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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
Numbers 23:20
This verse is not available in the MSG!
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Hebrew Names Version
Behold, I have received [mitzvah] to bless: He has blessed, and I can't reverse it.
Behold, I have received [mitzvah] to bless: He has blessed, and I can't reverse it.
King James Version
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
Lexham English Bible
Behold, I have received a command to bless; when he has blessed, I cannot cause it to return.
Behold, I have received a command to bless; when he has blessed, I cannot cause it to return.
English Standard Version
Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.
Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.
New Century Version
He told me to bless them, so I cannot change the blessing.
He told me to bless them, so I cannot change the blessing.
New English Translation
Indeed, I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Indeed, I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Amplified Bible
"Behold, I have received His command to bless [Israel]. He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
"Behold, I have received His command to bless [Israel]. 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.
"Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, I cannot revoke it.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Behold, I haue receiued commandement to blesse: for he hath blessed, and I cannot alter it.
Behold, I haue receiued commandement to blesse: for he hath blessed, and I cannot alter it.
Legacy Standard Bible
Behold, I have received a command to bless;When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it.
Behold, I have received a command to bless;When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke 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.
"My command from God was to bless these people, and there's nothing I can do to change what he has done.
Complete Jewish Bible
Look, I am ordered to bless; when he blesses, I can't reverse it.
Look, I am ordered to bless; when he blesses, I can't reverse it.
Darby Translation
Behold, I have received [mission] to bless; and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Behold, I have received [mission] to bless; and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Easy-to-Read Version
He told me to bless them. He blessed them, so I cannot change that.
He told me to bless them. He blessed them, so I cannot change that.
George Lamsa Translation
Behold, I was brought here to bless; and I cannot reverse the blessing.
Behold, I was brought here to bless; and I cannot reverse the blessing.
Good News Translation
I have been instructed to bless, And when God blesses, I cannot call it back.
I have been instructed to bless, And when God blesses, I cannot call it back.
Christian Standard Bible®
I have indeed received a command to bless;since he has blessed, I cannot change it.
I have indeed received a command to bless;since he has blessed, I cannot change it.
Literal Translation
Behold, I have received word to bless; yes, He has blessed; I cannot reverse it.
Behold, I have received word to bless; yes, He has blessed; I cannot reverse it.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Beholde, I am brought hither to blesse, I blesse, & can not go backe there fro.
Beholde, I am brought hither to blesse, I blesse, & can not go backe there fro.
American Standard Version
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot 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.
See, I have had orders to give blessing: and he has given a blessing which I have no power to take away.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Beholde, I haue taken vpon me to blesse: for he hath blessed, and it is not in my power to aulter it.
Beholde, I haue taken vpon me to blesse: for he hath blessed, and it is not in my power to aulter it.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Behold, I am bidden to bless; and when He hath blessed, I cannot call it back.
Behold, I am bidden to bless; and when He hath blessed, I cannot call it back.
King James Version (1611)
Behold, I haue receiued commandement to blesse: and hee hath blessed, and I cannot reuerse it.
Behold, I haue receiued commandement to blesse: and hee hath blessed, and I cannot reuerse it.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: I will bless, and not turn back.
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: I will bless, and not turn back.
English Revised Version
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Berean Standard Bible
I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.
I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Y am brouyt to blesse, Y may not forbede blessyng.
Y am brouyt to blesse, Y may not forbede blessyng.
Young's Literal Translation
Lo, to bless I have received: Yea, He blesseth, and I [can]not reverse it.
Lo, to bless I have received: Yea, He blesseth, and I [can]not reverse it.
Update Bible Version
Look, I have received [commandment] to bless: And he has blessed, and I can't reverse it.
Look, I have received [commandment] to bless: And 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.
Behold, I have received [commandment] to bless: and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
World English Bible
Behold, I have received [commandment] to bless: He has blessed, and I can't reverse it.
Behold, I have received [commandment] to bless: He has blessed, and I can't reverse it.
New King James Version
Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
New Living Translation
Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!
Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!
New Life Bible
See, I have been told to speak good of Israel. When He has spoken good of them, I cannot change it.
See, I have been told to speak good of Israel. When He has spoken good of them, I cannot change it.
New Revised Standard
See, I received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.
See, I received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Lo! to bless, have I received command , - And I will bless, nor will I take it back.
Lo! to bless, have I received command , - And I will bless, nor will I take it back.
Douay-Rheims Bible
I was brought to bless, the blessing I am not able to hinder.
I was brought to bless, the blessing I am not able to hinder.
Revised Standard Version
Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.
Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it.
"Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it.
Contextual Overview
13 Balak said to him, "Go with me to another place from which you can only see the outskirts of their camp—you won't be able to see the whole camp. From there, curse them for my sake." 14 So he took him to Watchmen's Meadow at the top of Pisgah. He built seven altars there and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 15 Balaam said to Balak, "Take up your station here beside your Whole-Burnt-Offering while I meet with him over there." 16 God met with Balaam and gave him a message. He said, "Return to Balak and give him the message." 17Balaam returned and found him stationed beside his Whole-Burnt-Offering and the nobles of Moab with him. Balak said to him, "What did God say?" Then Balaam spoke his message-oracle: On your feet, Balak. Listen, listen carefully son of Zippor: God is not man, one given to lies, and not a son of man changing his mind. Does he speak and not do what he says? Does he promise and not come through? I was brought here to bless; and now he's blessed—how can I change that? He has no bone to pick with Jacob, he sees nothing wrong with Israel. God is with them, and they're with him, shouting praises to their King. God brought them out of Egypt, rampaging like a wild ox. No magic spells can bind Jacob, no incantations can hold back Israel. People will look at Jacob and Israel and say, "What a great thing has God done!" Look, a people rising to its feet, stretching like a lion, a king-of-the-beasts, aroused, Unsleeping, unresting until its hunt is over and it's eaten and drunk its fill. 25 Balak said to Balaam, "Well, if you can't curse them, at least don't bless them." 26 Balaam replied to Balak, "Didn't I tell you earlier: ‘All God speaks, and only what he speaks, I speak'?" 27Balak said to Balaam, "Please, let me take you to another place; maybe we can find the right place in God's eyes where you'll be able to curse them for me." So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, with a vista over the Jeshimon (Wasteland). 29 Balaam said to Balak, "Build seven altars for me here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for sacrifice." 30 Balak did it and presented an offering of a bull and a ram on each of the altars.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
he hath: Numbers 22:12, Genesis 12:2, Genesis 22:17
I cannot: Numbers 22:18, Numbers 22:38, John 10:27-29, Romans 8:38, Romans 8:39, 1 Peter 1:5
Reciprocal: Numbers 6:27 - and I will Numbers 23:8 - General Numbers 23:12 - General Numbers 23:27 - peradventure Numbers 24:1 - saw Deuteronomy 33:29 - Happy Judges 7:14 - his fellow 1 Kings 22:23 - and the Lord Job 23:13 - who can Psalms 109:28 - Let them Isaiah 45:19 - speak righteousness Jeremiah 38:21 - this is Acts 4:20 - we cannot
Cross-References
Genesis 23:7
Then Abraham got up, bowed respectfully to the people of the land, the Hittites, and said, "If you're serious about helping me give my wife a proper burial, intercede for me with Ephron son of Zohar. Ask him to sell me the cave of Machpelah that he owns, the one at the end of his land. Ask him to sell it to me at its full price for a burial plot, with you as witnesses."
Then Abraham got up, bowed respectfully to the people of the land, the Hittites, and said, "If you're serious about helping me give my wife a proper burial, intercede for me with Ephron son of Zohar. Ask him to sell me the cave of Machpelah that he owns, the one at the end of his land. Ask him to sell it to me at its full price for a burial plot, with you as witnesses."
Genesis 23:10
Ephron was part of the local Hittite community. Then Ephron the Hittite spoke up, answering Abraham with all the Hittites who were part of the town council listening: "Oh no, my master! I couldn't do that. The field is yours—a gift. I'll give it and the cave to you. With my people as witnesses, I give it to you. Bury your deceased wife."
Ephron was part of the local Hittite community. Then Ephron the Hittite spoke up, answering Abraham with all the Hittites who were part of the town council listening: "Oh no, my master! I couldn't do that. The field is yours—a gift. I'll give it and the cave to you. With my people as witnesses, I give it to you. Bury your deceased wife."
Genesis 23:14
Then Ephron answered Abraham, "If you insist, master. What's four hundred silver shekels between us? Now go ahead and bury your wife."
Then Ephron answered Abraham, "If you insist, master. What's four hundred silver shekels between us? Now go ahead and bury your wife."
2 Samuel 24:24
But the king said to Araunah, "No. I've got to buy it from you for a good price; I'm not going to offer God , my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice." So David bought the threshing floor and the ox, paying out fifty shekels of silver. He built an altar to God there and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. God was moved by the prayers and that was the end of the disaster.
But the king said to Araunah, "No. I've got to buy it from you for a good price; I'm not going to offer God , my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice." So David bought the threshing floor and the ox, paying out fifty shekels of silver. He built an altar to God there and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. God was moved by the prayers and that was the end of the disaster.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Behold, I have received [commandment] to bless,.... The people of Israel, to pronounce a blessing upon them, to declare them a happy people:
and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it; God has blessed them, has determined to bless them, has promised to bless them, has blessed them in the victories he has given them, and will complete the blessing of them, by bringing them into the land he has given them: so the blessings which God has designed for his spiritual Israel, and bestows upon them, are irreversible; they are blessings indeed, spiritual ones, and are for ever; he blesses them with himself, as their covenant; God, their portion here and hereafter, with Christ his Son, and all things with him, with righteousness, peace, and pardon, with his Spirit and the grace thereof, with sonship, heirship, and eternal life.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
I have received commandment to bless - literally, “I have received to bless.” The reason of his blessing lay in the augury which he acknowledged, and in the divine overruling impulse which he could not resist, not in any “commandment” in words.
