Numbers 23:20

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Behold, I have received {H3947} commandment to bless {H1288}: and he hath blessed {H1288}; and I cannot reverse {H7725} it.

Complete Jewish Bible

Look, I am ordered to bless; when he blesses, I can't reverse it.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

Behold, I have receivedcommandmentto bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 23:20 encapsulates Balaam's profound and unwilling declaration to Balak, the king of Moab, asserting his absolute inability to revoke the divine blessing God has already bestowed upon Israel. This pivotal statement dramatically underscores God's unassailable sovereignty over human intentions and actions, revealing the immutability of His purposes and the irrevocable nature of His covenant faithfulness to His chosen people, even when faced with powerful and concerted opposition.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a crucial element of Balaam's second oracle, recorded in [Numbers 23:18-24](/numbers/23-18-24 "Numbers 23:18-24 - Balaam's Second Oracle of Blessing"). It follows Balak's desperate second attempt to induce Balaam to curse Israel, moving him from Bamoth-baal to the field of Zophim, atop Pisgah, in the hope that a change of vantage point might alter God's disposition. Despite Balak's persistent machinations and Balaam's initial mercenary inclinations, God consistently intervenes, placing words of blessing and prophecy directly into Balaam's mouth. Each oracle, from Balaam's initial journey in [Numbers 22](/numbers/22 "Numbers 22 - Balaam's Journey and the Talking Donkey") through his final pronouncements in [Numbers 24](/numbers/24 "Numbers 24 - Balaam's Final Oracles"), powerfully reinforces God's absolute control over Balaam and His unwavering commitment to His covenant with Israel. Numbers 23:20 specifically marks a climactic point of this divine compulsion, where Balaam explicitly articulates his powerlessness to counteract God's established will.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The narrative unfolds as the vast Israelite nation, having been miraculously delivered from Egypt, stands poised to enter the Promised Land, encamped on the plains of Moab. Balak, the Moabite king, perceives this burgeoning population as an existential threat, echoing the widespread fear among the nations of the region. In the ancient Near East, it was a common and deeply held belief that kings could employ renowned diviners or prophets to invoke potent curses upon their enemies or blessings upon themselves. Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet from Pethor in Mesopotamia, was widely recognized for his formidable prophetic and divinatory abilities, making him Balak's chosen instrument for a desperate, supernatural intervention. The cultural understanding was that such curses, once uttered by a powerful seer, could supernaturally debilitate an army or nation. This cultural backdrop profoundly magnifies the theological impact of [Numbers 23:20](/numbers/23-20 "Numbers 23:20 - Balaam's Irreversible Blessing"), as it vividly demonstrates Yahweh's unique and supreme power, proving Himself superior to all other gods and human magical practices, effectively turning the pagan practice of cursing into an unexpected instrument of divine blessing.

* **Key Themes:** [Numbers 23:20](/numbers/23-20 "Numbers 23:20 - Balaam's Irreversible Blessing") powerfully articulates several foundational theological themes. Primarily, it underscores **God's Irrevocable Blessing** upon His people. Once God has purposed good for Israel, no human or demonic power can annul, reverse, or negate it. Balaam's declaration serves as an undeniable divine guarantee of Israel's security, prosperity, and future. Secondly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty**, demonstrating God's absolute and unchallengeable control over all creation, including the words and actions of those who might attempt to oppose His will. Despite Balak's elaborate machinations and Balaam's initial willingness to comply, God's plan for Israel prevails, consistently turning intended curses into blessings, a theme woven throughout the entire book of [Numbers](/numbers "The Book of Numbers - Israel's Wilderness Journey"). This unwavering control is a profound testament to God's **Unchangeable Nature** and His steadfast faithfulness to His covenant promises, echoing the profound truth articulated just prior in [Numbers 23:19](/numbers/23-19 "Numbers 23:19 - God is Not a Man That He Should Lie"), that God is not a man that He should lie or change His mind. The ultimate security of God's people rests not on their merit or the absence of opposition, but solely on His steadfast character and eternal decree, a truth consistently affirmed in the New Testament, such as in [Romans 11:29](/romans/11-29 "Romans 11:29 - God's Irrevocable Gifts and Calling").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **received (Hebrew, לָקַח _laqach_):** This verb signifies "to take," "to accept," or "to receive." In this context, Balaam's use of "I have received" indicates that he is not speaking from his own initiative or desire, but rather as an unwilling recipient of a divine communication or directive. It emphasizes that the words he is about to utter are not his own, but have been supernaturally given to him, highlighting the irresistible nature of God's command and the divine origin of the blessing.
* **bless (Hebrew, בָּרַךְ _barak_):** This primitive root verb, used here in the perfect tense ("he hath blessed"), signifies a completed and effective action of divine favor, empowerment, and bestowal of good. It is far more than a mere wish or pronouncement; it is an active, definitive, and effectual impartation of prosperity, fruitfulness, protection, and divine presence. In the context of the Abrahamic covenant, "bless" carries the weight of God's promise to ensure Israel's flourishing and their ultimate role as a blessing to all nations. Balaam's declaration confirms that God has already acted decisively and beneficently towards Israel.
* **reverse (Hebrew, שׁוּב _shûwb_):** This primitive root means "to turn back," "to return," or "to restore." Here, it appears in the Hiphil conjugation (אֲשִׁיבֶנָּה _ashivennah_), which emphasizes causative action, meaning "to cause to return" or "to revoke." Balaam's emphatic declaration, "I cannot reverse it," conveys an absolute and utter impossibility. It is not a matter of his unwillingness or a moral choice on his part, but a stark statement of his complete powerlessness against a divine decree that has already been executed. This highlights the finality, permanence, and unalterable nature of God's pronouncement once it has been established.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Behold, I have received [commandment] to bless":** Balaam commences his oracle with an emphatic exclamation ("Behold!") designed to capture attention and convey the profound significance of his forthcoming statement. The phrase "I have received [commandment]" implies that Balaam is not operating under his own volition or Balak's influence, but rather as an unwilling, yet compelled, mouthpiece for a higher, irresistible power. The underlying Hebrew conveys a sense of divine imperative, a direct and unyielding instruction from God. Balaam is under divine compulsion, forced by God's sovereign will to declare blessing rather than his own or Balak's desired curse.
* **"and he hath blessed":** This clause serves as a definitive confirmation of the completed action of God's blessing upon Israel. The use of the perfect tense ("hath blessed") indicates that the blessing is not a future possibility, a conditional promise, or a mere intention, but an accomplished and settled fact. God has already acted; His favor, protection, and covenant promises are already actively upon His people. This past, completed divine action forms the unshakeable foundation for Balaam's subsequent declaration of his utter inability to reverse what has already been established.
* **"and I cannot reverse it":** This is the climactic and most impactful statement of the verse. Balaam, the very prophet hired and paid to curse Israel, unequivocally declares his utter inability to undo or nullify what God has already done. This is not a statement of personal preference, moral conviction, or a change of heart on Balaam's part, but a stark recognition of divine omnipotence and absolute sovereignty. No human power, no sorcery, no king's command, and no demonic machination can nullify God's active, established blessing. It profoundly underscores the truth that God's purposes are immutable, His word is sure, and His blessings, once given, are eternally irrevocable.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices that amplify its theological message. **Irony** is profoundly prominent, as Balak, the Moabite king, intends to bring a devastating curse upon Israel through Balaam, yet inadvertently becomes the catalyst for a series of divine blessings. The very instrument chosen to oppose God's people is compelled by divine power to affirm God's unwavering favor upon them. This dramatic irony highlights God's supreme and unchallengeable control over all human schemes and intentions. The repeated oracles from Balaam, culminating in this verse, also serve as a powerful form of **Foreshadowing**, indicating God's future faithfulness and the secure, divinely ordained destiny of Israel despite formidable external threats. Furthermore, the entire narrative functions as a **Divine Oracle**, where Balaam, despite his pagan background and mercenary motives, is forced to speak words directly from Yahweh, emphasizing the absolute power and authority of God's word over any human will, magical incantation, or political maneuvering. The stark contrast between Balak's desperate, persistent attempts to manipulate the divine and God's effortless, sovereign reversal of those attempts creates a powerful sense of **Divine Triumph** and unassailable authority.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 23:20 stands as a profound testament to the immutability of God's character and the unwavering nature of His covenant promises. It assures us that God's blessings, once graciously bestowed, are not subject to human manipulation, demonic opposition, or even the fluctuating circumstances of life. This verse powerfully illustrates God's absolute sovereignty, demonstrating with undeniable clarity that His will cannot be thwarted by any earthly power or spiritual force. His faithfulness to His chosen people is not contingent upon their perfection or performance but solely upon His own steadfast love, unchanging nature, and eternal purpose. This truth provides immense comfort and security to believers, affirming that what God has purposed for good, no one can undo.

* [Malachi 3:6](/malachi/3-6 "Malachi 3:6 - God Does Not Change")
* [Romans 11:29](/romans/11-29 "Romans 11:29 - God's Irrevocable Gifts and Calling")
* [Psalm 33:11](/psalms/33-11 "Psalm 33:11 - The Lord's Counsel Stands Forever")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 23:20 offers profound comfort and a solid, unshakeable foundation for faith in the life of a believer. It serves as a powerful reminder that our ultimate security, our spiritual blessings, and our eternal destiny are rooted not in our own efforts, our perceived worthiness, or the absence of opposition, but squarely in the unchanging character and sovereign will of God. Just as God's blessing on Israel was irrevocably established, so too are His promises to all who are in Christ. When we face adversity, opposition, or feel threatened by the schemes of others—whether spiritual or earthly—this verse calls us to trust deeply in God's ultimate control. He is capable of turning what is intended for our harm into an instrument of His blessing and glory. This truth should foster a deep sense of peace and confidence within us, knowing that if God has blessed us or given us a promise, no power on earth or in the spiritual realm can truly reverse or negate it. This understanding should embolden us to live with courage and assurance, knowing that our salvation, our divine calling, and our eternal inheritance are supremely secure because they rest on the unshakeable foundation of God's unwavering faithfulness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Balaam's unwilling declaration in [Numbers 23:20](/numbers/23-20 "Numbers 23:20 - Balaam's Irreversible Blessing") challenge our understanding of human agency versus divine sovereignty in our own lives?**
* **In what specific areas of your life do you need to trust more deeply in God's irrevocable blessings and His sovereign ability to turn intended harm into good?**
* **What particular promises of God do you find most comforting and strengthening in light of this verse, and how does it deepen your confidence in His faithfulness?**

### FAQ
**Who was Balaam and why was he hired by Balak?**

Answer: Balaam was a non-Israelite prophet or diviner from Pethor, a city located in Mesopotamia. He was widely renowned throughout the ancient Near East for his perceived ability to pronounce effective blessings and curses. Balak, the king of Moab, hired Balaam out of intense fear of the vast Israelite population encamped on his borders after their exodus from Egypt. Balak believed that a supernatural curse invoked by a powerful diviner like Balaam could supernaturally weaken or defeat the Israelites, thereby preventing them from encroaching upon his territory or conquering his land. The narrative in [Numbers 22](/numbers/22 "Numbers 22 - Balaam's Journey and the Talking Donkey") meticulously details Balak's persistent attempts to persuade Balaam to curse Israel, despite God's clear and repeated instructions to Balaam not to do so.

**What does "I cannot reverse it" truly mean in the context of God's actions?**

Answer: Balaam's emphatic declaration "I cannot reverse it" signifies an absolute and utter impossibility, not merely a lack of desire or a moral choice on his part. It means that God's blessing upon Israel is a completed, effective, and unalterable divine decree. This statement powerfully highlights God's omnipotence and the immutability of His purposes. Once God has acted or spoken a blessing, no human power, no demonic influence, and no magical incantation can undo it. This truth underscores that God's will is supreme, His promises are sure, and His covenant faithfulness is unshakeable. It reinforces the profound biblical truth that God is not like humans who change their minds or break their word, as explicitly stated in [Numbers 23:19](/numbers/23-19 "Numbers 23:19 - God is Not a Man That He Should Lie").

**Does this verse imply that God never changes His mind or responds to prayer?**

Answer: This verse primarily emphasizes the unchangeable nature of God's ultimate covenant purposes and foundational blessings, particularly concerning His chosen people and His redemptive plan. It does not negate the broader biblical truth that God, in His sovereign wisdom and mercy, can respond to prayer or "relent" from a threatened judgment in response to genuine repentance, as seen in passages like [Exodus 32:14](/exodus/32-14 "Exodus 32:14 - God Relents from Disaster") when Moses interceded for Israel, or in [Jonah 3:10](/jonah/3-10 "Jonah 3:10 - God Relents from Disaster for Nineveh") when the Ninevites repented. However, when it comes to His foundational promises, His eternal plan for salvation, and His established blessings, especially those sealed by covenant, God's word is indeed irrevocable. [Numbers 23:20](/numbers/23-20 "Numbers 23:20 - Balaam's Irreversible Blessing") specifically speaks to the permanence of a *blessing already bestowed* and a *divine purpose already set* for Israel's good, which no external force can undo.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 23:20, with its powerful declaration of God's irrevocable blessing upon Israel, finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The blessings pronounced upon Israel, deeply rooted in the Abrahamic covenant, pointed forward to a greater, universal blessing that would come to all nations through Abraham's ultimate Seed, Jesus. Just as Balaam, despite his intentions, could not reverse God's blessing on Israel, so too the divine blessing poured out upon humanity through Christ is eternally secure and unassailable. Jesus is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), and through His atoning sacrifice and resurrection, believers are brought into the New Covenant, inheriting the spiritual blessings promised to Abraham. [Galatians 3:13-14](/galatians/3-13-14 "Galatians 3:13-14 - Christ Redeems Us to Receive the Blessing of Abraham") explicitly states that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles through faith in Him. In Christ, we are "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed with Every Spiritual Blessing in Christ")), an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us ([1 Peter 1:4](/1_peter/1-4 "1 Peter 1:4 - An Inheritance Imperishable")). The security and permanence of our salvation, our adoption as children of God ([Romans 8:15](/romans/8-15 "Romans 8:15 - Spirit of Adoption")), and our eternal hope are all grounded in the finished work of Christ and the unchangeable purpose of God, making our blessing truly irreversible by any power, just as Balaam found himself utterly powerless to curse God's chosen people.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 10:27

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

John 10:29

My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.

Numbers 22:12

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

Genesis 12:2

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Genesis 22:17

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

Isaiah 43:13

Yea, before the day [was] I [am] he; and [there is] none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

Romans 8:38

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,