What does Numbers 23:23 mean?
"Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!" - Numbers 23:23

Numbers 23:23 in the King James Version of the Bible reads: "Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!"
This verse is part of a larger story in the book of Numbers, which is the fourth book of the Hebrew Bible. The book of Numbers primarily contains the story of the Israelites' journey from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab, near the Promised Land. This particular verse comes from a story involving a Moabite king named Balak, who hired a diviner named Balaam to curse the Israelites. However, Balaam ended up blessing the Israelites three times instead of cursing them as he was instructed.
In the larger context of this story, Numbers 23:23 serves as a declaration that God's protection and blessing are upon the nation of Israel. The verse asserts that no form of enchantment or divination can harm or thwart the plans of God for His chosen people. This reflects the idea of divine protection and sovereignty, highlighting God's power and faithfulness to His covenant with the Israelites.
The themes present in this verse include the sovereignty of God, the faithfulness of God to His promises, and the protection of God's chosen people. The verse emphasizes the belief in divine protection and the inability of any outside forces to harm or influence God's plan for Israel.
The use of the names "Jacob" and "Israel" in this verse is significant. Jacob was the patriarch of the Israelites, and his name was changed to Israel after he wrestled with God. The mention of both names in the verse underscores the continuity of God's promises and blessings from the patriarchal era to the nation of Israel as a whole.
The language used in the verse is also noteworthy. The words "enchantment" and "divination" were commonly associated with pagan or occult practices in the ancient Near East. By asserting that no enchantment or divination can prevail against Jacob and Israel, the verse affirms the superiority of the God of Israel over the gods and practices of other nations. This reaffirms the exclusivity of the Israelites' relationship with their God and reinforces the idea of monotheism in contrast to the polytheistic beliefs of neighboring cultures.
The phrase "What hath God wrought!" at the end of the verse further emphasizes the power and sovereignty of God. It is a rhetorical question that implies that God's deeds are beyond human comprehension or manipulation. This statement not only affirms the present protection and blessing of God upon Israel but also calls attention to the awe-inspiring nature of God's work throughout history.
In conclusion, Numbers 23:23 in the King James Version of the Bible is a powerful declaration of God's protection and sovereignty over His chosen people. It reflects the themes of divine protection, faithfulness to God's promises, and the uniqueness of the Israelites' relationship with their God. The verse serves as a reminder of the unwavering power and presence of God in the lives of His people and carries profound theological significance in the larger narrative of the Bible.
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Numbers 23:23 Artwork
Numbers 23:23 - "Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!"
"Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!" - Numbers 23:23
Numbers 23:30
Numbers 23:1-13
Numbers 8:23 - "¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
Numbers 16:23 - "¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
Numbers 33:23 - "And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in mount Shapher."
Numbers 3:23 - "The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward."
Balaam bless Israel twice in numbers 23
Numbers 10:23 - "And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur."
Numbers 23:28 - "And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon."
Numbers 34:23 - "The prince of the children of Joseph, for the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod."
Numbers 26:23 - "¶ Of the sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:"
Numbers 2:23 - "And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred."
Numbers 23:30 - "And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar."
Numbers 23:22 - "God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn."
Numbers 1:23 - "Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred."
Numbers 28:23 - "Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering."
Numbers 20:23 - "And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,"
Numbers 23:25 - "¶ And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all."
Numbers 23:2 - "And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram."
Numbers 5:23 - "And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water:"
Numbers 29:23 - "¶ And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:"
Numbers 23:20 - "Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it."
"¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying," - Numbers 16:23
"¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying," - Numbers 8:23
Numbers 27:23 - "And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses."
Numbers 24:23 - "And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!"
Numbers 23:5 - "And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak."
Numbers 9:23 - "At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses."