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Numbers 23:8

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 23:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I defy, whom Jehovah hath not defied?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I defy, whom Jehovah hath not defied?
Numbers 23:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5And Jehovah 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 was standing by his burnt-offering, he, and all the princes of Moab.
7And he took up his parable, and said, From Aram hath Balak brought me, The king of Moab from the mountains of the East: Come, curse me Jacob, And come, defy Israel.
8How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I defy, whom Jehovah hath not defied?
9For from the top of the rocks I see him, And from the hills I behold him: lo, it is a people that dwelleth alone, And shall not be reckoned among the nations.
10Who can count the dust of Jacob, Or number 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.
← Numbers 23:7Numbers 23:9 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed? etc.] The sense is, that it was impossible for him to curse those that God did not curse himself, or would not have cursed by others; not but that he had a good will to it, to get Balak’s money and honour, but he knew not how to accomplish it; yea, he saw it was in vain to attempt it, it was a thing that could not possibly be done: God does not, nor will he curse his spiritual Israel; they are blessed by him in Christ, and they shall be blessed; nor is it in the power of their enemies to curse them, or do them any harm: the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem, instead of God and the Lord in this and the following clause, use the phase, “the Word of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed?--A divine blessing has been pronounced over the posterity of Jacob; and therefore, whatever prodigies can be achieved by my charms, all magical skill, all human power, is utterly impotent to counteract the decree of God.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Num 23:20, Num 23:23; Isa 44:25, Isa 47:12, Isa 47:13 Numbers 23:9”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification