Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it. New Living Translation Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it! English Standard Version Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it. Berean Standard Bible I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it. King James Bible Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. New King James Version Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. New American Standard Bible “Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, I cannot revoke it. NASB 1995 “Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it. NASB 1977 “Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it. Legacy Standard Bible Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it. Amplified Bible “Behold, I have received His command to bless [Israel]. He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. Christian Standard Bible I have indeed received a command to bless; since he has blessed, I cannot change it. Holman Christian Standard Bible I have indeed received a command to bless; since He has blessed, I cannot change it. American Standard Version Behold, I have received commandment to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it. Contemporary English Version "My command from God was to bless these people, and there's nothing I can do to change what he has done. English Revised Version Behold, I have received commandment to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it. GOD'S WORD® Translation I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can't change it. Good News Translation I have been instructed to bless, And when God blesses, I cannot call it back. International Standard Version Look! I've received a blessing, and so I will bless. I won't withdraw it. NET Bible Indeed, I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. New Heart English Bible Look, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can't reverse it. Webster's Bible Translation Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleI have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it. World English Bible Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBehold, I have received [only] to bless; Indeed, He blesses, and I cannot reverse it. Young's Literal Translation Lo, to bless I have received: Yea, He blesseth, and I can not reverse it. Smith's Literal Translation Behold, I was taken to praise: and he praised and I shall not turn it back. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleI was brought to bless, the blessing I am not able to hinder. Catholic Public Domain Version I was led here to bless, and I have no strength to hinder the blessing. New American Bible I was summoned to bless; I will bless; I cannot revoke it! New Revised Standard Version See, I received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBehold, I was brought here to bless; and I cannot reverse the blessing. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Behold I have been led to bless and I will not return the blessing. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Behold, I am bidden to bless; And when He hath blessed, I cannot call it back. Brenton Septuagint Translation Behold, I have received commandment to bless: I will bless, and not turn back. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Balaam's Second Oracle…19God 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.… Cross References Genesis 12:2-3 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 22:17-18 I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. / And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Genesis 27:33 Isaac began to tremble violently and said, “Who was it, then, who hunted the game and brought it to me? Before you came in, I ate it all and blessed him—and indeed, he will be blessed!” Genesis 49:25-26 by the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who blesses you, with blessings of the heavens above, with blessings of the depths below, with blessings of the breasts and womb. / The blessings of your father have surpassed the blessings of the ancient mountains and the bounty of the everlasting hills. May they rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince of his brothers. Deuteronomy 7:13 He will love you and bless you and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your womb and the produce of your land—your grain, new wine, and oil, the young of your herds and the lambs of your flocks—in the land that He swore to your fathers to give you. Deuteronomy 28:3-6 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. / The fruit of your womb will be blessed, as well as the produce of your land and the offspring of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. / Your basket and kneading bowl will be blessed. ... Psalm 33:9 For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. Psalm 89:34 I will not violate My covenant or alter the utterance of My lips. Isaiah 14:27 The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back? Isaiah 46:10-11 I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’ / I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it. Isaiah 55:11 so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it. Jeremiah 1:12 “You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.” Ezekiel 24:14 I, the LORD, have spoken; the time is coming, and I will act. I will not refrain or show pity, nor will I relent. I will judge you according to your ways and deeds,’ declares the Lord GOD.” Malachi 3:6 “Because I, the LORD, do not change, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed. Romans 11:29 For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. Treasury of Scripture Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he has blessed; and I cannot reverse it. he hath Numbers 22:12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: Genesis 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; I cannot Numbers 22:18,38 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more… John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: … Romans 8:38,39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, … Jump to Previous Bidden Bless Blessed Blesseth Blessing Change Command Commandment Mission Orders Power Received Reverse RevokeJump to Next Bidden Bless Blessed Blesseth Blessing Change Command Commandment Mission Orders Power Received Reverse RevokeNumbers 23 1. Balak's sacrificesI have indeed received a command to bless; This phrase is spoken by Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, who was hired by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. The context is significant as it highlights the sovereignty of God over human intentions. Despite Balak's desire to harm Israel, God commands Balaam to bless them instead. This demonstrates God's protective hand over His chosen people and His ability to use even those outside the covenant community to fulfill His purposes. The command to bless reflects God's unchanging promise to Abraham that his descendants would be blessed (Genesis 12:2-3). He has blessed, and I cannot change it. Persons / Places / Events 1. BalaamA non-Israelite prophet who was hired by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. Despite his intentions, Balaam ends up blessing Israel instead, as he is compelled by God’s command. 2. Balak The king of Moab who fears the Israelites due to their numbers and their victories over neighboring nations. He seeks to weaken them through a curse. 3. Israelites The people of God, journeying through the wilderness towards the Promised Land. They are the intended target of Balak's curse. 4. Moab The region ruled by Balak, located east of the Dead Sea. It is a place of tension as the Israelites pass through on their way to Canaan. 5. God’s Command The divine directive that Balaam receives, which overrides his own intentions and Balak’s desires. It emphasizes God’s sovereignty and the irrevocability of His blessings. Teaching Points God’s SovereigntyGod’s will is supreme and cannot be thwarted by human intentions. Balaam’s experience shows that even when people intend harm, God’s purposes prevail. The Power of Blessing When God blesses, it is irrevocable. Believers can trust in the security of God’s promises and blessings in their lives. Faithfulness to God’s Word Like Balaam, we must recognize the authority of God’s word and align our actions with His commands, even when it conflicts with human desires. Protection of God’s People God’s protection over His people is evident. Believers can find comfort in knowing that God watches over them and His plans for them are for good. The Futility of Opposing God Balak’s efforts to curse Israel highlight the futility of opposing God’s will. It serves as a reminder to align ourselves with God rather than against Him. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 23Is there any historical or archeological basis for believing such a deceitful blessing would stand in that culture (Genesis 27)? How does the Bible address resistance to change? If Balaam’s initial intention was to curse Israel (Numbers 24:1), how does his eventual blessing align with the notion of free will and divine sovereignty? Numbers 23:8-10: How credible is it that a pagan prophet blesses Israel despite a king's demand to curse them, considering other biblical narratives?Verse 20. - I have received commandment to bless. The word "commandment "is not wanted here. Balaam had received, not instructions, but an inward revelation of the Divine will which he could not contravene. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew I have indeedהִנֵּ֥ה (hin·nêh) Interjection Strong's 2009: Lo! behold! received לָקָ֑חְתִּי (lā·qā·ḥə·tî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 3947: To take a command to bless; בָרֵ֖ךְ (ḇā·rêḵ) Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse He has blessed, וּבֵרֵ֖ךְ (ū·ḇê·rêḵ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse and I cannot וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no change it. אֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃ (’ă·šî·ḇen·nāh) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again Links Numbers 23:20 NIVNumbers 23:20 NLT Numbers 23:20 ESV Numbers 23:20 NASB Numbers 23:20 KJV Numbers 23:20 BibleApps.com Numbers 23:20 Biblia Paralela Numbers 23:20 Chinese Bible Numbers 23:20 French Bible Numbers 23:20 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 23:20 Behold I have received a command (Nu Num.) |
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