Deuteronomy 6 16

Deuteronomy 6:16 kjv

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

Deuteronomy 6:16 nkjv

"You shall not tempt the LORD your God as you tempted Him in Massah.

Deuteronomy 6:16 niv

Do not put the LORD your God to the test as you did at Massah.

Deuteronomy 6:16 esv

"You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.

Deuteronomy 6:16 nlt

You must not test the LORD your God as you did when you complained at Massah.

Deuteronomy 6 verses

Deuteronomy 6 16 Meaning

Deuteronomy 6:16 commands God's people not to test the LORD their God in the same way they did at Massah. This prohibits presumptuously challenging God's presence, questioning His power, demanding proofs of His faithfulness, or pushing His boundaries with a demanding spirit rooted in unbelief rather than humble dependence. It warns against a demanding skepticism that denies God's past provisions and challenges His character or word.

Deuteronomy 6 16 Context

Deuteronomy 6:16 is delivered by Moses to the second generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab, poised to enter the Promised Land. This generation did not directly experience the wilderness testing like their parents, but they faced similar temptations to distrust God and conform to pagan ways in their new land. The preceding verses emphasize the unique, singular nature of the LORD their God ("Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one," Deut 6:4) and the absolute devotion owed to Him (Deut 6:5, the "Shema"). Following commands to diligently teach these truths to their children, this verse serves as a crucial warning drawn from a critical past failure. The incident at Massah (Exo 17:1-7) epitomizes the wilderness generation's lack of trust, grumbling, and demanding spirit, which challenged God's very presence among them, despite His recent mighty acts of deliverance and provision. The verse aims to instill fear of the LORD and cultivate deep-seated trust, reminding them that God's character is not to be questioned or His power presumed upon.

Deuteronomy 6 16 Word analysis

• You shall not put... to the test (לֹא תְנַסּוּ / lo tenassu): From the Hebrew root נָסָה (nasah), meaning "to test, try, prove." In this context, it specifically refers to a presumptuous or challenging test, born of doubt, unbelief, or a demanding spirit. It is not a humble seeking for God's guidance or power in prayer, but rather a demanding demonstration from Him, akin to putting God on trial or pushing Him to the brink to see if He will perform. It suggests an attitude of distrust rather than dependence.
• the Lord your God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם / Yahweh Eloheikhem):
  • Yahweh (יְהוָה): The sacred, covenantal name of God, revealing His personal, faithful, and redemptive character. This emphasizes that the people are not to test their covenant partner, the One who has demonstrated unwavering loyalty and power on their behalf.
  • Eloheikhem (אֱלֹהֵיכֶם): The plural form of אֱלֹהִים (Elohim), indicating God as Creator and Sovereign, with the possessive "your." This highlights the intimate yet authoritative relationship, where respect and reverence are paramount. Testing Him undermines this sacred relationship.
• as you tested Him (אֲשֶׁר נִסִּיתֶם / asher nissitem): This phrase directly links the present command to a past event, highlighting Israel's prior sin and providing a concrete example. It's a didactic use of history, showing that such an attitude has consequences and should be avoided.
• at Massah (בַּמַּסָּה / bamassah): The proper noun referring to a specific geographic location (Exod 17:1-7) where the Israelites intensely complained about thirst, demanding water and questioning God's presence among them. The name "Massah" itself means "testing" or "trial," marking it as a memorial to their grievous unbelief.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test": This serves as an unequivocal divine command, setting a clear boundary in the relationship between the Creator and His creation, especially with His covenant people. It prohibits any behavior that treats God as subservient, doubted, or as an object of experimentation. It demands profound respect for His sovereignty and character. The phrase asserts that it is humanity who is tested by God to prove their faithfulness, not God who is tested by humans to prove His.
• "as you tested Him at Massah": This portion grounds the abstract command in a concrete historical example, making its meaning undeniable to the original audience. The incident at Massah perfectly illustrates presumptuous testing: questioning God's active presence ("Is the LORD among us or not?"), expressing deep dissatisfaction with His provision despite miracles, and doing so with a grumbling, demanding attitude rather than humble petition. It signifies a profound lack of trust despite undeniable evidence of God's power and care. This serves as a cautionary tale for all generations, warning against the subtle unbelief that can manifest in demanding signs or guarantees from God instead of simple, patient trust.

Deuteronomy 6 16 Bonus section

• The parallel concepts of "Massah" and "Meribah" (strife, quarreling) in Exodus 17 and Numbers 20 both encapsulate the spirit of the people testing God by quarreling and doubting. Massah signifies the "test," and Meribah, the "contention" arising from it.
• This prohibition underlines that humans are the tested, and God is the tester (e.g., Gen 22:1; Deut 8:2, 16). When humanity reverses these roles, it demonstrates a deep misunderstanding of divine sovereignty and their place in the covenant.
• The only exception to this prohibition in the entire Bible is Malachi 3:10, where God explicitly invites His people to "test Me in this," specifically regarding bringing their tithes. This exception highlights God's sovereignty; He determines when and how He can be tested, always for His glory and for His people's good, confirming His covenant faithfulness.
• This verse contributes to the broader theme of proper fear of the Lord (Deut 6:13), which is not terror, but profound respect, awe, and obedience rooted in an understanding of His nature and power, precluding any thought of challenging or testing Him.

Deuteronomy 6 16 Commentary

Deuteronomy 6:16 is a fundamental injunction guarding the nature of God's relationship with His people. It is not merely a rule but a principle deeply rooted in reverence for God's holy character. The "testing" forbidden here is not honest doubt or prayerful wrestling with God, but a demanding challenge to His faithfulness, presence, or power, stemming from unbelief, impatience, or presumption. The reference to Massah clarifies this: there, Israel, despite miraculous deliverance from Egypt and provision of manna, grumbled vehemently and doubted if God was truly with them when faced with a new challenge—lack of water. They pushed God to "prove" Himself.

This command protects God's supreme authority and asserts that He is not obligated to satisfy human curiosity or disbelief through spectacular demonstrations. His past faithfulness is ample evidence. It encourages unwavering faith and a heart of trust, rather than a demanding, entitled, or skeptical spirit. As seen in the New Testament, Jesus Himself, when tempted by Satan to presumptuously demand angelic protection by jumping from the temple, directly quoted this verse (Matt 4:7; Lk 4:12), showing that even the Son of God lived by this principle of humble trust rather than tempting the Father. For believers today, this means not deliberately placing oneself in dangerous situations expecting God to supernaturally intervene, not demanding immediate answers to prayer as a condition for continued faith, and not questioning God's character when circumstances are difficult, remembering His past faithfulness. It emphasizes resting in God's sovereignty and wisdom.