### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ekpeirázō (ἐκπειράζω) is a compound word formed from the preposition ek (out of, from) and the verb peirázō `{{G3985}}` (to test, try, tempt). The prefix ek- in this context serves as an intensifier, indicating a thorough, exhaustive, or even an extreme form of testing. While peirázō can denote a neutral or even positive testing (as when God tests Abraham in [[Genesis 22:1]] LXX), ekpeirázō almost universally carries a negative connotation in the New Testament. It signifies a malicious, presumptuous, or rebellious testing, often with the intent to challenge divine authority, provoke a response from God, or to push the boundaries of His patience and faithfulness. It is not a sincere inquiry or a legitimate trial, but rather an impudent challenge or a demand for proof driven by unbelief or a desire to manipulate.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of ekpeirázō `{{G1598}}` in the New Testament are few but highly significant, drawing heavily from Old Testament precedents.
* **The Temptation of Christ:** The most prominent uses are found in the Synoptic accounts of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. Satan challenges Jesus to throw Himself down from the temple, quoting [[Psalm 91:11-12]]. Jesus responds by quoting [[Deuteronomy 6:16]]:
* [[Matthew 4:7]]: "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
* [[Luke 4:12]]: "And Jesus answered him, 'It is said, "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test."'"
In this context, Satan's intent is to provoke Jesus into a presumptuous act, forcing God's hand to demonstrate His power and protection outside of His divine will. Jesus' refusal highlights the sinfulness of such a challenge to God.
* **Old Testament Background (LXX):** The New Testament usage of ekpeirázō directly echoes the Septuagint (LXX) translation of the Hebrew verb nāsāh `{{H5254}}`, particularly in narratives where Israel presumptuously challenged God in the wilderness.
* [[Deuteronomy 6:16]], quoted by Jesus, refers to the incident at Massah (meaning "testing") where Israel grumbled against God for lack of water ([[Exodus 17:1-7]]). The LXX uses ekpeirázō for "tested" in [[Exodus 17:2]] and [[Exodus 17:7]].
* [[Psalm 95:9]] (LXX [[Psalm 94:9]]): "where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works." This verse, frequently referenced in the New Testament (e.g., [[Hebrews 3:8-9]]), also uses ekpeirázō to describe Israel's rebellious testing of God.
* **Pauline Warning:**
* [[1 Corinthians 10:9]]: "We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents." Here, Paul warns the Corinthian believers against repeating the mistakes of their Israelite ancestors. The "testing Christ" refers to their rebellious complaining and challenging of God's provision and authority, which led to divine judgment (cf. [[Numbers 21:5-6]]).
In all these contexts, ekpeirázō consistently describes an act of challenging divine authority, pushing God's patience, or attempting to force a sign, rather than a genuine seeking of God's will or a trial endured by God's allowance.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **peirázō `{{G3985}}`:** The fundamental root verb, meaning "to test," "to try," or "to tempt." While peirázō can be used in a neutral sense (e.g., God testing Abraham) or to describe temptation to sin (e.g., Satan tempting Jesus), ekpeirázō is the intensified form that almost exclusively carries the negative connotation of a presumptuous or rebellious challenge to God.
* **dokimázō `{{G1381}}`:** To test, prove, or approve. This verb generally carries a positive connotation, referring to a test that aims to demonstrate genuineness, refine character, or lead to approval. God dokimázō us to build our faith; we ekpeirázō Him to challenge His authority.
* **nāsāh `{{H5254}}`:** The primary Hebrew equivalent in the Old Testament, which means "to test" or "to try." Its semantic range includes both legitimate testing (God testing humanity) and rebellious challenging (humanity testing God). The LXX often translates nāsāh with ekpeirázō when the context implies a defiant or presumptuous testing of God.
* **Concepts:**
* **Presumption:** A core concept associated with ekpeirázō. It involves an overstepping of human bounds, an arrogant assumption of the right to demand or provoke a divine response.
* **Lack of Trust/Faith:** Testing God often stems from a fundamental distrust in His character, provision, or wisdom, as exemplified by Israel's grumbling in the wilderness.
* **Rebellion:** In the biblical narrative, ekpeirázō is often synonymous with rebellion against God's sovereignty, commands, and established order.
### Theological Significance
The prohibition against ekpeirázō is foundational to understanding the proper relationship between humanity and God.
* **God's Sovereignty and Majesty:** To ekpeirázō God is to deny His absolute sovereignty and to challenge His divine majesty. It is an act of audacious pride, attempting to reduce the Creator to a mere object of human experimentation or manipulation. God is not to be put to the test; He is to be worshipped, trusted, and obeyed.
* **Humanity's Proper Posture:** The opposite of testing God is a posture of humility, faith, and dependence. Believers are called to trust God's word and His providential care, even in the midst of trials, rather than to question His character or demand a demonstration of His power.
* **Warning from Israel's History:** The repeated references to Israel's ekpeirázō of God in the wilderness serve as a perennial warning to all generations of believers. Their failures at Massah and Meribah were not minor transgressions but a profound questioning of God's presence and power among them, leading to severe divine judgment. This historical precedent underscores the gravity of such an act.
* **Christ's Perfect Example:** Jesus' resolute refusal to ekpeirázō God in the wilderness ([[Matthew 4:7]], [[Luke 4:12]]) provides the ultimate paradigm for human obedience and trust. He did not need to prove God's faithfulness; He simply relied upon it, demonstrating perfect filial submission to the Father's will.
* **Distinction Between Testing and Trusting:** While God may peirázō or dokimázō His people to refine their faith, and believers are encouraged to dokimázō themselves, the act of ekpeirázō God is strictly forbidden. This distinction is crucial for maintaining a healthy and reverent relationship with the divine. It highlights that true faith does not demand signs or challenge God's authority, but rather rests in His revealed truth and character.
### Summary
The Greek verb ekpeirázō `{{G1598}}` signifies an intensified, often malicious or presumptuous "testing" or "putting to the proof" of God. Unlike the broader peirázō `{{G3985}}`, which can denote neutral or even positive trials, ekpeirázō consistently carries a negative connotation in the New Testament. It describes a challenging of divine authority, a demand for a sign, or an attempt to force God's hand, rather than a genuine seeking or a legitimate trial. This term is prominently featured in the accounts of Jesus' temptation, where Satan urges Him to "test the Lord your God" by demanding miraculous intervention ([[Matthew 4:7]], [[Luke 4:12]]). It echoes Old Testament warnings against Israel's rebellion and lack of trust in the wilderness ([[Deuteronomy 6:16]], [[1 Corinthians 10:9]]). Theologically, ekpeirázō underscores God's absolute sovereignty and humanity's proper posture of humble trust and obedience, serving as a critical warning against presumption and rebellion against the divine will.
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