Deuteronomy 23 5

Deuteronomy 23:5 kjv

Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.

Deuteronomy 23:5 nkjv

Nevertheless the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.

Deuteronomy 23:5 niv

However, the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.

Deuteronomy 23:5 esv

But the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam; instead the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loved you.

Deuteronomy 23:5 nlt

But the LORD your God refused to listen to Balaam. He turned the intended curse into a blessing because the LORD your God loves you.

Deuteronomy 23 verses

Deuteronomy 23 5 Meaning

Deuteronomy 23:5 states that despite the intent of others to bring harm through a curse, the LORD God did not heed their counsel. Instead, He actively transformed the intended curse into a blessing for His people, Israel. This powerful intervention was motivated purely by the profound love of the LORD God for them.

Deuteronomy 23 5 Context

Deuteronomy 23 outlines various rules concerning those permitted to enter "the assembly of the LORD" and prohibitions for certain groups. Verses 3-6 specifically address the perpetual exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites. Verse 4 details their hostile actions: not offering bread and water to the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt, and hiring Balaam to curse them. Verse 5, therefore, explains why the hiring of Balaam was ultimately ineffectual. It highlights God's unwavering commitment to Israel and His protective hand, counteracting the malevolent intentions of Moab and Ammon, solidifying the reason for their exclusion from the community as a people who consistently opposed God's chosen nation. The historical context roots this firmly in the period of the wilderness wandering as narrated in Numbers 22-24.

Deuteronomy 23 5 Word analysis

• Nevertheless: Hebrew ʾākēn (אָכֵן). This strong adversative particle connects the statement to the preceding verses (Deut 23:3-4), emphasizing a direct contrast to the hostile actions of Moab and Ammon. Despite their deliberate evil intent and actions, a powerful divine counteraction occurred.
• the LORD your God: Hebrew YHWH ʾElohêḵā (יהוה אֱלֹהֶיךָ). This significant phrase, characteristic of Deuteronomy, highlights God's personal covenantal relationship with Israel ("your God"). YHWH is God's personal, revealed, and covenantal name, signifying His unchanging, active presence. ʾElohim (here in its construct form ʾElohêḵā) signifies His power, majesty, and universal sovereignty. The repeated use within this single verse emphatically underscores His active role and commitment.
• would not listen: Hebrew lōʾ šāmaʿ (לֹא שָׁמַע). Lit. "He did not hear/pay attention/assent." This implies God's refusal to acknowledge or permit the execution of the curse. It's an active rejection of evil designs, demonstrating divine control over words spoken by others, even by those with powerful reputations like Balaam. It underscores God's sovereignty over human and spiritual realms.
• to Balaam: Hebrew lə-Bilʿām (לְבִלְעָם). Balaam, a well-known Mesopotamian diviner, was hired by Balak, King of Moab, to curse Israel. His inclusion in this verse is crucial as his inability to curse Israel, despite his professional abilities and repeated attempts (recorded in Num 22-24), served as irrefutable evidence of God's protective power over His people. Balaam's attempts expose the impotence of pagan divination against the will of YHWH.
• but: Hebrew wə- (וְ). A simple conjunction, here introducing a strong adversative, indicating a complete reversal of the previous clause's implication.
• turned: Hebrew wayyahapōḵ (וַיַּהֲפֹךְ). A verb indicating a radical change or transformation. God actively, dramatically, and sovereignly changed the very nature of what was intended. It signifies not merely preventing the curse but reversing its effect.
• the curse: Hebrew haqqəlālāh (הַקְּלָלָה). The malevolent utterance intended to invoke harm or divine disfavor. The term embodies the destructive intent of Balak and Balaam.
• into a blessing: Hebrew liḇrāḵāh (לִבְרָכָה). A benevolent utterance or action invoking divine favor, prosperity, and well-being. This divine transformation emphasizes God's redemptive power and ability to use adverse circumstances for good.
• for you: Hebrew lāḵ (לָךְ). Refers to Israel, the collective recipient. This highlights the personal and beneficial outcome for God's chosen people, affirming His faithfulness to His covenant promises.
• because: Hebrew kî (כִּי). Introduces the direct causal explanation for God's actions. This "because" points to God's inherent character and His primary motivation.
• loves you: Hebrew ʾahavəḵā (אֲהֵבֶךָ). This word 'ahav signifies deep affection and commitment. It is the bedrock of God's covenantal relationship with Israel (Hesed). God's actions are not arbitrary or out of mere power, but out of profound, personal, and abiding love for His people. This love is the ultimate guarantee of their security and well-being.

Words-Group Analysis:

• The LORD your God would not listen to Balaam: Emphasizes divine sovereignty over all attempts to harm His people. God's ear is attentive to His covenant people and deaf to their enemies' malicious counsel. This is a theological statement that God is sovereign over human words, intent, and even the "magic" of pagan seers.
• But the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you: This phrase beautifully encapsulates the concept of divine reversal. What was meant for evil, God supernaturally converted into good. This displays God's redemptive power and protective care. The active verb "turned" underlines God's direct intervention.
• Because the LORD your God loves you: This culminating phrase provides the foundational theological motivation for all of God's actions described in the verse. God's protective and transformative actions are not due to Israel's merit, but solely to His covenantal, unchanging, and unwavering love for them. It elevates the discussion from mere historical events to an affirmation of God's character.

Deuteronomy 23 5 Bonus section

• The Balaam narrative in Num 22-24, condensed and powerfully recalled here, serves as a quintessential biblical illustration of the truth found in Proverbs 26:2 that "an undeserved curse does not alight." God, being the ultimate sovereign, dictates whether any word, curse or blessing, has effect.
• This verse provides foundational insight into divine irony, where human malice is used by God to bring about His good purposes. Balaam, though hired to curse, found himself compelled by the Spirit of God to utter blessings and prophecies that ultimately glorified God and His people, demonstrating God's ultimate control even over non-covenant individuals and their speech.
• The profound love ('ahav) expressed as the motive for God's action in this verse is not merely an emotion, but an active, steadfast, and delivering love, aligning with the concept of hesed (covenant faithfulness/loyal love) prominent in the Old Testament. It assures Israel of God's consistent loyalty despite human failing or external threat.
• This event from the wilderness wanderings also foreshadows future deliverances and is a type for God's consistent intervention for His people throughout history, including turning adversity into spiritual growth and ultimate triumph for believers in Christ.

Deuteronomy 23 5 Commentary

Deuteronomy 23:5 stands as a powerful testament to the sovereign power and unwavering love of the LORD God for His covenant people. It is set within the context of instructions concerning exclusion from the assembly, yet it highlights divine inclusion through protection. The core message is clear: no external force, however potent or strategically employed, can undermine God's plans or inflict lasting harm upon those whom He loves. The Moabites' and Ammonites' decision to hire Balaam, a renowned seer, was a calculated attempt to use spiritual warfare against Israel. However, God demonstrated His absolute supremacy by not merely nullifying Balaam's efforts but actively transforming the curses intended by him into blessings pronounced by him.

This verse teaches us about God's proactive care and His ability to superintend human events, twisting evil intentions into instruments of His benevolent purpose. It shows that God's will is irresistible, and His faithfulness to His covenant commitments (rooted in His love) guarantees the ultimate welfare of His people. The repeated phrase "the LORD your God" underscores the deeply personal and relational nature of this divine intervention. It reassures Israel of their unique status as His beloved, chosen nation, and that His love is the driving force behind His protective actions. This historical event became a perpetual reminder of God's shield over them, a comfort against all adversaries, seen and unseen.