Numbers 23:19

Numbers 23:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
• New International Version (NIV)God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
• English Standard Version (ESV)God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
• New King James Version (NKJV)“God 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? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Context of Numbers 23:19

17So he returned to Balak, who was standing there by his burnt offering with the princes of Moab. “What did the LORD say?” Balak asked. 18Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Arise, O Balak, and listen; give ear to me, O son of Zippor. God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill? 20I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it. 21He considers no disaster for Jacob; He sees no trouble for Israel. The LORD their God is with them, and the shout of the King is among them.

Numbers 23:19 word by word

לֹ֣א אִ֥ישׁ אֵל֙ וִֽיכַזֵּ֔ב וּבֶן־אָדָ֖ם וְיִתְנֶחָ֑ם הַה֤וּא אָמַר֙ וְלֹ֣א יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְדִבֶּ֖ר וְלֹ֥א יְקִימֶֽנָּה׃Read the interlinear

• Godאֵל'êl · GodH410
• is notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• that He should lieכָּזַבkâzab · to lieH3576
• or a sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• that He should change His mindנָחַםnâcham · to be sorry: relentH5162
• Does Heהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• speakאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• actעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• Does He promiseדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• fulfillקוּםqûm · to arise: establishH6965

Cross-references for Numbers 23:19

• 1 Samuel 15:29Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”
• Psalms 89:35Once and for all I have sworn by My holiness— I will not lie to David—
• Habakkuk 2:3For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.
• Malachi 3:6“Because I, the LORD, do not change, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.
• Luke 21:33Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
• Romans 11:29For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.
• Hebrews 6:18Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.
• James 1:17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
• 1 Chronicles 17:17And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O God, You have spoken about the future of the house of Your servant and have regarded me as a man of great distinction, O LORD God.
• Micah 7:20You will show faithfulness to Jacob and loving devotion to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers from the days of old.

Commentaries on Numbers 23:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19God is not a man, that he should lie - This seems to be spoken to correct the foregoing supposition of Balak that God could change his mind. Even the heathen would not allow that their supreme god could be caught in a falsity. Hence Aeschylus, in Prometh. vinct. 1068: - , . "The mouth of Jove knows not to frame a lie; But every word finds full accomplishment."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. 19Because God is faithful and always keeps his word, Balaam had no choice but to bless Israel. He could not speak against them because God had decided to bless them.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-1918-19. Rise up--As Balak was already standing (Nu 23:17), this expression is equivalent to "now attend to me." The counsels and promises of God respecting Israel are unchangeable; and no attempt to prevail on Him to reverse them will succeed, as they may with a man.Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 23:19

• God Continued...
• Pisgah
• Truth

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Son of man
• Count
• Abel-Shittim
• Anthropology
• Balaam
• Balak
• Charm
• Divination

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