Numbers 23:20
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.

Majority Standard Bible
I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change 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.

World English Bible
Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Behold, 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 Bible
I 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 Bible
Behold, 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 1917
Behold, 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, …

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Numbers 23
1. Balak's sacrifices














I 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,
The blessing here refers to God's favor and protection over Israel. This is consistent with the Abrahamic Covenant, where God promised to bless those who bless Abraham's descendants and curse those who curse them. Theologically, this underscores the idea that God's blessings are irrevocable and not subject to human manipulation. It also points to the concept of divine election, where God chooses to bless whom He wills, independent of human actions or desires.

and I cannot change it.
Balaam acknowledges the futility of opposing God's will. This phrase emphasizes the immutability of God's decrees. In the broader biblical narrative, it reflects the theme that God's purposes cannot be thwarted by human schemes. This is echoed in other scriptures, such as Isaiah 14:27, which states that no one can annul what God has purposed. Theologically, it points to the sovereignty of God and His ultimate control over history. This also prefigures the New Testament understanding of Jesus Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of God's blessings, which cannot be altered or revoked by human actions.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Balaam
A 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 Sovereignty
God’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.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 indeed
הִנֵּ֥ה (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


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OT Law: Numbers 23:20 Behold I have received a command (Nu Num.)
Numbers 23:19
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