King James Version

Numbers 23:20

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

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Hebrew

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הִנֵּ֥הhinehloהִנֵּהparticle, demonstrative — “lo”H2009lo!behold, lo, see.בָרֵ֖ךְvarekheblessבָרַךְverb, piel, infinitive absolute — “bless”, the verb used for emphasisH1288to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason)[idiom] abundantly, [idiom] altogether, [idiom] at all, blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, [idiom] greatly, [idiom] indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, [idiom] still, thank.לָקָ֑חְתִּיlaqachetitakeלָקַחverb, qal, perfect, 1st person, common, singular — “take”, a completed actionH3947to take (in the widest variety of applications)accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.וּבֵרֵ֖ךְuverekheand blessבָרַךְconjunction, verb, piel, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and bless”, a completed actionH1288to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason)[idiom] abundantly, [idiom] altogether, [idiom] at all, blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, [idiom] greatly, [idiom] indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, [idiom] still, thank.וְלֹ֥אveloand no , -r,לֹאconjunction, particle, negative — “and no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…אֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּהashivenahagainשׁוּבverb, hiphil, imperfect, 1st person, common, singular, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “again”, an unfinished actionH7725to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again,…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Behold, I am bidden to bless; and when He hath blessed, I cannot call it back.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Young’s Literal Translation

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

World English Bible

Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it.

Darby Translation

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

Douay-Rheims

I was brought to bless, the blessing I am not able to hinder.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Behold, I am bidden to bless; and when He hath blessed, I cannot call it back.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Behold, I have received commandment to bless: I will bless, and not turn back.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἰδοὺ εὐλογεῖν παρείλημμαι· εὐλογήσω, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποστρέψω.