New Living Translation
Isaiah 7:11
11“Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want—as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.”
Isaiah 7:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.
- New International Version (NIV)“Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven."
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.”
Context of Isaiah 7:11
9Israel is no stronger than its capital, Samaria, and Samaria is no stronger than its king, Pekah son of Remaliah. Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.” 10Later, the Lord sent this message to King Ahaz: “Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want—as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.” 12But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the Lord like that.” 13Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well?
Read all of Isaiah 7Isaiah 7:11 word by word
שְׁאַל־לְךָ֣ א֔וֹת מֵעִ֖ם יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ הַעְמֵ֣ק שְׁאָ֔לָה א֖וֹ הַגְבֵּ֥הַּ לְמָֽעְלָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 7:11
- Isaiah 37:30Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Here is the proof that what I say is true: “This year you will eat only what grows up by itself, and next year you will eat what springs up from that. But in the third year you will plant crops and harvest them; you will tend vineyards and eat their fruit.
- Isaiah 38:7“‘And this is the sign from the Lord to prove that he will do as he promised:
- Judges 6:36Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised,
- 2 Kings 20:8Meanwhile, Hezekiah had said to Isaiah, “What sign will the Lord give to prove that he will heal me and that I will go to the Temple of the Lord three days from now?”
- Jeremiah 19:1This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy a clay jar. Then ask some of the leaders of the people and of the priests to follow you.
- Jeremiah 51:63When you have finished reading the scroll, tie it to a stone and throw it into the Euphrates River.
- Matthew 12:38One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”
- Matthew 16:1One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.
Commentaries on Isaiah 7:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11In the depth "Go deep to the grave" - So Aquila, Symmachus, Theodotion, and the Vulgate.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Ask thee - Ask for “thyself;” ask a sign that shall be convincing to “thyself,” since thou dost not fully credit the words of the prophet. It is evident that the words of the prophet had made no impression on the mind of Ahaz. God, therefore, proposes to him to ask any “proof or demonstration” which he might select; anything that would be an indication of divine power that should put what the prophet had said beyond doubt. Had Ahaz put confidence in God…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-16Verses 10-16 Secret disaffection to God is often disguised with the colour of respect to him; and those who are resolved that they will not trust God, yet pretend they will not tempt him. The prophet reproved Ahaz and his court, for the little value they had for Divine revelation. Nothing is more grievous to God than distrust, but the unbelief of man shall not make the promise of God of no effect; the Lord himself shall give a sign. How great soever your…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11God would give Ahaz a sign to confirm his promise. This sign would take place before Ahaz’s eyes. It would show that God’s word was true. Later, Ahaz’s son Hezekiah also received a sign from the Lord (see Isaiah 37:30).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. Ask thee--since thou dost not credit the prophet's words. sign--a miraculous token to assure thee that God will fulfil His promise of saving Jerusalem (Is 37:30; 38:7, 8). "Signs," facts then present or near at hand as pledges for the more distant future, are frequent in Isaiah. ask ... in ... depth--literally, "Make deep ... ask it," that is, Go to the depth of the earth or of Hades [Vulgate and Lowth], or, Mount high for it (literally, "Make high")…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 7:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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