Numbers 23 12

Numbers 23:12 kjv

And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?

Numbers 23:12 nkjv

So he answered and said, "Must I not take heed to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?"

Numbers 23:12 niv

He answered, "Must I not speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?"

Numbers 23:12 esv

And he answered and said, "Must I not take care to speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?"

Numbers 23:12 nlt

But Balaam replied, "I will speak only the message that the LORD puts in my mouth."

Numbers 23 verses

Numbers 23 12 Meaning

Numbers 23:12 conveys Balaam's immediate response to Balak's frustration, asserting that he is divinely compelled to speak only what Yahweh, the Lord, puts into his mouth. It highlights Balaam's acknowledged lack of control over his prophetic utterances, signaling God's absolute sovereignty and control over the situation, overriding any human desire or payment to curse Israel. This statement establishes that the words he utters are not his own, but God's unadulterated message.

Numbers 23 12 Context

Numbers 23:12 is Balak's response after his first attempt to have Balaam curse Israel (Num 23:1-11). Balak, king of Moab, deeply feared the vast numbers of Israelites encamped in his territory. He hired Balaam, a renowned diviner or prophet from Pethor (Mesopotamia), to curse Israel, believing that such a curse would weaken them, allowing Moab to defeat them. After the prescribed rituals, Balaam delivered his first oracle, but instead of a curse, it was a blessing upon Israel (Num 23:7-10). Balak's frustration is evident when he confronts Balaam in verse 11, asking, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them." Balaam's reply in verse 12 directly addresses this frustration, re-establishing the divine limitation on his prophetic words. The historical context reflects a belief in curses and blessings holding real power in the ancient Near East, but the narrative serves as a strong declaration of Yahweh's unique and ultimate power over such practices, confirming His covenant faithfulness to Israel.

Numbers 23 12 Word analysis

• He answered (וַיַּעַן – vayyaʿan): Derived from the Hebrew root ʿanah (עָנָה), meaning "to respond" or "to testify." This indicates a direct reply to Balak's complaint. It emphasizes a spoken declaration of fact.
• Must I not speak (הֲלֹא אֶשְׁמֹר לְדַבֵּר – halōʾ ʾešmōr lədabēr):
  • halōʾ (הֲלֹא): A rhetorical particle, equivalent to "is it not?" or "surely...not?". It anticipates an affirmative answer, implying "Indeed, I must!" It underscores the unavoidable nature of his duty.
  • ʾešmōr (אֶשְׁמֹר): From the verb shamar (שָׁמַר), meaning "to keep," "to guard," or "to observe diligently." In this context, it conveys that Balaam must strictly adhere to and faithfully declare what God commands, not just casually speak. It speaks of a commitment to the exactness of the divine message.
  • lədabēr (לְדַבֵּר): An infinitive form of diber (דָבַר), meaning "to speak," "to declare," or "to talk." It denotes the act of verbal proclamation.
• what the Lord (אֵת אֲשֶׁר יָשִׂים יְהוָה – ʾēt ʾăšer yāśîm YHVH):
  • ʾēt ʾăšer: "That which" or "what," introducing the content of the divine communication.
  • YHVH (יְהוָה): The sacred covenant name of God, commonly rendered "the LORD." Its use here signifies that the ultimate authority and source of the prophecy is the sovereign God of Israel, not a lesser deity or magical power.
• puts in my mouth (בְּפִי – bəfî):
  • yāśîm (יָשִׂים): From the verb sum (שִׂים), meaning "to put," "to place," or "to set." It indicates an active, intentional, and direct impartation of the words by God into Balaam.
  • bəfî: "In my mouth." This is a common idiom for divine inspiration and communication, signifying that the prophet is a direct conduit for God's words, speaking literally what God provides, not from his own thoughts or will. It underscores the absence of personal agency in formulating the message.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He answered, 'Must I not speak...'": This opening establishes Balaam's immediate defensive, yet factual, posture. The rhetorical question asserts his absolute obligation and lack of alternative choice regarding his prophetic speech. It's a statement of divine constraint overriding human will.
• "'...what the Lord puts in my mouth?'": This phrase precisely defines the nature of genuine prophecy and the source of its authority. It underscores Yahweh's ultimate control over Balaam's utterances, effectively silencing any notion that Balaam could alter the divine message based on Balak's desires or offered rewards. The imagery of words being "put in my mouth" confirms direct divine inspiration and transmission.

Numbers 23 12 Bonus section

• The irony of Balaam: Balaam is depicted as a "foreteller" whose words prove accurate, yet his character and motives are deeply flawed. He becomes an unwitting, yet powerful, testament to Yahweh's unassailable will, forced to bless those he intended to curse for personal gain.
• God's control over creation, including speech: This verse emphasizes God's ability to even control the mouths of those not explicitly serving Him in faithfulness, demonstrating His supreme power over all.
• Preparation for the Star from Jacob: This reluctant submission of Balaam to God's will to bless Israel also paves the way for the profound messianic prophecies he later utters (Num 24:17-19), showcasing God's strategic use of individuals, even compromised ones, to reveal His grand purposes.

Numbers 23 12 Commentary

Numbers 23:12 encapsulates the central theme of divine sovereignty throughout the Balaam narrative. Balaam, a renowned prophet-diviner, makes it explicitly clear that he is merely a conduit for Yahweh's word. Despite his own avaricious inclinations (which later become manifest, 2 Pet 2:15, Jude 11), he cannot, in this moment, deviate from God's instruction. The rhetorical question serves as an undeniable affirmation that true prophecy comes directly from the Almighty and is not subject to human manipulation, political pressure, or financial incentive. This verse serves as a profound theological statement that God's plan for His people, Israel, cannot be thwarted by any human or supernatural agency outside of Him. It prepares Balak (and the reader) for the subsequent blessings that are utterly against Balak's will but align perfectly with Yahweh's unchanging purpose to bless His covenant nation.