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 22:18KJV
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Numbers 22:18 (KJV)

What does Numbers 22:18 mean?

Numbers 22:18 records Balaam’s answer to Balak’s servants. Balaam says that even an enormous payment from Balak cannot give him freedom to act beyond what the LORD his God has said, whether the action seems small or large.

Balak had sent the servants to persuade Balaam to come to him. Balaam’s picture of a house filled with silver and gold answers the promise of rewards in the preceding verse. His words put a limit on what Balak’s offer can accomplish.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 22:18

  • “word” — פֶּה (peh): This word commonly means “mouth.” Here it refers to what comes from the LORD’s mouth: his spoken command.

  • “beyond” — עָבַר (ʿavar): This word can mean “to cross over” or “pass beyond.” Balaam pictures the LORD’s command as a boundary he cannot cross.

Why Numbers 22:18 matters

  • Balak wanted Balaam to curse Israel, but Balaam’s answer places the LORD’s word above Balak’s wishes. Earlier, God had told Balaam not to curse the people, because they were blessed (Numbers 22:12).

  • Balaam’s answer is not yet the end of the conversation. He asks the servants to stay overnight so he can learn what else the LORD will say (Numbers 22:19).

  • The phrase “the LORD my God” is part of Balaam’s own reply. Balaam speaks of the LORD as his God while answering men sent by Balak, the king of Moab.

Where else these words appear

“full” Hebrew H4393 · used in 36 verses

  • Genesis 48:19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
  • 2 Samuel 8:2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
  • Isaiah 31:4 For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.

“Balak” Hebrew H1111 · used in 40 verses

  • Numbers 22:2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
  • Numbers 22:40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
  • Numbers 23:25 And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.

“Balaam” Hebrew H1109 · used in 57 verses

  • Numbers 22:5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
  • Numbers 22:34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
  • Numbers 23:29 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.

“less” Hebrew H6996 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
  • 1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
  • 2 Chronicles 34:30 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.