Numbers 23:25 kjv
And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.
Numbers 23:25 nkjv
Then Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all!"
Numbers 23:25 niv
Then Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!"
Numbers 23:25 esv
And Balak said to Balaam, "Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all."
Numbers 23:25 nlt
Then Balak said to Balaam, "Fine, but if you won't curse them, at least don't bless them!"
Numbers 23 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:3 | I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse... | God's unchangeable promise of blessing/cursing related to Israel. |
| Num 22:12 | God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them... you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." | God directly forbids cursing Israel from the start. |
| Num 22:18 | Balaam answered Balak’s servants, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord..." | Balaam acknowledges divine constraint on his words. |
| Num 23:8 | How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced? | Balaam's rhetorical question confirms divine control over curses. |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind... | God's immutability guarantees His blessings and purposes. |
| Num 23:20 | Behold, I received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it. | Balaam states his inability to reverse God's blessing. |
| Num 23:26 | Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘All that the Lord speaks, that I must do’?” | Balaam reiterates his servitude to God's word, confirming verse 25 is also impossible for him. |
| Num 24:1-9 | Balaam's final prophecy blesses Israel powerfully, ending Balak's hope completely. | The final fulfillment of God's unhindered blessing despite Balak's wishes. |
| Deut 23:5 | ...the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you. | Direct commentary on this event, God actively converts evil intent into good. |
| Neh 13:2 | ...because they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. | Historical affirmation of God turning the curse into a blessing. |
| Isa 14:27 | For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who will turn it back? | God's plans are irresistible and cannot be thwarted. |
| Isa 46:10 | declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose...’ | God's absolute sovereignty over outcomes and purposes. |
| Ps 33:10-11 | The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples... | God nullifies the schemes and intentions of human authorities. |
| Prov 19:21 | Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. | Human intentions, even those of kings, are subject to God's ultimate purpose. |
| Job 42:2 | “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” | Acknowledgment of God's unhindered power and purpose. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good... | God's ability to transform even hostile intentions into beneficial outcomes for His people. |
| Rom 9:15-16 | For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. | God's sovereignty in granting favor and mercy is independent of human desires. |
| Acts 5:39 | ...but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” | Gamaliel's advice reflects the futility of fighting against God's work. |
| Gen 27:33 | Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, "Who then was it that hunted game and brought it to me... and I blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.” | Once a divine blessing is spoken, it cannot be undone. |
| Jer 31:23-26 | Verses on God bringing restoration and blessing to Judah/Israel. | Reflects God's faithfulness to bless His chosen, often against expectations. |
Numbers 23 verses
Numbers 23 25 Meaning
Balak, realizing the futility of his efforts to have Balaam curse Israel, issues a frustrated command: that Balaam should desist from both cursing and blessing them. This signifies Balak's desperate shift in strategy, aiming for a neutral outcome since the divine blessings bestowed upon Israel cannot be reversed or avoided through human or demonic means. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty and the unalterable nature of His covenant with Israel.
Numbers 23 25 Context
Numbers chapter 23 recounts the second and third attempts by King Balak of Moab to have Balaam, the prophet-diviner, curse Israel. Despite moving Balaam to different locations (from Bamoth-baal to the field of Zophim, to the top of Peor) in hopes of changing the outcome, each attempt results in Balaam delivering prophecies that unequivocally bless Israel, not curse them. Balaam consistently affirms that he can only speak what God puts into his mouth. Balak's instruction in verse 25 comes immediately after Balaam’s second blessing (vv. 18-24), where he emphasized God's unchanging word and the invincibility of Israel, who were under divine blessing and protection. Historically, Moab felt threatened by the large number of Israelites encamped on their borders (Num 22:3-4). Balak's attempts reflect the typical ancient Near Eastern practice of employing diviners and curses to weaken enemies, but the narrative serves as a profound theological statement: even powerful pagan rituals and sorcery are powerless against YHWH's sovereign plan and promises to His chosen people.
Numbers 23 25 Word analysis
- Then Balak said to Balaam,
- Then (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer): A simple connective, indicating the sequence of events. It highlights the immediate reaction of Balak after Balaam's second divinely inspired blessing.
- Balak (בָּלָק - Balak): The name means "devastator" or "emptier," ironically mirroring his own state of being empty of options or successful strategy against Israel. He is the Moabite king attempting to counteract God's plan.
- said (אָמַר - amar): Implies a definitive utterance.
- to Balaam (אֶל בִּלְעָם - el Bil'am): "Balaam" means "devourer of people" or "swallowing up of the people." This professional diviner from Pethor has been shown to be merely a mouthpiece for YHWH, highlighting God's supremacy over all powers.
- "Neither curse them at all,
- Neither (לֹא - lo'): The negative particle.
- curse (תָּקֹב - taqob): From the root קָבַב (qabab), meaning to denounce, specifically to lay a binding curse through ritual or incantation. This was Balak's original and consistent demand. The imperative form indicates a direct, frustrated command.
- them (אוֹתָם - otam): Refers to the Israelites.
- at all (כִּי לֹא - ki lo'): Literally "surely not" or "no, no." This doubling of the negation ("not... not curse") emphasizes the absolute nature of Balak's instruction. It’s not just a suggestion; it's a desperate cessation of his former intent. He is emphatically telling Balaam to completely stop cursing.
- nor bless them at all."
- nor (וְגַם לֹא - vegam lo'): "And also not," or "neither."
- bless (תְּבָרְכֵם - tevar'chem): From the root בָּרַךְ (barakh), meaning to empower with good, to confer divine favor, to speak well of. Balak wants to prevent any more blessings on Israel, even if he cannot get a curse.
- them (אוֹתָם - otam): Again, the Israelites.
- at all (כִּי לֹא - ki lo'): The same emphatic double negation as with "curse." This signifies Balak's utter desperation. He is no longer pursuing his original goal and merely wants to halt the tide of positive divine declarations for Israel.
- Word-Group Analysis:
- "Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all": This double prohibition reflects Balak’s complete surrender regarding his initial strategy. He started by hiring Balaam to curse Israel (Num 22:6) but has repeatedly failed. Now, he's so frustrated by the unstoppable blessings that he can't even stand to hear more good spoken of Israel, desiring total neutrality, if possible. This indicates the profound defeat of human will when it opposes divine will. Balak's words are ironically a tacit admission that God's will is irresistible.
Numbers 23 25 Bonus section
The phrase "neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all" vividly illustrates Balak's resignation from his original, aggressive goal. He can't get what he wants (a curse), and he deeply dislikes what he is getting (a blessing), so he attempts to impose a stalemate, hoping at least to silence the pronouncements of divine favor. This is an excellent example of the limited capacity of even powerful human agents and occult practices when pitted against the direct, unalterable will of YHWH. It underlines a core theological truth: God’s blessings on His chosen are not conditional on human approval or susceptible to human or spiritual malice.
Numbers 23 25 Commentary
Numbers 23:25 reveals Balak's utter desperation and frustration. Having brought Balaam to different vantage points three times, hoping for a different outcome, and each time hearing only blessings on Israel, Balak finally throws up his hands. His command, "Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all," is a futile attempt to achieve a neutral ground. He acknowledges, implicitly, that cursing Israel is impossible due to God's decree, but he is unwilling to tolerate any more blessings being spoken over them. This verse succinctly encapsulates the triumph of divine sovereignty over human machination and pagan opposition. God's plan for Israel, His covenant people, is unbreakable and cannot be manipulated or circumvented by any earthly power or magical means. It is a powerful affirmation that God’s word stands eternally.