SEV Biblia, Chapter 23:19
Dios no es hombre, para que mienta; ni hijo de hombre para que se arrepienta. El dijo, ¿y no hará?; habló, ¿y no lo ejecutará?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:19
Verse 19. God is not a man, that he should lie] This seems to be spoken to correct the foregoing supposition of Balak that God could change his mind. Even the heathen would not allow that their supreme god could be caught in a falsity. Hence AESCHYLUS, in Prometh. vinct. 10lxviii. - yeudhgorein gar ouk epistatai stoma to dion, alla pan epov telei. "The mouth of Jove knows not to frame a lie; But every word finds full accomplishment."
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 19. God is not a man, that he should lie , etc.] Man is a creature consisting of a body of flesh and blood, and of a soul, a created and finite spirit; but God, though he has the parts of an human body ascribed to him in a figurative sense, yet is not to be conceived of in a corporeal manner; and though he is a Spirit, yet eternal, immense, and infinite; and much less is as a sinful man, who goes astray from the womb speaking lies; no, let God be true, and every man a liar: he is God, that cannot lie; his counsels of old are faithfulness and truth; his promises yea and amen in Christ; the Scriptures inspired by him are true, and the prophecies of them are punctually accomplished, particularly what he foretold of the people of Israel, and promised unto them; that they should be happy, and inherit the land of Canaan; that be would be true and faithful to them, and there could be no hope, by any means whatever, to make him false and unfaithful to his word: neither the son of man, that he should repent; repentance is found in men, who repent for what they have done, or change their minds, as to what they intended to do or set about; perceiving it to be wrong to do it, or that they are able to do it, some unforeseen thing turning up they were not aware of: but nothing of this kind belongs to God, or can befall him; he never changes his mind, alters his counsels, purposes, and decrees, and never varies in his affections to his people, nor makes void his choice of them, or covenant with them; and his calling of them by his grace, and his gifts of grace bestowed upon them, are without repentance: and particularly with respect to the people of Israel, there was no reason to hope or believe that God would change his purposes or promises respecting their outward happiness, and enjoyment of the land of Canaan; or that ever he would be prevailed upon to curse them, or admit them to be cursed, when he was determined, and had so peremptorily promised that he would bless them: hath he said, and shall he not do it ? or “hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” whether it be with regard to things temporal, spiritual, or eternal; for there is no variableness nor shadow of turning in his mind; he never forgets his word, he foresees all events, he is able to perform, and is true and faithful; and therefore whatever is gone out of his lips will never be altered, but will be most certainly fulfilled, ( Psalm 89:34) ( Isaiah 14:24,27).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-30 - Balak was angry with Balaam. Thus a confession of God's overrulin power is extorted from a wicked prophet, to the confusion of a wicke prince. A second time the curse is turned into a blessing; and thi blessing is both larger and stronger than the former. Men change their minds, and break their words; but God never changes his mind, an therefore never recalls his promise. And when in Scripture he is sai to repent, it does not mean any change of his mind; but only a chang of his way. There was sin in Jacob, and God saw it; but there was no such as might provoke him to give them up to ruin. If the Lord see that we trust in his mercy, and accept of his salvation; that we indulge no secret lust, and continue not in rebellion, but endeavour to serve and glorify him; we may be sure that he looks upon us as accepte in Christ, that our sins are all pardoned. Oh the wonders of providenc and grace, the wonders of redeeming love, of pardoning mercy, of the new-creating Spirit! Balak had no hope of ruining Israel, and Balaa showed that he had more reason to fear being ruined by them. Sinc Balaam cannot say what he would have him, Balak wished him to saw nothing. But though there are many devices in man's heart, God' counsels shall stand. Yet they resolve to make another attempt, thoug they had no promise on which to build their hopes. Let us, who have promise that the vision at the end shall speak and not lie, continu earnest in prayer, Lu 18:1 __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
לא 3808 אישׁ 376 אל 410 ויכזב 3576 ובן 1121 אדם 120 ויתנחם 5162 ההוא 1931 אמר 559 ולא 3808 יעשׂה 6213 ודבר 1696 ולא 3808 יקימנה׃ 6965
