The Meaning of Numbers 23:20 Explained

Numbers 23:20

KJV: Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.

YLT: Lo, to bless I have received: Yea, He blesseth, and I can not reverse it.

Darby: Behold, I have received mission to bless; and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.

ASV: Behold, I have received commandment to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Behold, I have received  [commandment] to bless:  and he hath blessed;  and I cannot reverse  it. 

What does Numbers 23:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 23:13-30 - No Enchantment Against Israel
Balak was surprised and disappointed. He therefore bethought himself of limiting the seer's vision, so that he might see an attenuated Israel from a height that commanded only a partial view of the camp. How often we try to see only what we want to see! How often we shut our eyes to a rival's real merits! Instead of entering into God's great thoughts we shut ourselves up in a tiny limited world. We will not acknowledge what our pride does not want to acknowledge. We are like children building sand-castles against the tide. You had better bring your mind to harmonize with God's facts than minimize or evade their truth. You are hurting yourself, but can never alter them. Take God's way and be at peace!
Let us ponder Numbers 23:21 -it is as we are in God's purpose; and Numbers 23:23 -when faced by our enemies; and Numbers 23:24 -when most convinced of our helplessness. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 23

1  Balak's sacrifices

What do the individual words in Numbers 23:20 mean?

behold to bless I have received [a command] and He has blessed and cannot I reverse it
הִנֵּ֥ה בָרֵ֖ךְ לָקָ֑חְתִּי וּבֵרֵ֖ךְ וְלֹ֥א אֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה

הִנֵּ֥ה  behold 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
בָרֵ֖ךְ  to  bless 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Infinitive absolute
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
לָקָ֑חְתִּי  I  have  received  [a  command] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
וּבֵרֵ֖ךְ  and  He  has  blessed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
וְלֹ֥א  and  cannot 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה  I  reverse  it 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.