King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted [him] in Massah.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Do not put ADONAI your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah [testing].
Berean Standard Bible:
Do not test the LORD your God as you tested Him at Massah.
American Standard Version:
Ye shall not tempt Jehovah your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Ye shall not tempt{H5254} the LORD{H3068} your God{H430}, as ye tempted{H5254} him in Massah{H4532}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 17:7
- And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?
Luke 4:12
- And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Matthew 4:7
- Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Psalms 95:8
- Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, [and] as [in] the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Psalms 95:9
- When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.
Hebrews 3:8
- Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Hebrews 3:9
- When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Deuteronomy 6:16
Deuteronomy 6:16 is part of Moses' second discourse to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The verse references the incident at Massah, which is recounted in Exodus 17:1-7 and Numbers 20:1-13. At Massah (meaning "testing" or "trial"), the Israelites, doubting God's provision, quarreled with Moses and demanded water, testing the Lord's patience and faithfulness.
**Themes:**
1. **Trust in God:** The Israelites' demand for water at Massah was a lack of trust in God's ability to care for them, despite His previous miracles. This verse emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's provision and timing.
2. **Obedience:** It underscores the command not to test God, as doing so demonstrates a lack of faith in His authority and power.
3. **Covenant Relationship:** The verse reflects the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. The command not to test God is part of the larger expectation that Israel will remain faithful to God, who has already proven His faithfulness to them.
4. **Divine Testing vs. Human Testing:** While God may test His people, as seen throughout the Bible, humans are not to test God. The distinction highlights the proper posture of humility and trust before the divine.
**Historical Context:**
The book of Deuteronomy is set during the final days of Moses' leadership over the Israelites. Having wandered in the wilderness for 40 years due to their previous disobedience, the people are about to enter the land promised to their ancestors. Deuteronomy serves as a series of sermons or instructions from Moses, reminding the people of the law, their history, and the importance of faithfulness to God as they prepare to face new challenges in the Promised Land.
The reference to Massah serves as a historical reminder of the consequences of unbelief and disobedience. It is a call to the new generation to learn from the mistakes of their forebears and to embrace a life of trust and obedience to God's commands. The incident at Massah, therefore, becomes a pivotal lesson in the spiritual formation of the Israelite nation.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5254
There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָסָה
Transliteration: nâçâh
Pronunciation: naw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to test; by implication, to attempt; adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H4532
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַסָּה
Transliteration: Maççâh
Pronunciation: mas-saw'
Description: the same as מַסָּה; Massah, a place in the Desert; Massah.