Christian Standard Bible
Numbers 23:19
19God is not a man, that he might lie, or a son of man, that he might change his mind. Does he speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?
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 officials of Moab. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?” 18Balaam proclaimed his poem: Balak, get up and listen; son of Zippor, pay attention to what I say! God is not a man, that he might lie, or a son of man, that he might change his mind. Does he speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill? 20I have indeed received a command to bless; since he has blessed, I cannot change it. 21He considers no disaster for Jacob; he sees no trouble for Israel. The Lord their God is with them, and there is rejoicing over the King among them.
Read all of Numbers 23Numbers 23:19 word by word
לֹ֣א אִ֥ישׁ אֵל֙ וִֽיכַזֵּ֔ב וּבֶן־אָדָ֖ם וְיִתְנֶחָ֑ם הַה֤וּא אָמַר֙ וְלֹ֣א יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְדִבֶּ֖ר וְלֹ֥א יְקִימֶֽנָּה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Godאֵל'êl · GodH410
- not a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- that he should lieכָּזַבkâzab · to lieH3576
- neither the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- that he should repentנָחַםnâcham · to be sorry: relentH5162
- hath he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- and shall he not doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- or hath he spokenדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- and shall he not make it goodקוּםqûm · to arise: establishH6965
Cross-references for Numbers 23:19
- 1 Samuel 15:29Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel does not lie or change his mind, for he is not man who changes his mind.”
- Psalms 89:35Once and for all I have sworn an oath by my holiness; I will not lie to David.
- Habakkuk 2:3For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late.
- Malachi 3:6“Because I, the Lord, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.
- Luke 21:33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
- Romans 11:29since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.
- Hebrews 6:18so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.
- James 1:17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
- 1 Chronicles 17:17This was a little thing to you, God, for you have spoken about your servant’s house in the distant future. You regard me as a man of distinction, Lord God.
- Micah 7:20You will show loyalty to Jacob and faithful love to Abraham, as you swore to our ancestors from days long ago.
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
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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