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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Numbers 23:23 For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, 'What great things God has done!'</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/numbers/23-23.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/04_Num_23_23.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Numbers 23:23 - Balaam's Second Oracle" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. 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It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, &#8216See what God has done!&#8217 <a href="/nlt/numbers/23.htm">New Living Translation</a> No curse can touch Jacob; no magic has any power against Israel. For now it will be said of Jacob, ‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’ <a href="/esv/numbers/23.htm">English Standard Version</a> For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What has God wrought!’ <a href="/bsb/numbers/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What great things God has done!’ <a href="/kjv/numbers/23.htm">King James Bible</a> Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! <a href="/nkjv/numbers/23.htm">New King James Version</a> “For there is no sorcery against Jacob, Nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob And of Israel, ‘Oh, what God has done!’ <a href="/nasb_/numbers/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> “For there is no magic curse against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel; At the proper time it shall be said to Jacob And to Israel, what God has done! <a href="/nasb/numbers/23.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220For there is no omen against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel; At the proper time it shall be said to Jacob And to Israel, what God has done! <a href="/nasb77/numbers/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “For there is no omen against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel; At the proper time it shall be said to Jacob And to Israel, what God has done. <a href="/lsb/numbers/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> For there is no omen against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel; At the proper time it shall be said to Jacob And to Israel, what God has done! <a href="/amp/numbers/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a> “For there is no enchantment or omen against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel. At the proper time it shall be said to Jacob And to Israel, what has God done! <a href="/csb/numbers/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> There is no magic curse against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said about Jacob and Israel, “What great things God has done! ” <a href="/hcsb/numbers/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> There is no magic curse against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said about Jacob and Israel,&#8221 What great things God has done!&#8221 <a href="/asv/numbers/23.htm">American Standard Version</a> Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; Neither is there any divination with Israel: Now shall it be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! <a href="/cev/numbers/23.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> No magic charms can work against them--just look what God has done for his people. <a href="/erv/numbers/23.htm">English Revised Version</a> Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob, Neither is there any divination with Israel: Now shall it be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! <a href="/gwt/numbers/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> No spell can curse the descendants of Jacob. No magic can harm the people of Israel. Now it will be said of Jacob and Israel: 'See what God has done!' <a href="/gnt/numbers/23.htm">Good News Translation</a> There is no magic charm, no witchcraft, That can be used against the nation of Israel. Now people will say about Israel, 'Look what God has done!' <a href="/isv/numbers/23.htm">International Standard Version</a> No Satanic plan against Jacob nor divination against Israel can ever prevail. When the time is right, it is to be asked about Jacob and Israel, 'What has God accomplished?' <a href="/msb/numbers/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, ?What great things God has done!? <a href="/net/numbers/23.htm">NET Bible</a> For there is no spell against Jacob, nor is there any divination against Israel. At this time it must be said of Jacob and of Israel, 'Look at what God has done!' <a href="/nheb/numbers/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; neither is there any divination with Israel. Now it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, what has God done. <a href="/wbt/numbers/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! <a href="/web/numbers/23.htm">World English Bible</a> Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; neither is there any divination with Israel. Now it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘What has God done!’ <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/numbers/23.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> For no enchantment [is] against Jacob, "" Nor divination against Israel; At the time it is said of Jacob and Israel, "" O what God has worked! <a href="/ylt/numbers/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> For no enchantment is against Jacob, Nor divination against Israel, At the time it is said of Jacob and Israel, What hath God wrought! <a href="/slt/numbers/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> For no enchantment in Jacob, and no divination in Israel; according to the time it will be said to Jacob and to Israel, What did God do!<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/numbers/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> There is no soothsaying in Jacob, nor divination in Israel. In their times it shall be told to Jacob and to Israel what God hath wrought. <a href="/cpdv/numbers/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> There is no soothsaying in Jacob, nor any divination in Israel. In their times, it shall be told to Jacob and to Israel what God has wrought. <a href="/nabre/numbers/23.htm">New American Bible</a> No, there is no augury against Jacob, nor divination against Israel. Now it is said of Jacob, of Israel, “Look what God has done!” <a href="/nrsvce/numbers/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘See what God has done!’<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/numbers/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> For there is no augury in Jacob, neither is there any divination in Israel; according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What has God wrought! <a href="/hpbt/numbers/23.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> Because no divination is in Yaquuv neither an oracle in Israel, according to this time it will be said to Yaquuv and to Israel, ‘What God has done!.’<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/numbers/23.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> For there is no enchantment with Jacob, Neither is there any divination with Israel; Now is it said of Jacob and of Israel: 'What hath God wrought!' <a href="/sep/numbers/23.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> For there is no divination in Jacob, nor enchantment in Israel; in season it shall be told to Jacob and Israel what God shall perform. <a href="/parallel/numbers/23-23.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yauBFvKLNNo?start=7424" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/numbers/23.htm">Balaam's Second Oracle</a> …22God brought them out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox. 23<a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">there is no</a> <a href="/hebrew/5173.htm" title="5173: na·ḥaš (N-ms) -- Divination, enchantment. From nachash; an incantation or augury.">spell</a> <a href="/hebrew/3290.htm" title="3290: bə·ya·‘ă·qōḇ (Prep-b:: N-proper-ms) -- A son of Isaac, also his desc. From aqab; heel-catcher; Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch.">against Jacob</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō- (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">and no</a> <a href="/hebrew/7081.htm" title="7081: qe·sem (N-ms) -- Divination. From qacam; a lot: also divination, oracle.">divination</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: bə·yiś·rā·’êl (Prep-b:: N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">against Israel.</a> <a href="/hebrew/6256.htm" title="6256: kā·‘êṯ (Prep-k, Art:: N-cs) -- Time. From ad; time, especially now, when, etc.">It will now</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: yê·’ā·mêr (V-Nifal-Imperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">be said</a> <a href="/hebrew/3290.htm" title="3290: lə·ya·‘ă·qōḇ (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- A son of Isaac, also his desc. From aqab; heel-catcher; Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch.">of Jacob</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: ū·lə·yiś·rā·’êl (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">and Israel,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: mah- (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">‘What</a> <a href="/hebrew/410.htm" title="410: ’êl (N-ms) -- God, in pl. gods. Shortened from 'ayil; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty.">great things God</a> <a href="/hebrew/6466.htm" title="6466: pā·‘al (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- Do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, especially to practise.">has done!’</a> 24Behold, the people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion, not resting until they devour their prey and drink the blood of the slain.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/isaiah/54-17.htm">Isaiah 54:17</a> No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD. <a href="/deuteronomy/18-14.htm">Deuteronomy 18:14-15</a> Though these nations, which you will dispossess, listen to conjurers and diviners, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so. / The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him. <a href="/1_samuel/28-9.htm">1 Samuel 28:9-10</a> But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?” / Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.” <a href="/micah/5-12.htm">Micah 5:12</a> I will cut the sorceries from your hand, and you will have no fortune-tellers. <a href="/isaiah/8-19.htm">Isaiah 8:19-20</a> When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? / To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. <a href="/jeremiah/10-2.htm">Jeremiah 10:2</a> This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by the signs in the heavens, though the nations themselves are terrified by them. <a href="/2_kings/17-17.htm">2 Kings 17:17</a> They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. <a href="/ezekiel/13-23.htm">Ezekiel 13:23</a> therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will deliver My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.” <a href="/acts/8-9.htm">Acts 8:9-11</a> Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, / and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” / They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery. <a href="/galatians/3-1.htm">Galatians 3:1</a> O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. <a href="/2_corinthians/6-14.htm">2 Corinthians 6:14-16</a> Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? / What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” <a href="/colossians/2-8.htm">Colossians 2:8</a> See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. <a href="/revelation/18-23.htm">Revelation 18:23</a> The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.” <a href="/1_john/4-4.htm">1 John 4:4</a> You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. <a href="/matthew/12-27.htm">Matthew 12:27-28</a> And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. / But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What has God worked!no enchantment<a href="/numbers/22-6.htm">Numbers 22:6</a> Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.<a href="/numbers/24-1.htm">Numbers 24:1</a> And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.<a href="/genesis/3-15.htm">Genesis 3:15</a> And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.against or in according<a href="/psalms/44-1.htm">Psalm 44:1-3</a> To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old… <a href="/psalms/136-13.htm">Psalm 136:13-20</a> To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: … <a href="/isaiah/63-9.htm">Isaiah 63:9-12</a> In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old… what hath<a href="/psalms/31-19.htm">Psalm 31:19</a> Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!<a href="/psalms/64-9.htm">Psalm 64:9</a> And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.<a href="/psalms/126-2.htm">Psalm 126:2,3</a> Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/19-26.htm">Arts</a> <a href="/numbers/22-7.htm">Divination</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-26.htm">Enchantment</a> <a href="/numbers/23-21.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/numbers/23-21.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/numbers/23-21.htm">Jacob</a> <a href="/philippians/1-28.htm">Omen</a> <a href="/numbers/23-20.htm">Power</a> <a href="/leviticus/6-6.htm">Proper</a> <a href="/numbers/5-13.htm">Secret</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-26.htm">Sorcery</a> <a href="/numbers/22-37.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/numbers/22-4.htm">Time</a> <a href="/numbers/14-28.htm">What</a> <a href="/numbers/14-22.htm">Wrought</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/24-1.htm">Arts</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Divination</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-11.htm">Enchantment</a> <a href="/numbers/25-1.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/numbers/23-24.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/numbers/24-5.htm">Jacob</a> <a href="/1_kings/20-33.htm">Omen</a> <a href="/numbers/33-3.htm">Power</a> <a href="/2_samuel/15-3.htm">Proper</a> <a href="/numbers/24-1.htm">Secret</a> <a href="/numbers/24-1.htm">Sorcery</a> <a href="/numbers/26-65.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/numbers/25-18.htm">Time</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/6-20.htm">What</a> <a href="/numbers/31-51.htm">Wrought</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 23</div>1. <a href="/numbers/23-1.htm">Balak's sacrifices</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/23.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/numbers/23.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>For there is no spell against Jacob This phrase emphasizes the divine protection over the nation of Israel, represented by Jacob. In the ancient Near East, sorcery and spells were common practices used to curse or harm enemies. However, God’s covenant with Jacob (Israel) ensures that no magical or spiritual force can prevail against them. This reflects God's promise to Abraham in <a href="/genesis/12-3.htm">Genesis 12:3</a>, where He declares that He will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse them. The protection is not due to Israel's own strength but because of God's sovereign will and His faithfulness to His promises.and no divination against Israel. Divination was a practice used to seek knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means. In the context of <a href="/numbers/23.htm">Numbers 23</a>, Balaam, a prophet hired by Balak, king of Moab, attempts to curse Israel through divination. However, God intervenes, demonstrating His control over all spiritual realms and His commitment to Israel's welfare. This phrase underscores the futility of any attempt to use divination against God's chosen people. It also highlights the theme of God's omnipotence and His ability to thwart human plans, as seen in <a href="/isaiah/54-17.htm">Isaiah 54:17</a>, where it is stated that no weapon formed against God's people will prosper.It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, This anticipates a future recognition of God's mighty works on behalf of Israel. The repetition of "Jacob" and "Israel" emphasizes the continuity of God's promises from the patriarch Jacob to the nation of Israel. It suggests a testimony that will be acknowledged by others, reflecting the idea that God's actions on behalf of His people will be so evident that they will be spoken of widely. This is reminiscent of the Exodus narrative, where God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt became known among the nations (<a href="/joshua/2-10.htm">Joshua 2:10</a>).‘What great things God has done!’ This exclamation points to the miraculous and mighty acts of God in the history of Israel. It is a declaration of praise and recognition of God's intervention and blessings. The phrase echoes the sentiment found in <a href="/psalms/126-3.htm">Psalm 126:3</a>, where the psalmist declares, "The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." It also foreshadows the ultimate deliverance and redemption found in Jesus Christ, who fulfills the promises made to Israel and extends God's blessings to all nations. This acknowledgment of God's deeds serves as a reminder of His faithfulness and the assurance that His purposes will be accomplished.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/b/balaam.htm">Balaam</a> A non-Israelite prophet hired by Balak to curse Israel. Despite his intentions, God uses him to bless Israel instead. 2. <a href="/topical/b/balak.htm">Balak</a> The king of Moab who fears the Israelites and seeks to curse them through Balaam. 3. <a href="/topical/j/jacob.htm">Jacob</a> Represents the nation of Israel, the descendants of Jacob, whom God has chosen and blessed. 4. <a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a> The chosen people of God, whom He protects and blesses, demonstrating His power and sovereignty. 5. <a href="/topical/m/moab.htm">Moab</a> The land ruled by Balak, representing opposition to God's people.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/d/divine_protection.htm">Divine Protection</a> God's protection over His people is absolute. Just as no curse could prevail against Israel, believers today can trust in God's sovereign protection over their lives. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a> The events in <a href="/bsb/numbers/23.htm">Numbers 23</a> demonstrate God's control over all circumstances. Even when others intend harm, God can turn it into a blessing. <a href="/topical/f/faith_over_fear.htm">Faith Over Fear</a> Believers are called to live by faith, not fear. Knowing that God is for us should embolden us to face challenges with confidence. <a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_god's_word.htm">The Power of God's Word</a> Balaam's inability to curse Israel highlights the power and authority of God's word. What God has blessed, no one can curse. <a href="/topical/w/witness_to_god's_work.htm">Witness to God's Work</a> The phrase "See what God has done!" encourages believers to be witnesses to God's work in their lives, sharing testimonies of His faithfulness and power.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_23.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 23</a> <a href="/q/is_there_evidence_for_exodus'_wild_ox_claim.htm">Numbers 23:22–24: Is there historical or scientific support for a mass exodus and the claim of supernatural might symbolized by “the strength of a wild ox”? </a> <a href="/q/what_is_the_doctrine_of_balaam.htm">What is the Doctrine of Balaam?</a> <a href="/q/is_a_pagan_prophet's_blessing_credible.htm">Numbers 23:8-10: How credible is it that a pagan prophet blesses Israel despite a king's demand to curse them, considering other biblical narratives?</a> <a href="/q/how_reconcile_god's_land_with_israel's_claim.htm">If the land truly belongs to God (Lev 25:23), how do we reconcile this with later claims of permanent territorial inheritance for Israel?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/numbers/23.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(23) Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob . . . --The verse may be rendered as follows: For there is no augury in Jacob, and there is no divina-Hon in Israel. At the (set) time it is told to Jacob and to Israel what God hath done (or, doth). The ordinary meaning of the words nahash (omen, or augury) and kesem (soothsaying, or divination), the use of the same preposition in <a href="/numbers/23-21.htm" title="He has not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither has he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.">Numbers 23:21</a> which is there rendered in, and more especially the second clause of the verse, seem to decide the meaning of the former clause to be as it is here given. The Israelites had no need of augury and divination, seeing that God revealed to them His acts. His counsel, and His will. "What is here affirmed of Israel," says Hengstenberg, "applies to the Church of all ages, and also to every individual believer. The Church of God knows from His own Word what God does, and what it has to do in consequence. The wisdom of this world resembles augury and divination. The Church of God, which is in possession of His word, has no need of it." (History of Balaam and his Prophecies, p. 441).<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 23. - Enchantment, נָחַשׁ. Rather, "augury." Septuagint, οἰωνισμός. See on Leviticus 19:26, where the practice is forbidden to Israel. Against Jacob, or, "in Jacob," as the marginal reading, and this is favoured by the Septuagint and the Targums, and is equally true and striking. It was the proud peculiarity of Israel that he trusted not to any magic arts or superstitious rites, uncertain in themselves, and always leading to imposture, but to the direction and favour of the Almighty. Divination. קֶסֶם. Septuagint, μαντεία. The art of the soothsayer. According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel. Rather, "in season," i.e., in God's good time, "it shall be said to Jacob and to Israel. What hath God wrought! or, "what God doeth." The meaning seems to be that augury and divination were useless and vain in the case of Israel, because God himself declared and would declare his mighty acts in behalf of his people, and that by no uncertain vaticination, but by open declaration. <a href="/commentaries/numbers/23-23.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>For כִּ֤י (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction there is no לֹא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no spell נַ֙חַשׁ֙ (na·ḥaš) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5173.htm">Strong's 5173: </a> Divination, enchantment against Jacob בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב (bə·ya·‘ă·qōḇ) Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3290.htm">Strong's 3290: </a> Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc and no וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no divination קֶ֖סֶם (qe·sem) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7081.htm">Strong's 7081: </a> A lot, divination, oracle against Israel. בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (bə·yiś·rā·’êl) Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc It will now כָּעֵ֗ת (kā·‘êṯ) Preposition-k, Article | Noun - common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6256.htm">Strong's 6256: </a> Time, now, when be said יֵאָמֵ֤ר (yê·’ā·mêr) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say of Jacob לְיַעֲקֹב֙ (lə·ya·‘ă·qōḇ) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3290.htm">Strong's 3290: </a> Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc and Israel, וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (ū·lə·yiś·rā·’êl) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc ‘What מַה־ (mah-) Interrogative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> What?, what!, indefinitely what great things God אֵֽל׃ (’êl) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_410.htm">Strong's 410: </a> Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty has done!’ פָּ֖עַל (pā·‘al) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6466.htm">Strong's 6466: </a> To do, make, to practise <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/23-23.htm">Numbers 23:23 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/numbers/23-23.htm">Numbers 23:23 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/numbers/23-23.htm">Numbers 23:23 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/numbers/23-23.htm">Numbers 23:23 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/numbers/23-23.htm">Numbers 23:23 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/23-23.htm">Numbers 23:23 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/23-23.htm">Numbers 23:23 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/23-23.htm">Numbers 23:23 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/23-23.htm">Numbers 23:23 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/numbers/23-23.htm">Numbers 23:23 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/numbers/23-23.htm">OT Law: Numbers 23:23 Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/23-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 23:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 23:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/23-24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 23:24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 23:24" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>