Num 22:38 | NET2full | STEP | Balaam said to Balak , “ Look , I have come to you. Now , am I able to speak just anything ? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth .”

Numbers 22:38

38 Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you. Now, am I able ^{▼▼tn The verb is אוּכַל (ʾukhal) in a question—“am I able?” But emphasizing this is the infinitive absolute before it. So Balaam is saying something like, “Can I really say anything?”} to speak ^{▼▼tn The Piel infinitive construct (without the preposition) serves as the object of the verb “to be able.” The whole question is rhetorical—he is saying that he will not be able to say anything God does not allow him to say.} just anything? I must speak ^{▼▼tn The imperfect tense is here taken as an obligatory imperfect.} only the word that God puts in my mouth.”