The Church Fathers on this verse

Numbers 23:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

There is no soothsaying in Jacob, nor divination in Israel. In their times it shall be told to Jacob and to Israel what God hath wrought.

Douay-Rheims

כִּ֤י לֹא־נַ֙חַשׁ֙ בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב וְלֹא־קֶ֖סֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כָּעֵ֗ת יֵאָמֵ֤ר לְיַעֲקֹב֙ וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מַה־פָּ֖עַל אֵֽל׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

The phrase, ‘There is no enmity in Jacob, neither is there any sorcery in Israel: in time it shall be called to Jacob and Israel, what God will do,’ should be interpreted in this way: the actions of God towards Israel cannot be predicted by sorcery or the plotting of adversaries; rather, the Lord God reveals what is to come through His Prophets and guides them in their actions.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.