Isaiah 7:12 But Ahaz replied, "I will not ask; I will not test the LORD."

◄ Isaiah 7:12 ►

New International Version
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.”

New Living Translation
But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the LORD like that.”

English Standard Version
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.”

Berean Standard Bible
But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask; I will not test the LORD.”

King James Bible
But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.

New King James Version
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!”

New American Standard Bible
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I put the LORD to the test!”

NASB 1995
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!”

NASB 1977
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!”

Legacy Standard Bible
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not test Yahweh!”

Amplified Bible
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!”

Christian Standard Bible
But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask. I will not test the LORD.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask. I will not test the LORD.”

American Standard Version
But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
"No, LORD," Ahaz answered. "I won't test you!"

English Revised Version
But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But Ahaz answered, "I won't ask; I wouldn't think of testing the LORD."

Good News Translation
Ahaz answered, "I will not ask for a sign. I refuse to put the LORD to the test."

International Standard Version
But Ahaz replied, "I won't ask! I won't put the LORD to the test."

Majority Standard Bible
But Ahaz replied, ?I will not ask; I will not test the LORD.?

NET Bible
But Ahaz responded, "I don't want to ask; I don't want to put the LORD to a test."

New Heart English Bible
But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD."

Webster's Bible Translation
But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.

World English Bible
But Ahaz said, “I won’t ask. I won’t tempt Yahweh.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And Ahaz says, “I do not ask nor try YHWH.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Ahaz saith, 'I do not ask nor try Jehovah.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Ahaz will say, I will not ask and I will not tempt Jehovah.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Achaz said: I will not ask, and I will not tempt the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Ahaz said, “I will not ask, for I will not tempt the Lord.”

New American Bible
But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!”

New Revised Standard Version
But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD my God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Akhaz said, “I shall not ask and I shall not test LORD JEHOVAH my God”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
But Ahaz said: 'I will not ask, neither will I try the LORD.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Achaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Sign of Immanuel
…11“Ask for a sign from the LORD your God, whether from the depths of Sheol or the heights of heaven.” 12But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask; I will not test the LORD.” 13Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well?…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Matthew 12:39
Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Luke 11:29
As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.

Matthew 16:4
A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.

John 4:48
Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”

1 Corinthians 1:22
Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Exodus 17:2
So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why do you contend with me?” Moses replied. “Why do you test the LORD?”

Numbers 14:11
And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them?

Deuteronomy 6:16
Do not test the LORD your God as you tested Him at Massah.

Psalm 78:18
They willfully tested God by demanding the food they craved.

Psalm 95:9
where your fathers tested and tried Me, though they had seen My work.

Psalm 106:14
They craved intensely in the wilderness and tested God in the desert.

2 Kings 16:7
So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hands of the kings of Aram and Israel, who are rising up against me.”

2 Chronicles 28:16
At that time King Ahaz sent for help from the king of Assyria.

2 Chronicles 28:22
In the time of his distress, King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD.

Treasury of Scripture

But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.

I will not ask

2 Kings 16:15
And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to inquire by.

2 Chronicles 28:22
And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.

neither

Ezekiel 33:31
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

tempt

Deuteronomy 6:16
Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

Malachi 3:15
And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

Acts 5:9
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

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Isaiah 7

1. Ahaz, being troubled with fear of Rezin and Pekah, is comforted by Isaiah
10. Ahaz, having liberty to choose a sign, and refusing it, has for a sign, Christ promised
17. His judgment is prophesied to come by Assyria

Berean Study Bible

But Ahaz replied
The phrase introduces King Ahaz, a ruler of Judah during a tumultuous period. Historically, Ahaz is known for his lack of faith and reliance on foreign alliances rather than God. His response here is pivotal, reflecting his character and spiritual state. The Hebrew root for "replied" (עָנָה, 'anah) often implies a response to a call or challenge, indicating that Ahaz is directly addressing a divine offer through the prophet Isaiah.

I will not ask
This phrase reveals Ahaz's refusal to seek a sign from God, despite being offered one. The Hebrew word for "ask" (שָׁאַל, sha'al) can mean to inquire or request, often used in the context of seeking divine guidance. Ahaz's refusal is not out of humility but rather a demonstration of his unwillingness to engage with God, highlighting a lack of faith and trust in divine intervention.

I will not test
The word "test" (נָסָה, nasah) in Hebrew can mean to try or prove. In the context of scripture, testing God is often seen as an act of disbelief or challenge to His authority. Ahaz's statement is ironic; while he claims not to test God, his actions and lack of faith are indeed a test of God's patience and mercy. This phrase underscores the tension between human skepticism and divine faithfulness.

the LORD
The use of "the LORD" (יהוה, Yahweh) is significant, as it refers to the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. In the context of Isaiah, Yahweh is portrayed as the sovereign ruler and protector of Israel. Ahaz's refusal to engage with Yahweh is a rejection of the covenant relationship, highlighting a broader theme of Israel's struggle with faithfulness to God.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) I will not ask . . .--The king speaks as in the very accents of faith. He will not put Jehovah to any such test. Not, perhaps, without a sneer, he quotes almost the very formula of the Law: "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God" (Exodus 17:2; Deuteronomy 6:16). Was the prophet going to forget his own teaching, and become a tempter to that sin? That which lay beneath this show of humble trust was simply self-will and utter unfaith. He had already made up his mind to the Assyrian alliance, against which he knew Isaiah was certain to protest. The fact that the words that follow are spoken to the whole house of David, may, perhaps, imply that the older members of the royal family were encouraging the king in his Assyrian projects, and had, perhaps, suggested his hypocritical answer.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 12. - I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord. Ahaz, who has no wish for a sign, because he has no wish to believe in any other salvation than flint which will follow from the realization of his own schemes, finds a plausible reason for declining to ask for one in those passages of the Law which forbade men to" tempt God" (Exodus 17:7; Deuteronomy 6:16). But it could not be "tempt-tug God" to comply with a Divine invitation; rather it was tempting him to refuse compliance.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

But Ahaz
אָחָ֑ז (’ā·ḥāz)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 271: Ahaz -- 'he has grasped', two Israelites

replied,
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“I will not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

ask;
אֶשְׁאַ֥ל (’eš·’al)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand

I will not
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

test
אֲנַסֶּ֖ה (’ă·nas·seh)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5254: To test, to attempt

the LORD.”
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

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OT Prophets: Isaiah 7:12 But Ahaz said I will not ask (Isa Isi Is)