Numbers 23:16 (GNV)

Passage

And the Lord mette Balaam, and put an answere in his mouth, and sayd, Goe againe vnto Balak, and say thus.

Nearby Context

Numbers 23:14 And he brought him into Sede-sophim to the top of Pisgah, and built seuen altars, and offred a bullocke, and a ramme on euery altar.

Numbers 23:15 After, he sayde vnto Balak, Stande here by thy burnt offring, and I wil meete the Lord yonder.

Numbers 23:16 And the Lord mette Balaam, and put an answere in his mouth, and sayd, Goe againe vnto Balak, and say thus.

Numbers 23:17 And when he came to him, beholde, hee stoode by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him: so Balak sayde vnto him, What hath the Lord sayd?

Numbers 23:18 And he vttered his parable, and sayde, Rise vp, Balak, and heare: hearken vnto me, thou sonne of Zippor.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "lord", "mette", "balaam", "answere", "mouth", "sayd", "againe", and "vnto". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "lord" and "mette", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "After he sayde vnto Balak Stande here..." into verse 17's "And when he came to him beholde...", so "lord" and "mette" belong inside that flow. In Numbers context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "lord" and "mette" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.