The Meaning of Numbers 23:8 Explained

Numbers 23:8

KJV: How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?

YLT: What -- do I pierce? -- God hath not pierced! And what -- am I indignant? -- Jehovah hath not been indignant!

Darby: How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I denounce whom Jehovah doth not denounce?

ASV: How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I defy, whom Jehovah hath not defied?

Discover Numbers 23:8

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Numbers 23:8?

MEANING: What does Numbers 23:8 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Numbers 23:8 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Numbers 23:8?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

How  shall I curse,  whom God  hath not cursed?  or how shall I defy,  [whom] the LORD  hath not defied? 

What does Numbers 23:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 23:1-12 - A Blessing Instead Of A Curse
Notice the position of these chapters, preceding the awful story of Baal-peor. Presently the Israelites will be perpetrating such terrible sins that it might seem impossible for God to continue to acknowledge them; yet here God stands for them and restrains the spirit of evil. He will take their chastisement, when needed, into his own hands.
With all his might Balaam strove to earn the royal gifts. Ah, thought he, that I could really feel that I was the organ of the divine malediction! But he could not feel in his heart that God's spirit was urging him in the direction that Balak wished. The stream of destiny was not running that way. On the contrary, he could forge no weapon against Israel that could prosper, and when he tried to raise his tongue in judgment against the people of God he was condemned. It was as if God said, "Touch not mine anointed." Psalms 105:15; Isaiah 54:17; Romans 8:31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 23

1  Balak's sacrifices

What do the individual words in Numbers 23:8 mean?

How shall I curse not [whom] has cursed God and how shall I denounce [whom] has denounced Yahweh
מָ֣ה אֶקֹּ֔ב לֹ֥א קַבֹּ֖ה אֵ֑ל וּמָ֣ה אֶזְעֹ֔ם זָעַ֖ם ؟ יְהוָֽה

מָ֣ה  How 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
אֶקֹּ֔ב  shall  I  curse 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: נָקַב 
Sense: to pierce, perforate, bore, appoint.
קַבֹּ֖ה  [whom]  has  cursed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: קָבַב  
Sense: to curse, utter a curse against.
אֵ֑ל  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
וּמָ֣ה  and  how 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
אֶזְעֹ֔ם  shall  I  denounce 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: זָעַם  
Sense: to denounce, express indignation, be indignant.
זָעַ֖ם  [whom]  has  denounced 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זָעַם  
Sense: to denounce, express indignation, be indignant.
؟ יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.

What are the major concepts related to Numbers 23:8?

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Similar Scriptures for Numbers 23:8

Isaiah 47:12-13 [4]
Numbers 22:12 [4]
Isaiah 44:25 [3]
Numbers 23:23 [3]
Numbers 23:20 [3]