Numbers 23:16

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

The LORD met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth, saying, 'Return to Balak and speak these words.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּקָּ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיָּ֥שֶׂם דָּבָ֖ר בְּפִ֑יו וַיֹּ֛אמֶר שׁ֥וּב אֶל־בָּלָ֖ק וְכֹ֥ה תְדַבֵּֽר׃

Transliteration

wə-yiqqār YHWH ʾel-bilʿām wə-yāśem dābār bə-pîw wə-yōʾmer šûb ʾel-bālāq wə-kōh tədabbēr

Grammar Details

• *wə-yiqqār*: waw consecutive + niphal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he met
• *YHWH*: proper noun - Yahweh
• *ʾel*: preposition - to
• *bilʿām*: proper noun, masculine singular - Balaam
• *wə-yāśem*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he put
• *dābār*: common noun, masculine singular - word
• *bə-pîw*: preposition + common noun, masculine singular + 3rd masculine singular suffix - in his mouth
• *wə-yōʾmer*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *šûb*: qal imperative, masculine singular - return
• *bālāq*: proper noun, masculine singular - Balak
• *wə-kōh*: waw conjunction + adverb - and thus
• *tədabbēr*: piel imperfect, 2nd masculine singular - you shall speak

Word Meanings

• *yiqqār*: met/encountered/appeared to
• *yāśem*: put/placed/established
• *dābār*: word/speech/utterance
• *pîw*: his mouth/his speech
• *šûb*: return/go back/turn back
• *kōh*: thus/so/in this manner
• *tədabbēr*: you shall speak/you shall say

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And the LORD met Balaam and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again to Balak and say thus.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And Jehovah{H3068} met{H7136} Balaam,{H1109} and put{H7760} a word{H1697} in his mouth,{H6310} and said,{H559} Return{H7725} unto Balak,{H1111} and thus shalt thou speak.{H1696}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the LORD{H3068} met{H7136}{(H8735)} Balaam{H1109}, and put{H7760}{(H8799)} a word{H1697} in his mouth{H6310}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Go again{H7725}{(H8798)} unto Balak{H1111}, and say{H1696}{(H8762)} thus.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And the Lorde mett Balam and put wordes in his mouth and sayed: goo agayne vnto Balac ad thus saye.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And the LORDE mett Balaam, & put the worde in his mouth, & sayde: Go agayne vnto Balac, & saye on this wyse.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And the Lord mette Balaam, and put an answere in his mouth, and sayd, Goe againe vnto Balak, and say thus.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And the Lord met Balaam, and put a worde in his mouth, and sayd: Go agayne vnto Balac, and say thus.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Yahweh met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and Jehovah cometh unto Balaam, and setteth a word in his mouth, and saith, `Turn back unto Balak, and thus thou dost speak.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And Jehovah met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus shalt thou speak.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And Jehovah met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus shalt thou speak.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And the Lord came to Balaam, and put words in his mouth, and said, Go back to Balak, and this is what you are to say.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Yahweh met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, and say this."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Then the LORD met Balaam and put a message in his mouth and said,“Return to Balak, and speak what I tell you.”

Referenced Verses

• Num 23:5 : 5 The LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, 'Go back to Balak and speak this to him.'
• Num 24:1 : 1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to seeking omens as he had done before, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.
• Num 22:35 : 35 The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, 'Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.' So Balaam went with Balak's officials.