Numbers 23:8
“How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?”
Numbers 23:8 in 7 translations
- KJVKing James Version
- How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?
- DRADouay–Rheims
- How shall I curse him, whom God hath not cursed? By what means should I detest him, whom the Lord detesteth not?
- ASVAmerican Standard Version
- How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I defy, whom Jehovah hath not defied?
- DARBYDarby
- How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I denounce whom Jehovah doth not denounce?
- WEBThe World English Bible
- How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? How shall I defy whom Yahweh has not defied?
- YLTYoung's Literal Translation
- What ; do I pierce? ; God hath not pierced! And what ; am I indignant? ; Jehovah hath not been indignant!
- BPVBiblePics Version
- "How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I defy those whom the Lord has not defied?"
Context: Numbers 23
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!
About Numbers 23: Balaam's Oracles
Balaam's prophecies of the coming of a great leader, the Messiah.
Commentary
In Numbers 23, the Lord commands Balaam to bless the Israelites. Balaam is a non-Israelite prophet who is hired by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. However, God does not allow Balaam to do so, and instead commands him to bless the Israelites. Balaam obeys God and blesses the Israelites with a series of prophecies.