Definition: And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Numbers 23:5. It’s a really important part of a story about a man who was leading a group of Israelite men to work for a local tribe. Here's the explanation in simple terms: What’s happening? The Lord is directly speaking to Balaam, a Nazirite (a priestly official) who was leading a group of Israelites towards a tribe named Balak. He’s telling Balaam to stop and to return to Balak. What does the verse mean? “And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth…” – This means God directly commanded Balaam to speak something. "...and said, Return unto Balak..." - Balaam was instructed to go back to Balak. "...and thus thou shalt speak." - This is the crucial part. The Lord tells Balaam to speak a specific message – to tell Balak to stop his work and to do something else. What’s the significance? This verse is significant because it's a direct instruction from God to restrain Balaam. It signifies that God is actively intervening in events, stopping things that are going wrong, and directing actions. Why is this important? It highlights God's Sovereignty: God is the one who controls everything – including the choices of people like Balaam. It’s a warning: It suggests that Balaam’s leadership might be leading him down a path that is not in line with God’s will. In short, this verse is a command from God to stop Balaam's work and to guide him towards a different course. --- Do you want me to: Explain another Bible verse? Discuss the context of this verse within the larger story?