Numbers 22 18

Numbers 22:18 kjv

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.

Numbers 22:18 nkjv

Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.

Numbers 22:18 niv

But Balaam answered them, "Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.

Numbers 22:18 esv

But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more.

Numbers 22:18 nlt

But Balaam responded to Balak's messengers, "Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the LORD my God.

Numbers 22 verses

Numbers 22 18 Meaning

Numbers 22:18 captures Balaam's initial declaration to Balak's envoys, asserting his absolute subservience to the word of the LORD, even in the face of immense wealth. He states unequivocally that no material gain, not even a house full of silver and gold, could tempt him to deviate from God's explicit instructions, whether by adding to or subtracting from them. This statement presents Balaam as a prophet who acknowledges the supremacy of Yahweh's commands over all worldly inducements, seemingly affirming his fidelity to divine revelation above personal gain.

Numbers 22 18 Context

Numbers chapter 22 initiates the narrative of Balak, the king of Moab, encountering the vast Israelite multitude after their victory over the Amorites. Fearful of their strength, Balak sought the services of Balaam, a renowned diviner or prophet from Pethor near the Euphrates, to curse Israel. Balaam was famous for his ability to bless or curse effectively. Balak sent prestigious elders with divination fees to Balaam, asking him to curse the Israelites. In response, Balaam consulted the LORD (Yahweh), indicating an unusual or genuine connection to the God of Israel, unlike typical pagan diviners. Initially, the LORD explicitly forbade Balaam from going or cursing Israel. When Balak sent more distinguished princes with a greater offer, Balaam makes this declaration in verse 18, demonstrating a superficial adherence to Yahweh's will while secretly harboring a desire for the rewards. The cultural context underscores the widespread belief in the power of spoken words, curses, and blessings, making Balaam's prophetic abilities highly sought after, and highlighting the severe test of his loyalty to the true God in the face of tempting financial gain.

Numbers 22 18 Word analysis

• But Balaam answered and said: This signifies a deliberate response, showing Balaam is fully conscious of the high stakes and the terms.
• to the servants of Balak: These are the intermediaries of worldly power and temptation.
• "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold,":
  • "house full": beito male (Hebrew: בֵּיתוֹ מָלֵא). Represents an overwhelming, exorbitant, and immense sum, signifying the totality of Balak's wealth and prestige. It emphasizes the magnitude of the temptation and therefore the perceived strength of Balaam's claim.
  • "silver and gold": kesef w'zahav (Hebrew: כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב). Standard ancient forms of immense wealth and the most prized possessions, embodying ultimate material prosperity and status. It underscores the profound lure presented to Balaam, making his declaration seem even more righteous.
• "I could not go beyond": lo ukhal la'avor (Hebrew: לֹא אוּכַל לַעֲבֹר). Translates to "I am not able to transgress" or "I cannot pass over/beyond." This is a strong, emphatic declaration of inability or moral constraint, expressing a clear boundary. Balaam claims a complete lack of power to disobey, portraying himself as bound by divine decree.
• "the word of the LORD": pi YHVH (Hebrew: פִּי יְהוָה). Literally, "mouth of Yahweh." This specifies the source of authority as the personal, revealed utterance of Israel's God, the sovereign Lord. This phrase denotes divine authority and an unassailable decree. For a diviner, access to "the mouth of Yahweh" was paramount, authenticating his prophetic role.
• "my God": Elohai (Hebrew: אֱלֹהָי). Balaam's personal possessive "my" is significant. It implies a recognition, perhaps even a personal relationship or allegiance, with Yahweh. This phrasing strengthens the perceived sincerity of his statement, framing his obedience as a personal commitment.
• "to do less or more": qaton o gadol (Hebrew: קָטֹן אוֹ גָּדוֹל). Literally, "small or great," meaning "in the slightest degree or in any substantial measure." This phrase denotes absolute precision and strict adherence, emphasizing that Balaam claimed no deviation, no matter how minor or significant, from God's instruction. It indicates total, uncompromising obedience to the specific details of the divine command.

Numbers 22 18 Bonus section

The seemingly righteous declaration by Balaam in Numbers 22:18 has led scholars to view his character from different perspectives. Some consider him a genuine prophet of Yahweh who was tragically flawed and ultimately yielded to temptation, falling from a place of divine communication to self-serving apostasy. Others see him as a shrewd mercenary diviner who, while possessing genuine insight into Yahweh's power, primarily served his own ends and only obeyed God out of necessity, not out of true devotion. His carefully worded statement, while true in its literal adherence to divine speech (he literally could only say what God put in his mouth), subtly obscures his inner covetousness. The phrase "my God" might indicate his acknowledgment of Yahweh's power rather than exclusive covenant loyalty, reflecting a pragmatic rather than devotional allegiance. The episode serves as a powerful testament to the sovereignty of God, who can even use unwilling instruments or those with mixed motives to achieve His purposes and proclaim His blessings, preventing curses against His chosen people. It also forewarns against the dangers of an intellectual understanding of truth without a corresponding transformation of the heart and motives.

Numbers 22 18 Commentary

Numbers 22:18 reveals the intriguing complexity of Balaam's character. His declaration here is, on the surface, a perfect articulation of what a true prophet of God should embody: unwavering fidelity to the divine word, rejecting all earthly allurements. It sets up an expectation of righteous conduct, portraying him as a figure who seemingly grasped the supremacy of the God of Israel. However, the subsequent narrative will reveal the tension and tragic irony in Balaam's words. While he could not utter a word that God did not put in his mouth, his heart's inclination towards "gain from wrongdoing" (2 Pet 2:15) was exposed through his persistence in seeking a different answer from God and, later, through his counsel to Balak to tempt Israel to sin (Num 31:16, Rev 2:14). Thus, this verse serves as a crucial theological statement about God's unassailable word and simultaneously a profound character insight into Balaam, highlighting that one can acknowledge divine authority yet still struggle with, and ultimately succumb to, the lure of wealth and personal desires.