Amplified Bible
Numbers 23:20
20Behold, I have received His command to bless [Israel]. He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Numbers 23:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
- New International Version (NIV)I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Context of Numbers 23:20
18Balaam took up his [second] discourse (oracle) and said: “Rise up, O Balak, and hear; Listen [closely] to me, son of Zippor. 19God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken and will He not make it good and fulfill it? Behold, I have received His command to bless [Israel]. He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. 21God has not observed wickedness in Jacob [for he is forgiven], Nor has He seen trouble in Israel. The Lord their God is with Israel, And the shout of their King is among the people. 22God brought them out of Egypt; They have the strength of a wild ox.
Read all of Numbers 23Numbers 23:20 word by word
הִנֵּ֥ה בָרֵ֖ךְ לָקָ֑חְתִּי וּבֵרֵ֖ךְ וְלֹ֥א אֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Numbers 23:20
- Numbers 22:12God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people [of Israel], for they are blessed.”
- Genesis 12:2And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you [abundantly], And make your name great (exalted, distinguished); And you shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others];
- Genesis 22:17indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies [by conquering them].
- Numbers 22:18Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the Lord my God.
- John 10:27The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me.
- Romans 8:38For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers,
- 1 Peter 1:5who are being protected and shielded by the power of God through your faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.
Commentaries on Numbers 23:20
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20I have received commandment to bless - literally, “I have received to bless.” The reason of his blessing lay in the augury which he acknowledged, and in the divine overruling impulse which he could not resist, not in any “commandment” in words.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-30Verses 11-30 Balak was angry with Balaam. Thus a confession of God's overruling power is extorted from a wicked prophet, to the confusion of a wicked prince. A second time the curse is turned into a blessing; and this blessing is both larger and stronger than the former. Men change their minds, and break their words; but God never changes his mind, and therefore never recalls his promise. And when in Scripture he is said to repent, it does not mean any…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21The Lord kept his promises to bless his people, bringing them no misfortune or trouble. Balaam could not change God's plans. God punished the Hebrews for disobedience. Yet, he supported Israel's cause ever since he freed them from Egypt.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-301. Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars--Balak, being a heathen, would naturally suppose these altars were erected in honor of Baal, the patron deity of his country. It is evident, from Nu 23:4 that they were prepared for the worship of the true God; although in choosing the high places of Baal as their site and rearing a number of altars (2Ki 18:22; Is 17:8; Jr 11:13; Ho 8:11; 10:1), instead of one only, as God had appointed, Balaam blended…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 23:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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