If God does not repent (Numbers 23:19), why does the Bible say God repented?

Whosoever Will, The Road Not Taken: They will throw the other line, and they should: “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent” (Num 23:19); “the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent” (1 Sam 15:29). Here is the thing that settles it, and it is not a Hebrew trick I invented. First Samuel 15 uses the same word three times in one chapter. “It repenteth me that I have set up Saul” (15:11). “[t]he Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent” (15:29). “[t]he LORD repented that he had made Saul king” (15:35). The same stem, three times, and the chapter is not confused. It is drawing a line. A sworn purpose is not revoked. A threat is not executed when the threatened turn. Both are true, on the same page, in the same word. That distinction is the Bible’s, not mine. Scripture, King James Version: Numbers 23:19, "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?"; 1 Samuel 15:29, "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.".

Verified. Every scripture quotation on this page has been checked word-for-word against the King James text. Last reviewed 2026-10-18.

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If God does not repent (Numbers 23:19), why does the Bible say God repented? → wsb.bible/answers/if-god-does-not-repent-numbers-23-19-why-does-the-bible-say-god

This answer is the short form. The argument is made at length in The Road Not Taken: The reversals, and the rule behind them.

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