Numbers 22:16
And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ
And they came
H935
וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ
And they came
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 15
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
כֹּ֤ה
H3541
כֹּ֤ה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
6 of 15
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
בֶּן
the son
H1121
בֶּן
the son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
9 of 15
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
11 of 15
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
נָ֥א
H4994
נָ֥א
Strong's:
H4994
Word #:
12 of 15
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
תִמָּנַ֖ע
Let nothing I pray thee hinder
H4513
תִמָּנַ֖ע
Let nothing I pray thee hinder
Strong's:
H4513
Word #:
13 of 15
to debar (negatively or positively) from benefit or injury
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern divination was commercial—professional prophets and diviners charged fees, with prices varying by difficulty and client status. Balak operated within this paradigm, assuming every prophet had a price. Israel's prophets, by contrast, spoke as Yahweh's mouthpiece, not for hire.
Questions for Reflection
- When the world assumes you can be bought, how clearly have you demonstrated that you serve a Master who cannot be negotiated with?
- How does the world's "name your price" mentality conflict with covenantal obedience to God's non-negotiable commands?
- What "hindrances" do worldly people imagine keep you from sin, when the real barrier is God's absolute prohibition?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me—Balak's plea reveals pagan theology: he assumed obstacles to prophetic service were merely external hindrances (distance, payment, honor) rather than divine prohibition. The verb מָנַע (māna', "hinder") suggests Balak thought Balaam faced logistical barriers, not moral ones.
This verse exposes the world's fundamental misunderstanding: it assumes God's servants are available for hire if the price is right. Balak never conceived that Balaam might be bound by a Word he cannot break, revealing the gulf between pagan transactional religion and covenant obedience to Yahweh.