BibleWord.ai› Bible› Numbers› Chapter 24› Verse 13

Numbers 24:13

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 24:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what Jehovah speaketh, that will I speak?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what Jehovah speaketh, that will I speak?
Numbers 24:13 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 24

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
10And Balak`s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
11Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honor.
12And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers that thou sentest unto me, saying,
13If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what Jehovah speaketh, that will I speak?
14And now, behold, I go unto my people: come, [and] I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
15And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith;
16He saith, who heareth the words of God, And knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:
← Numbers 24:12Numbers 24:14 →
← Full Chapter 24 Numbers Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, etc.] Which are the very words he said to the princes of Moab, (<042218>Numbers 22:18), I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad; for though here it is the “commandment”, and there the “word” of the Lord, yet it is the same word in both places in the original text: indeed, here he omits the relation to the Lord he there claims, saying “my God”; and instead of “little or great”, here it is “good or bad”, but the sense is the same: and he adds, for explanation sake, of mine own mind: or out of my heart, which was disposed well enough to serve Balak, but was laid under a restraint by the Lord: but what the…”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Numbers 24 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification