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Numbers 23:8

Protection and safetyGod's faithfulnessGod's power and sovereignty

6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.

7 And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?

9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.

10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

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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

    Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!

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  • Isaiah 44:25

    That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

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  • Numbers 23:20

    Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.

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  • Numbers 22:12

    And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

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  • Isaiah 47:12–13

    Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

    Read in context