The Meaning of Deuteronomy 23:5 Explained

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.

YLT: and Jehovah thy God hath not been willing to hearken unto Balaam, and Jehovah thy God doth turn for thee the reviling to a blessing, because Jehovah thy God hath loved thee;

Darby: But Jehovah thy God would not listen to Balaam; and Jehovah thy God turned the curse into blessing unto thee, because Jehovah thy God loved thee.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Deuteronomy 23:5 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 23

1  Who may or may not enter into the congregation
9  Uncleanness is to be avoided in the host
15  Of the fugitive servant
17  Of filthiness
18  Of abominable sacrifices
19  Of usury
20  Of vows
24  Of trespass

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 23:5 mean?

And nevertheless not would Yahweh your God listen to Balaam but turned your God for you - the curse into a blessing because loves you your God
וְלֹֽא־ אָבָ֞ה יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיַּהֲפֹךְ֩ אֱלֹהֶ֧יךָ לְּךָ֛ אֶת־ הַקְּלָלָ֖ה לִבְרָכָ֑ה כִּ֥י אֲהֵֽבְךָ֖ אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ

וְלֹֽא־  And  nevertheless  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יְהוָ֤ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ  listen 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בִּלְעָ֔ם  Balaam 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בִּלְעָם 
Sense: the son of Beor, a man endowed with the gift of prophecy.
וַיַּהֲפֹךְ֩  but  turned 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָפַךְ  
Sense: to turn, overthrow, overturn.
אֱלֹהֶ֧יךָ  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
לְּךָ֛  for  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַקְּלָלָ֖ה  the  curse 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: קְלָלָה  
Sense: curse, vilification, execration.
לִבְרָכָ֑ה  into  a  blessing 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּרָכָה  
Sense: blessing.
כִּ֥י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
אֲהֵֽבְךָ֖  loves  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).