The two parallel questions in this verse are rhetorical. By asking them Balaam is implying that it is totally impossible for him to curse people whom the LORD has not cursed. In some languages the contrast expressed here with verse 7c may be marked by beginning with the conjunction “But” (Contemporary English Version, Chewa).

How can I curse whom God has not cursed?: The Hebrew verb rendered curse and cursed is different from the verbs used in verse 7c and may imply that the curse would be accompanied by acts of magic or sorcery. Perhaps a different expression for curse may be used here than in verse 7, for example, “call down troubles upon” or “wish evil against.”

How can I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?: For the Hebrew verb rendered denounce and denounced, see verse 7.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .