Numbers
King James Version (KJV)
Numbers 23:8
“How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?”
King James Version (KJV)
Numbers 23:8 Context
5And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. 6And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. 7And 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. 8How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? 9For 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. 10Who 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! 11And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.
"How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?" Numbers 23:8 KJV Similar Verses Save
Share This Verse:
✉
Translation Details for Numbers 23:8
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?
Other Translations for Numbers 23:8
Bible Commentary for Numbers 23:8
Wesley's Notes for Numbers 23:8
23:7 His parable - That is, his oracular and prophetical speech; which he calls a parable, because of the weightiness of the matter, and the liveliness of the expressions which is usual in parables. Jacob - The posterity of Jacob.
23:9 The rocks - Upon which I now stand. I see him - I see the people, according to thy desire, #Nu 22:41|, but cannot improve that sight to the end for which thou didst design it, to curse them. The people shall dwell alone - This people are of a distinct kind from others, God's peculiar people, separated from all other nations, as in religion and laws, so also in divine protection; and therefore enchantments cannot have that power against them which they have against other persons and people.
23:10 The dust - The numberless people of Jacob or Israel, who according to God's promise, are now become as the dust of the earth. Of the righteous - Of this righteous and holy people. The sense is, they are not only happy above other nations in this life, and therefore in vain should I curse them, but they have this peculiar privilege, that they are happy after death: their happiness begins where the happiness of other people ends; and therefore I heartily wish that my soul may have its portion with theirs when I die. Was not God now again striving with him, not only for the sake of Israel, but of his own soul?
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defie, whom the Lord hath not defied?
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan
"How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how can I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?
- New American Standard Version (1995)
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I defy, whom Jehovah hath not defied?
- American Standard Version (1901)
How may I put curses on him who is not cursed by God? how may I be angry with him with whom the Lord is not angry?
- Basic English Bible
How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I denounce whom Jehovah doth not denounce?
- Darby Bible
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?
- Webster's Bible
How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? How shall I defy whom Yahweh has not defied?
- World English Bible
What -- do I pierce? -- God hath not pierced! And what -- am I indignant? -- Jehovah hath not been indignant!
- Youngs Literal Bible
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I execrate, whom the LORD hath not execrated?
- Jewish Publication Society Bible