The Meaning of Numbers 23:5 Explained

Numbers 23:5

KJV: And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

YLT: and Jehovah putteth a word in the mouth of Balaam, and saith, 'Turn back unto Balak, and thus thou dost speak.'

Darby: And Jehovah put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus shalt thou speak.

ASV: And Jehovah put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  put  a word  in Balaam's  mouth,  and said,  Return  unto Balak,  and thus thou shalt speak. 

What does Numbers 23:5 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 23:5 mean?

And put Yahweh a word in mouth of Balaam and said Return to Balak and thus you shall speak
וַיָּ֧שֶׂם יְהוָ֛ה דָּבָ֖ר בְּפִ֣י בִלְעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֛אמֶר שׁ֥וּב אֶל־ בָּלָ֖ק וְכֹ֥ה תְדַבֵּֽר

וַיָּ֧שֶׂם  And  put 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
יְהוָ֛ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
דָּבָ֖ר  a  word 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
בְּפִ֣י  in  mouth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
בִלְעָ֑ם  of  Balaam 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בִּלְעָם 
Sense: the son of Beor, a man endowed with the gift of prophecy.
וַיֹּ֛אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שׁ֥וּב  Return 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
בָּלָ֖ק  Balak 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בָּלָק  
Sense: a king of Moab who hired Balaam to curse Israel.
וְכֹ֥ה  and  thus 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
תְדַבֵּֽר  you  shall  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.