Bible Strands
Numbers 23:5
Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Yahweh addresses Balaam immediately after Balaam reports his seven altars and sacrifices, commanding him to return to Balak and deliver a divine message.
The words — The text highlights דָּבָר (da.Var) as “a word” placed in Balaam’s mouth, alongside שׁוּב (shuv) commanding him to “return” to Balak.
The thread — This motif of God placing words in a speaker’s mouth appears in Deuteronomy 18:18, Jeremiah 1:9, and Isaiah 51:16.
Why it lands — The verse establishes that prophetic speech originates from divine command rather than human initiative, requiring the reader to recognize the speaker as a conduit for a message he did not generate.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.
- Jeremiah 1:9 Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
- Isaiah 51:16 I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”
- Isaiah 59:21 “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit will not depart from you, and My words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and grandchildren, from now on and forevermore,” says the LORD.
- Numbers 23:16 And the LORD met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and speak what I tell you.”
- Numbers 22:20 That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”
- Numbers 22:35 But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
- Proverbs 16:1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
- Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
- Luke 12:12 For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”