Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should…”

Numbers 23:19

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?

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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?

World English Bible

God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and he won’t do it? Or has he spoken, and he won’t make it good?

American Standard Version

God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and will he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good?

Geneva Bible 1599

God is not as man, that he should lie, neither as the sonne of man that he shoulde repent: hath he sayde and shall he not do it? and hath he spoken, and shall he not accomplish it?

Darby Translation

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither a son of man, that he should repent. Shall he say and not do? and shall he speak and not make it good?

Young's Literal Translation

God [is] not a man — and lieth, And a son of man — and repenteth! Hath He said — and doth He not do [it]? And spoken — and doth He not confirm it?

Bible in Basic English

God is not a man, to say what is false; or the son of man, that his purpose may be changed: what he has said, will he not do? and will he not give effect to the words of his mouth?

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Cross references

“God”

1 Samuel 15:29 James 1:17 Malachi 3:6 Hebrews 6:18 Titus 1:2 Luke 21:33

1 Samuel 15:29 · BSB

Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”

James 1:17 · BSB

Every 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.

Malachi 3:6 · BSB

“Because I, the LORD, do not change, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.

Hebrews 6:18 · BSB

Thus 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.

Titus 1:2 · BSB

in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

Luke 21:33 · BSB

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

“or hath he”

Micah 7:20 1 Chronicles 17:17

Micah 7:20 · BSB

You will show faithfulness to Jacob and loving devotion to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers from the days of old.

1 Chronicles 17:17 · BSB

And 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.

Also

Hosea 11:9

Hosea 11:9 · BSB

I will not execute the full fury of My anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man— the Holy One among you— and I will not come in wrath.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

18Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Arise, O Balak, and listen; give ear to me, O son of Zippor.

20I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.

Read Numbers 23