The Meaning of Numbers 23:12 Explained

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?

YLT: and he answereth and saith, 'That which Jehovah doth put in my mouth -- it do I not take heed to speak?'

Darby: And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which Jehovah puts in my mouth?

ASV: And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which Jehovah putteth in my mouth?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Numbers 23:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 23:1-12 - A Blessing Instead Of A Curse
Notice the position of these chapters, preceding the awful story of Baal-peor. Presently the Israelites will be perpetrating such terrible sins that it might seem impossible for God to continue to acknowledge them; yet here God stands for them and restrains the spirit of evil. He will take their chastisement, when needed, into his own hands.
With all his might Balaam strove to earn the royal gifts. Ah, thought he, that I could really feel that I was the organ of the divine malediction! But he could not feel in his heart that God's spirit was urging him in the direction that Balak wished. The stream of destiny was not running that way. On the contrary, he could forge no weapon against Israel that could prosper, and when he tried to raise his tongue in judgment against the people of God he was condemned. It was as if God said, "Touch not mine anointed." Psalms 105:15; Isaiah 54:17; Romans 8:31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 23

1  Balak's sacrifices

What do the individual words in Numbers 23:12 mean?

So he answered and said not - what has put Yahweh in my mouth - Must I take heed to speak
וַיַּ֖עַן וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הֲלֹ֗א אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׂ֤ים יְהוָה֙ ؟ בְּפִ֔י אֹת֥וֹ אֶשְׁמֹ֖ר לְדַבֵּֽר

וַיַּ֖עַן  So  he  answered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
וַיֹּאמַ֑ר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵת֩  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יָשִׂ֤ים  has  put 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
؟ בְּפִ֔י  in  my  mouth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
אֹת֥וֹ  - 
Parse: Direct object marker, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֶשְׁמֹ֖ר  Must  I  take  heed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
לְדַבֵּֽר  to  speak 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.