King James Version
Numbers 23:12 in the King James Version says “And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?”
Numbers 23:12 · KJV
Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! me: Heb. my soul, or, my life
And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.
And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?
And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.
And he brought him into the field of Zophim , to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. Pisgah: or, the hill
KJV Study — Public Domain
“And he answered”
H6030properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
“hath put”
H7760to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
“that which the LORD”
H3068(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
“in my mouth”
H6310the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
“Must I not take heed”
H8104properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
“to speak”
H1696perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Numbers 23:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Verses related to Numbers 23:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge