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Numbers 23:8

Protection and safetyGod's faithfulnessGod's power and sovereignty

6 So he returned to Balak, who was standing there beside his burnt offering, with all the princes of Moab.

7 And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the mountains of the east. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me; come and denounce Israel!’

How can I curse what God has not cursed? How can I denounce what the LORD has not denounced?

9 For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs, and I watch them from the hills. Behold, a people dwelling apart, not reckoning themselves among the nations.

10 Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous; let my end be like theirs!”

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

Compare

BSB
How can I curse what God has not cursed? How can I denounce what the LORD has not denounced?
KJV
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?
WEB
How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? How shall I defy whom the LORD has not defied?
ASV
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I defy, whom Jehovah hath not defied?
DARBY
How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I denounce whom Jehovah doth not denounce?
BLB
How shall I curse [those whom] God has not cursed, and how shall I denounce [those whom] YHWH has not denounced?
ÅB
Hvordan skal jeg forbanne den Gud ikke forbanner? Hvordan skal jeg tale ondt over den Herren ikke taler ondt over?
OTB
Hvordan kan jeg tale mot dem som Gud ikke har talt mot? Hvordan kan jeg motsette meg dem som Herren ikke har motsatt seg?
B1930
Hvorledes skal jeg forbanne den Gud ikke forbanner? Hvorledes skal jeg tale ondt over den Herren ikke taler ondt over?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 23:23

    For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What great things God has done!’

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 44:25

    who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,

    Read in context

  • Numbers 23:20

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

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  • Numbers 22:12

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

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  • Isaiah 47:12–13

    So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror!

    Read in context