But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.
But Ahaz {H271} said {H559}, I will not ask {H7592}, neither will I tempt {H5254}{H853} the LORD {H3068}.
But Achaz answered, "I won't ask, I won't test ADONAI."
But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask; I will not test the LORD.”
But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
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2 Chronicles 28:22
And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this [is that] king Ahaz. -
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 enquire [by]. -
1 Corinthians 10:9
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. -
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. -
Deuteronomy 6:16
Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted [him] in Massah. -
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. -
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.
Isaiah 7:12 records King Ahaz's pivotal response to a direct, gracious offer from God, extended through the prophet Isaiah. The verse states, "But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD."
Context and Background
At this time, the kingdom of Judah, under King Ahaz, faced a severe existential threat from a coalition of northern Israel (Ephraim) and Syria (Aram), led by Kings Pekah and Rezin respectively. This conflict, often referred to as the Syro-Ephraimite War, caused great fear in Jerusalem, moving the people "as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind" (Isaiah 7:2). Despite Ahaz's palpable fear and his inclination to seek human alliances, God sent the prophet Isaiah to assure him that the invasion would fail and to encourage him to trust in the Lord alone. In an extraordinary act of divine condescension, God offered Ahaz a sign of his choosing, "Ask it either in the depth, or in the height above" (Isaiah 7:11). This was an invitation to faith, not a demand for proof, meant to bolster the king's confidence in God's protective power.
Meaning of Isaiah 7:12
Ahaz's reply, "I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD," appears pious on the surface. He seemingly references a biblical principle against putting God to the test unnecessarily (as seen in instances like Exodus 17:2 or Numbers 14:22). However, in this specific context, God Himself was *inviting* the test as a demonstration of His faithfulness and power. Ahaz's refusal was not an act of piety but rather a thinly veiled excuse for his deep-seated unbelief and his predetermined decision to rely on the powerful Assyrian Empire for help, rather than on God. His words masked a heart that had already rejected divine guidance and chosen a path of political expediency (2 Kings 16:7-9; 2 Chronicles 28:16-21).
Key Themes
Linguistic Insight
The Hebrew word translated "tempt" is nassah (נָסָה), which means "to test, try, prove." While it is often used negatively in the Old Testament to describe Israel's tendency to test God's patience or faithfulness through doubt and disobedience, it can also mean to put someone to the test with good intentions, to prove their quality or trustworthiness. In this unique instance, God himself was inviting Ahaz to "test" Him in a positive sense—to prove His word and power to deliver. Ahaz's rejection of this divine invitation was therefore a rejection of God's grace and an act of profound unbelief, not an act of reverence.
Practical Application
Isaiah 7:12 serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of unbelief, especially when it is cloaked in religious language or seemingly pious excuses. It challenges us to examine our own hearts when faced with God's invitations to trust Him. Do we genuinely seek His guidance and assurance, or do we use spiritual-sounding reasons to justify our own plans, fears, or reliance on worldly solutions? This verse reminds believers that true faith involves embracing God's offers of assurance, even when they seem counter-intuitive or challenge our comfort zones, rather than clinging to human wisdom or strength. Our refusal to accept God's gracious help, particularly when offered explicitly, can lead us down paths of greater difficulty and away from His intended blessings, as it did for King Ahaz and the kingdom of Judah.