I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it.
- KJV Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
- NKJV Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
- NASB “Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, I cannot revoke it.
- NLT Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Balaam declares he has received a command to bless and cannot reverse it. God's blessing is irrevocable.
Overview
Balaam confesses that God has determined to bless Israel and that no one, including himself, can undo it. This directly defeats Balak's purpose and magnifies the security of God's people. What God has blessed stands forever, a truth that anchors the believer's confidence in Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- John 10:27–29My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
- Num 22:12But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”
- Gen 12:2I 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.
- Gen 22:17I 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.
- Isa 43:13Even from eternity I am He, and none can deliver out of My hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”
- Num 22:18But 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.
- Rom 8:38–39For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
- 1 Pet 1:5who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
- Num 22:38“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.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 23:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.