Numbers 23:16 (KJV)

Passage

And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.

Nearby Context

Numbers 23:14 And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.

Numbers 23:15 And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder.

Numbers 23:16 And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.

Numbers 23:17 And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken?

Numbers 23:18 And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "lord", "balaam", "word", "mouth", "said", "again", "balak", and "thus". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "lord" and "balaam", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "And he said unto Balak Stand here..." into verse 17's "And when he came to him behold...", so "lord" and "balaam" 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 "balaam" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.