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Numbers 23:19

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 23:19 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and will he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and will he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good?
Numbers 23:19 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
16And Jehovah met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus shalt thou speak.
17And he came to him, and, lo, he was standing by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath Jehovah spoken?
18And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; Hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
19God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and will he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good?
20Behold, I have received [commandment] to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
21He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob; Neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: Jehovah his God is with him, And the shout of a king is among them.
22God bringeth them forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox.
← Numbers 23:18Numbers 23:20 →
← Full Chapter 23 Numbers Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“God is not a man, that he should lie, etc.] Man is a creature consisting of a body of flesh and blood, and of a soul, a created and finite spirit; but God, though he has the parts of an human body ascribed to him in a figurative sense, yet is not to be conceived of in a corporeal manner; and though he is a Spirit, yet eternal, immense, and infinite; and much less is as a sinful man, who goes astray from the womb speaking lies; no, let God be true, and every man a liar: he is God, that cannot lie; his counsels of old are faithfulness and truth; his promises yea and amen in Christ; the Scriptures inspired by him are true, and the prophecies of them are punctually accomplished, particularly…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“That he should lie - Break his promises made to his people for their preservation and benediction. Repent - Change his counsels or purposes; unless he see iniquity in Jacob. Numbers 23:21”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“23:19 Because of God’s reliable character, Balaam could do nothing but bless Israel.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“God: Sa1 15:29; Psa 89:35; Hab 2:3; Mal 3:6; Luk 21:33; Rom 11:29; Tit 1:2; Heb 6:18; Jam 1:17 or hath he: Ch1 17:17; Mic 7:20 Numbers 23:20”
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Related study paths

Read Numbers 23 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification