Numbers 23:19

23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie,

nor a human being, 1  that he should change his mind.

Has he said, and will he not do it?

Or has he spoken, and will he not make it happen? 2 

Hosea 13:14

The Lord Will Not Relent from the Threatened Judgment

13:14 Will I deliver them from the power of Sheol? No, I will not! 3 

Will I redeem them from death? No, I will not!

O Death, bring on your plagues! 4 

O Sheol, bring on your destruction! 5 

My eyes will not show any compassion! 6 

Malachi 3:6

Resistance to the Lord through Selfishness

3:6 “Since, I, the Lord, do not go back on my promises, 7  you, sons of Jacob, have not perished.

1 tn Heb “son of man.”

2 tn The verb is the Hiphil of קוּם (qum, “to cause to rise; to make stand”). The meaning here is more of the sense of fulfilling the promises made.

3 tn The translation of the first two lines of this verse reflects the interpretation adopted. There are three interpretive options to v. 14: (1) In spite of Israel’s sins, the Lord will redeem them from the threat of death and destruction (e.g., 11:8). However, against this view, the last line of 13:14 probably means that the Lord will not show compassion to Israel. (2) The Lord announces the triumphant victory over death through resurrection (cf. KJV, ASV, NIV). However, although Paul uses the wording of Hosea 13:14 as an illustration of victory over death, the context of Hosea’s message is the imminent judgment in 723-722 b.c. (3) The first two lines of 13:14 are rhetorical questions without explicit interrogative markers, implying negative answers: “I will not rescue them!” (cf. NAB, NASB, NCV, NRSV, TEV, CEV, NLT). The next two lines in 13:14 are words of encouragement to Death and Sheol to destroy Israel. The final line announces that the Lord will not show compassion on Israel; he will not spare her.

4 tn Heb “Where, O Death, are your plagues?” (so NIV).

5 tn Heb “Where, O Sheol, is your destruction?” (NRSV similar).

6 tn Heb “Compassion will be hidden from my eyes” (NRSV similar; NASB “from my sight”).

7 tn Heb “do not change.” This refers to God’s ongoing commitment to his covenant promises to Israel.