Numbers 23:20 “I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I canno…”

Numbers 23:20

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

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

American Standard Version

Behold, I have received commandment to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.

Geneva Bible 1599

Behold, I haue receiued commandement to blesse: for he hath blessed, and I cannot alter it.

Darby Translation

Behold, I have received [mission] to bless; and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.

Young's Literal Translation

Lo, to bless I have received: Yea, He blesseth, and I [can] not reverse it.

Bible in Basic English

See, I have had orders to give blessing: and he has given a blessing which I have no power to take away.

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Cross references

“he hath”

Numbers 22:12 Genesis 12:2 Genesis 22:17

Numbers 22:12 · BSB

But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”

Genesis 12:2 · BSB

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.

Genesis 22:17 · BSB

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.

“I cannot”

John 10:27–29 Numbers 22:18 1 Peter 1:5 Numbers 22:38 Romans 8:38 Romans 8:39

John 10:27–29 · BSB

My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.

Numbers 22:18 · BSB

But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.

1 Peter 1:5 · BSB

who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Numbers 22:38 · BSB

“See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”

Romans 8:38 · BSB

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

Romans 8:39 · BSB

neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Also

Isaiah 43:13

Isaiah 43:13 · BSB

Even from eternity I am He, and none can deliver out of My hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”

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

In context

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?

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.

Read Numbers 23