Tree of Life Version
Isaiah 7:12
12But Ahaz said, “I won’t ask—I wouldn’t test Adonai!”
Isaiah 7:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.
- New International Version (NIV)But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test."
- New King James Version (NKJV)But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!”
Context of Isaiah 7:12
10Then Adonai spoke again to Ahaz saying, 11“Ask for a sign from Adonai your God—from the depths of Sheol or the heights of Heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I won’t ask—I wouldn’t test Adonai!” 13Then he said, “Hear now, house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men? Will you also weary my God? 14Therefore Adonai Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive. When she is giving birth to a son, she will call his name Immanuel.
Read all of Isaiah 7Isaiah 7:12 word by word
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָחָ֑ז לֹא־אֶשְׁאַ֥ל וְלֹֽא־אֲנַסֶּ֖ה אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 7:12
- 2 Kings 16:15Then King Ahaz commanded Urijah the kohen saying, “Upon the great altar you will burn the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land and their grain offering and their drink offering. Also sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt offering and all the blood of the sacrifices. But the bronze altar will be for me to inquire by.”
- 2 Chronicles 28:22In his time of distress, this same King Ahaz acted even more unfaithfully to Adonai.
- Ezekiel 33:31So they come to you, as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words—but they do not do them—for with their mouth they express doting love, but their heart goes after their own dishonest gain.
- Deuteronomy 6:16“You are not to test Adonai your God, as you tested Him at Massah.
- Malachi 3:15So now we are calling the proud blessed. Those who practice iniquity are built up. Indeed, they have tested God, and escaped!”
- Acts 5:9Then Peter said to her, “How did you agree to test the Ruach Adonai? Look, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door—they will carry you out, too!”
- 1 Corinthians 10:9And let’s not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were destroyed by serpents.
Commentaries on Isaiah 7:12
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12I will not ask - In this case Ahaz assumed the appearance of piety, or respect for the command of God. In Deuteronomy 6:16, it is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God;‘ and Ahaz perhaps had this command in his eye. It was a professed reverence for God. But the true reason why he did not seek this sign was, that he had already entered into a negotiation with the king of Assyria to come and defend him; and that he was even stripping the temple of…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. 12I will not test the LORD: Ahaz’s answer sounded respectful and faithful (based on Deuteronomy 6:16. However, Ahaz was likely already speaking with the Assyrians. He had probably already decided to trust them for help in this war. His response sounded spiritual and proper, but his actions showed that he did not plan to trust the Lord.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. neither ... tempt--hypocritical pretext of keeping the law (De 6:16); "tempt," that is, put God to the proof, as in Mt 4:7, by seeking His miraculous interposition without warrant. But here there was the warrant of the prophet of God; to have asked a sign, when thus offered, would not have been a tempting of God. Ahaz' true reason for declining was his resolve not to do God's will, but to negotiate with Assyria, and persevere in his idolatry (2Ki…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 7:12
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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