God’s Word Translation
Numbers 23:8
8How can I curse those whom God hasn’t cursed? How can I condemn those whom the Lord hasn’t condemned?
Numbers 23:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?
- New International Version (NIV)How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced?
- English Standard Version (ESV)How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?
- New King James Version (NKJV)“How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?
Context of Numbers 23:8
6So he went back to Balak and found him standing beside his burnt offering with all the princes of Moab. 7Then Balaam delivered this message: “Balak brought me from Aram. The king of Moab summoned me from the eastern mountains. ‘Come, curse Jacob for me,’ he said. ‘Come, condemn Israel.’ How can I curse those whom God hasn’t cursed? How can I condemn those whom the Lord hasn’t condemned? 9I see them from the top of rocky cliffs, I look at them from the hills. I see a nation that lives by itself, people who do not consider themselves to be like other nations. 10The descendants of Jacob are like specks of dust. Who can count them or number even one-fourth of the people of Israel? Let me die the death of innocent people. Let my end be like theirs.”
Read all of Numbers 23Numbers 23:8 word by word
מָ֣ה אֶקֹּ֔ב לֹ֥א קַבֹּ֖ה אֵ֑ל וּמָ֣ה אֶזְעֹ֔ם לֹ֥א זָעַ֖ם יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Numbers 23:8
- Numbers 23:20I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t change it.
- Isaiah 44:25I cause the signs of false prophets to fail and make fools of fortunetellers. I make wise men retreat and turn their knowledge into foolishness.
- Isaiah 47:12Keep practicing your spells and your evil magic. You have practiced them ever since you were young. You may succeed. You may cause terror.
Commentaries on Numbers 23:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? - It was granted on all hands that no incantations nor imprecations could avail, unless God concurred and ratified them. From God's communication to Balaam he saw that God was determined to bless and defend Israel, and therefore all endeavors to injure them must be in vain.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-8Instead of cursing Israel, Balaam spoke about their special status (compare Exodus 19:5–6; Deuteronomy 7:6–9). He recognized that God's blessing had transformed a humble people into a great nation (compare Genesis 12:2–3; 13:16; 28:14). Balaam hoped for similar good fortune for himself (Numbers 23:10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed?--A divine blessing has been pronounced over the posterity of Jacob; and therefore, whatever prodigies can be achieved by my charms, all magical skill, all human power, is utterly impotent to counteract the decree of God.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 23:8
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries