Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse 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.
- BSB I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change 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.
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 hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
- Num 22:12God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people; for they are blessed.”
- Gen 12:2I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing.
- Gen 22:17that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your offspring greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gate of his enemies.
- Isa 43:13Yes, since the day was I am he; and there is no one who can deliver out of my hand. I will work, and who can hinder it?”
- Num 22:18Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of Yahweh my God, to do less or more.
- Rom 8:38–39For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
- 1 Pet 1:5who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
- Num 22:38Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.