Numbers 23 21

Numbers 23:21 kjv

He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.

Numbers 23:21 nkjv

"He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, Nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. The LORD his God is with him, And the shout of a King is among them.

Numbers 23:21 niv

"No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them.

Numbers 23:21 esv

He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. The LORD their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them.

Numbers 23:21 nlt

No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob;
no trouble is in store for Israel.
For the LORD their God is with them;
he has been proclaimed their king.

Numbers 23 verses

Numbers 23 21 Meaning

Balaam's oracle declares God's judicial stance toward Israel: He has chosen not to regard their sin as a basis for condemnation or a curse, having provided means for atonement and purposed to bless them. God's unwavering presence as their divine King ensures their protection and ultimate triumph among them. This signifies God's active involvement and absolute sovereignty over His covenant people, rendering any external curse futile.

Numbers 23 21 Context

Numbers 22-24 details the narrative of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet from Mesopotamia. Balak, the king of Moab, filled with fear at the multitude of the Israelites (after their victories over the Amorites), hires Balaam to curse them, believing his sorcery or prophetic power could harm Israel. However, God repeatedly intervenes, forbidding Balaam from cursing His chosen people and instead puts words of blessing into Balaam's mouth. Numbers 23:21 is part of Balaam's second oracle, delivered from the top of Pisgah, directly addressing Balak's demand. This specific verse counters Balak's hope for Israel's demise, declaring God's unique covenant relationship with Israel, and revealing why His chosen people cannot be cursed. It stands as a theological declaration of God's unwavering faithfulness despite Israel's human failings. The oracle also functions as a polemic against pagan beliefs in arbitrary gods who can be manipulated or would readily curse their own people for sin without offering a means of reconciliation.

Numbers 23 21 Word analysis

• He (Hebrew: הוא - hu): Refers directly to YHWH, the personal covenant God of Israel. It denotes His divine agency and sovereign perspective.
• not observed (Hebrew: לֹא־הִבִּיט - lo hibbiṭ): Not merely a lack of vision. It conveys 'not fixed His gaze upon', 'not paid attention to with a view to judgment or condemnation'. God's choice is not to account their sin in a way that warrants the curse Balak desires. It's a judicial or relational decision, rooted in grace and covenant, rather than ignorance.
• iniquity (Hebrew: אָוֶן - ’āwen): Implies wickedness, evil, mischief, trouble, or vanity. It points to internal depravity and the resulting acts that could incur divine displeasure and judgment. The word covers both the internal state and the outward manifestation of wrongdoing.
• in Jacob: Refers to the nation of Israel as a whole, drawing from the name of the patriarch Jacob. This name often evokes God's choice and transformation of the individual into a nation, despite his inherent flaws.
• Nor has He seen (Hebrew: וְלֹא־רָאָה - w'lo ra’ah): A parallel clause strengthening the initial statement through Hebrew parallelism. Reinforces the idea of God's deliberate, judicial non-reckoning of sin for cursing purposes.
• perversity (Hebrew: עָמָל - ‘āmāl): Connotes toil, trouble, distress, hardship, and particularly perverse effort or mischief. It can denote wickedness resulting from laboring in evil, suggesting active engagement in unrighteousness.
• in Israel: Another name for the nation, often emphasizing their divinely given identity as "prince with God" (from Jacob's wrestling with the angel, Gen 32:28). This name highlights their unique covenant status.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, Nor has He seen perversity in Israel": This powerful poetic declaration doesn't imply Israel is sinless, but rather highlights God's judicial approach towards His covenant people. Despite their historical and future struggles with sin, God, by His grace and through established provisions like the Day of Atonement, chooses not to count their sin as a reason to revoke His blessings or allow a curse upon them. His perspective is fixed on His covenant faithfulness and purpose, which outweighs the grounds for a curse. This sets YHWH apart from pagan deities often depicted as arbitrary or easily manipulated by a people's "iniquity."
• "The LORD his God is with him": This is the theological anchor for the first statement. It asserts God's living, active, and abiding presence within Israel. "The LORD" (YHWH) is specifically identified as "his God" (Elohav), signifying a personal and unbreakable covenant relationship. This divine presence serves as both a protective shield against curses and an empowering source of strength for Israel, confirming that their identity and security stem from God alone.
• "And the shout of a King is among them": This phrase speaks of triumphant acclamation and the reality of God's active kingship within Israel. "The shout" (t'ru'at) refers to a joyful or triumphant acclamation, a sound of jubilation or a battle cry, often accompanied by trumpets, signifying victory, presence, or divine intervention. This sound confirms that God is actively present as their sovereign King, ruling and leading them to triumph. It symbolizes Israel's recognition of YHWH as their victorious ruler and His visible presence manifesting divine power that overrides all opposing forces.

Numbers 23 21 Bonus section

• Divine Control Over Prophecy: This verse powerfully illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over human speech and intentions. Balaam, though hired to curse, is compelled to speak only blessings, demonstrating that God's plan cannot be overridden or manipulated.
• Basis for Israel's Survival: The divine assurance in this verse, despite Israel's historical failings, reveals the true basis of their national preservation—not their righteousness, but God's covenant faithfulness and His sovereign decision to dwell among them and remember their sins no more through the provisions of atonement.
• Fore shadowing Redemption: While explicitly about God's dealings with Israel in the Old Testament, the principle of God "not observing iniquity" ultimately finds its complete fulfillment in the atoning work of Jesus Christ in the New Covenant. Through Christ, believers' sins are truly removed and remembered no more by God (Heb 8:12, Heb 10:17), enabling full fellowship and the assured presence of God's Spirit.

Numbers 23 21 Commentary

Numbers 23:21 is a profound statement on God's grace, sovereignty, and unwavering commitment to His covenant. It transcends a mere observation of Israel's current state. Balaam is not declaring Israel sinless; the entire biblical narrative, including future accounts within Numbers, plainly testifies to their repeated iniquity and perversity. Instead, this oracle speaks to God's disposition toward Israel through the lens of His covenant. God, being holy, addresses sin through the means He Himself provides, primarily atonement, so that sin does not become the basis for nullifying His promises or allowing His people to be cursed.

The key is God's active presence: "The LORD his God is with him." This implies His enduring commitment, protection, and provision. The "shout of a King" is the natural consequence of God's presence as sovereign Ruler among His people; it represents triumphant acclaim, joyous worship, or the resounding call of a conquering king, assuring their ultimate victory and destiny. This verse assures that despite Israel's failures, God's purposes for them are fixed and unassailable because He is their King, dwelling among them, and He has already made provision for their sins so they do not incur a curse. This stands as a beacon of hope and a declaration of God's unfailing love, demonstrating that His plans are always for blessing and cannot be thwarted.