Numbers 23:19 Meaning and Explanation
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Unlike us, God never breaks His word, so every promise He has made will surely come to pass.
The Context of Numbers 23:19
Spoken by Balaam, a hired prophet whom Balak king of Moab paid to curse Israel. Standing on the heights with Israel camped below, Balaam opens his mouth to curse and finds only blessing coming out, because God will not let His word be turned (Numbers 23:7-12).
What Does Numbers 23:19 Mean?
We know what it is to be let down by a broken promise, and we know how easily we go back on our own words. Balaam holds God up against all of that. God does not lie as people lie, and He does not change His mind the way we do when something better comes along or the cost gets too high. The verse then presses the point with two questions that expect a sure yes: if God has said it, will He not do it? If He has spoken, will He not make it good? His word and His deed are never far apart.
Centuries of waiting later, every promise God spoke gathered into one Person. Paul wrote that 'all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen' (2 Corinthians 1:20). The God who could not lie kept His ancient word by sending His Son, and the writer to the Hebrews points to 'two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie' as the anchor of our hope (Hebrews 6:18). What God has spoken, He has done in Christ.
Numbers 23:19 in the Original Language
nacham (נָחַם), 'repent' -- here meaning to change one's mind or go back on a course; God does not waver as we do.
How to Apply Numbers 23:19 Today
When God feels distant or His promises feel slow, this verse steadies us with His character: He cannot lie, and He does not abandon His word. We can lean our whole weight on what He has said, because in Christ He has already shown He keeps it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 23:19
What does Numbers 23:19 mean?
Unlike us, God never breaks His word, so every promise He has made will surely come to pass.
What is the context of Numbers 23:19?
Spoken by Balaam, a hired prophet whom Balak king of Moab paid to curse Israel. Standing on the heights with Israel camped below, Balaam opens his mouth to curse and finds only blessing coming out, because God will not let His word be turned (Numbers 23:7-12).
How can I apply Numbers 23:19 today?
When God feels distant or His promises feel slow, this verse steadies us with His character: He cannot lie, and He does not abandon His word. We can lean our whole weight on what He has said, because in Christ He has already shown He keeps it.