Numbers 23:19

17 So he returned to Balak, who was standing there by his burnt offering with the princes of Moab. “What did the LORD say?” Balak asked.

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

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?

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

21 He 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.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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?
KJV
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?
WEB
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?
ASV
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?
DARBY
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?
BLB
God [is] not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and He will not do? Or has He spoken, and He will not fulfill?
ÅB
Gud er ikke et menneske at han skulle lyve, ei heller et menneskes barn at han skulle angre; skulle han si noe og ikke gjøre det, skulle han tale og ikke sette det i verk?
OTB
Gud er ikke et menneske, så Han skulle lyve, heller ikke et menneskesønn, så Han skulle skifte mening. Sier Han noe og handler ikke? Lover Han noe og oppfyller det ikke?
B1930
Gud er ikke et menneske at han skulde lyve, ei heller et menneskes barn at han skulde angre; skulde han si noget og ikke gjøre det, skulde han tale og ikke sette det i verk?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 15:29

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

    Read in context
  • James 1:17

    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.

    Read in context
  • Malachi 3:6

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

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 6:18

    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.

    Read in context
  • Titus 1:2

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

    Read in context
  • Luke 21:33

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

    Read in context
  • Romans 11:29

    For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.

    Read in context
  • Habakkuk 2:3

    For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.

    Read in context