Numbers 23:12 net — Balaam replied,“Must I not be careful to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?”

NET Bible

"Balaam replied,“Must I not be careful to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?”"

— Numbers 23:12, NET Bible

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Numbers 23:12 in Other Translations

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Numbers 23 — Context

9

For from the top of the rocks I see them; from the hills I watch them. Indeed, a nation that lives alone, and it will not be reckoned among the nations.

10

Who can count the dust of Jacob, or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let the end of my life be like theirs.”

11

Balaam Relocates Then Balak said to Balaam,“What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but on the contrary you have only blessed them!”

12

Balaam replied,“Must I not be careful to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?”

13

Balak said to him,“Please come with me to another place from which you can observe them. You will see only a part of them, but you will not see all of them. Curse them for me from there.”

14

So Balak brought Balaam to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, where he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

15

And Balaam said to Balak,“Station yourself here by your burnt offering, while I meet the LORD there.”

Numbers 23:12 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Numbers 23:12 say?
Numbers 23:12 in the NET Bible reads: “Balaam replied,“Must I not be careful to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?””
Where is Numbers 23:12 in the Bible?
Numbers 23:12 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Numbers, chapter 23, verse 12.
Who wrote Numbers?
Numbers is traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional). It was written c. 1446–1406 BC.
What is the book of Numbers about?
Numbers records Israel's forty years of wilderness wandering — two censuses (hence the name), rebellions, the failure at Kadesh-Barnea, and the slow journey to the plains of Moab. It is a sober portrait of human unbelief and God's patient faithfulness across a generation.
What are the major themes of Numbers?
Numbers explores themes including Wilderness, Faithfulness, Rebellion, Guidance, Provision. These themes shape the meaning and context of Numbers 23:12.
What translation should I read Numbers 23:12 in?
Numbers 23:12 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Numbers 23:12?
Numbers 23:12 reads (NET): “Balaam replied,“Must I not be careful to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?”” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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