Numbers 23:20

Indeed, I have received a command ¹  to bless; he has blessed, ²  and I cannot reverse it. ³ 

biblegateway Num 23:20

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

biblegateway Num 23:20

"Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it.

biblegateway Num 23:20

I received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!

biblegateway Num 23:20

I was brought here to bless; and now he's blessed--how can I change that?

SABDAweb Num 23:20

See, I have had orders to give blessing: and he has given a blessing which I have no power to take away.

bibleoremus Num 23:20

See, I received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.

biblegateway Num 23:20

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

biblegateway Num 23:20

Indeed, I have received a command ¹  to bless; he has blessed, ²  and I cannot reverse it. ³ 

¹ tn The Hebrew text simply has “I have received [to] bless.” The infinitive is the object of the verb, telling what he received. Balaam was not actually commanded to bless, but was given the word of blessing so that he was given a divine decree that would bless Israel.

² sn The reference is probably to the first speech, where the Lord blessed Israel. Balaam knows that there is nothing he can do to reverse what God has said.

³ tn The verb is the Hiphil of שׁוּב (shuv), meaning “to cause to return.” He cannot return God’s word to him, for it has been given, and it will be fulfilled.