Deuteronomy 23:5

“But YHWH your Elohim was not willing to listen to Balaam, and YHWH your Elohim turned for you the curse into a blessing, because YHWH your Elohim loves you.”

Deuteronomy 23:5 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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With the Hebrew beneath

5

Deuteronomy 23:5, word by word

But YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears
your Elohimאֱלֹהֶיelohe

Elohim

The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.

Where else “elohe” appears
willingאָבָהava

be willing, consent

Be willing, consent, agree to something; with "not", refuse.

Where else “ava” appears
to listenשְׁמֹעַshemoa

listen

To pay close attention, or heed a plea.

Where else “shemoa” appears
to Balaamבִּלְעָםbilam

Balaam

Balaam, a diviner from Mesopotamia whom the king of Moab called to curse Israel. The name perhaps means "not of the people," that is, a foreigner.

Where else “bilam” appears
turnedיַּהֲפֹךְyahafoch

change

To change something into something else.

Where else “yahafoch” appears
the curseקְּלָלָהkelala

curse

Curse: words calling down evil on someone; the opposite of a blessing.

Where else “kelala” appears
into a blessingבְרָכָהveracha

blessing

The good God gives, or words asking for it.

Where else “veracha” appears
loves youאֲהֵבְahev

love

To care for someone from the heart and seek their good.

Where else “ahev” appears

The context

4because they did not meet you with bread and with water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam son of Beor from Pethor of Aram-naharaim to curse you.

5 · This verse (above)

6You shall not seek their peace or their good all your days, forever.

Read all of Deuteronomy 23

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