Numbers 23:19
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?
Numbers 23:19 in other translations
| 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? |
|---|---|
| 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? |
| YLT | God is not a man--and lieth, And a son of man--and repenteth! Hath He said--and doth He not do it? And spoken--and doth He not confirm it? |
| 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? |
| BBE | God is not a man, to say what is false; or the son of man, that his purpose may be changed: what he has said, will he not do? and will he not give effect to the words of his mouth? |
| Webster | 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 spoke, and shall he not make it good? |
What does Numbers 23:19 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 23:18-19
18-19. Rise up--As Balak was already standing (Nu 23:17), this expression is equivalent to "now attend to me." The counsels and promises of God respecting Israel are unchangeable; and no attempt to prevail on Him to reverse them will succeed, as they may with a man.
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 23:11-30
Balak was angry with Balaam. Thus a confession of God's overruling power is extorted from a wicked prophet, to the confusion of a wicked prince. A second time the curse is turned into a blessing; and this blessing is both larger and stronger than the former. Men change their minds, and break their words; but God never changes his mind, and therefore never recalls his promise. And when in Scripture he is said to…
Numbers 23:19 in the original Hebrew
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Cross references for Numbers 23:19
- 1 Samuel 15:29
And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
- James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
- Malachi 3:6
For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
- Hebrews 6:18
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
- Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
- Luke 21:33
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
- Romans 11:29
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
- Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
- Psalms 89:35
Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
- Hosea 11:9
I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
- Micah 7:20
Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
- 1 Chronicles 17:17
And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O Lord God.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Numbers 23:18
And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
- Numbers 23:19
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?
- Numbers 23:20
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
Numbers 23:19 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Dios no es hombre, para que mienta; ni hijo de hombre para que se arrepienta: el dijo, ¿y no hará?; habló, ¿y no lo ejecutará? |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | ✶Dieu n’est pas un homme, pour mentir, ni un fils d’homme, pour se repentir: aura-t-il dit, et ne fera-t-il pas? aura-t-il parlé, et ne l’accomplira-t-il pas? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Nicht ein Mensch ist Gott, daß er lüge, noch ein Menschensohn, daß er bereue. Sollte er gesprochen haben und es nicht tun, und geredet haben und es nicht aufrecht halten? |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | non est Deus quasi homo, ut mentiatur, nec ut filius hominis, ut mutetur. Dixit ergo, et non faciet? locutus est, et non implebit? |