power of God, in love to Israel. God designed to serve his own glory by Balaam, and therefore met him. If God put a word into the mouth of Balaam, who would have defied God and Israel, surely he will not be wanting to those who desire to glorify God, and to edify his people; it shall be given what they should speak. He who opened the mouth of the ass, caused the mouth of this wicked man to speak words as contrary to the desire of his heart, as those of the ass were to the powers of the brute. The miracle was as great in the one case as in the other. Balaam pronounces Israel safe. He owns he could do no more than God suffered him to do. He pronounces them happy in their distinction from the rest of the nations. Happy in their numbers, which made them both honourable and formidable. Happy in their last end. Death is the end of all men; even the righteous must die, and it is good for us to think of this with regard to ourselves, as Balaam does here, speaking of his own death. He pronounces the righteous truly blessed, not only while they live, but when they die; which makes their death even more desirable than life itself. But there are many who desire to die the death of the righteous, but do not endeavour to live the life of the righteous; gladly would they have an end like theirs, but not a way like theirs. They would be saints in heaven, but not saints on earth. This saying of Balaam's is only a wish, not a prayer; it is a vain wish, being only a wish for the end, without any care for the means. Many seek to quiet their consciences with the promise of future amendment, or take up with some false hope, while they neglect the only way of salvation, by which a sinner can be righteous before God.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth.... 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.

Numbers 23:5 Parallel Commentaries

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Balaam's First Oracle
…4And God met Balaam: and he said to him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 5And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak. 6And he returned to him, and, see, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. …

Exodus 4:15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.
Numbers 22:20 That night God came to Balaam and said, "Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you."
Numbers 23:4 God met with him, and Balaam said, "I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram."
Numbers 23:6 So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials.
Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.
Jeremiah 1:9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "I have put my words in your mouth.