Isaiah 7:11 kjv
Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.
Isaiah 7:11 nkjv
"Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above."
Isaiah 7:11 niv
"Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights."
Isaiah 7:11 esv
"Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven."
Isaiah 7:11 nlt
"Ask the LORD your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want ? as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead. "
Isaiah 7 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 7:11 | "Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God;" | Gen 28:16 (Jacob recognizing God's presence) |
| Isa 7:11 | "let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." | Deut 4:39 (God is in heaven above and on earth below) |
| Isa 8:18 | "Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and wonders in Israel" | 1 Cor 1:24 (Christ the power and wisdom of God) |
| Isa 30:27 | "Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar," | Ex 3:14 (God identifies Himself as "I AM WHO I AM") |
| Isa 30:28 | "burning with His anger," | Heb 12:29 (Our God is a consuming fire) |
| Isa 33:21 | "but the Lord will be a river of life to us," | John 7:38 (Rivers of living water flowing from believer) |
| Isa 40:22 | "It is he who sits above the circle of the earth," | Ps 24:1 (The earth is the Lord’s) |
| Isa 40:26 | "Lift up your eyes and see" | Gen 15:5 (Abraham asked to look toward the heavens) |
| Isa 41:10 | "fear not, for I am with you;" | Josh 1:9 (Be strong and courageous, for the Lord is with you) |
| Isa 43:2 | "when you pass through the waters, I will be with you;" | Ps 23:4 (Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil) |
| Jer 32:17 | "Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth" | Rev 4:11 (You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power) |
| Jer 32:27 | "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh." | Col 1:17 (In him all things hold together) |
| Jer 51:62 | " and tell him, 'O Babylon, you who are to be destroyed, why has your clamor been heard in the earth?'" | Rev 18:10 (Woe to you, Babylon! For in one hour your judgment has come) |
| John 1:1 | "In the beginning was the Word," | John 1:14 (The Word became flesh and dwelt among us) |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son," | Rom 5:8 (God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us) |
| 1 Cor 1:24 | "but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." | Matt 1:23 (They will call him Immanuel, which means God with us) |
| Heb 1:3 | "who, being the radiance of his glory and the express image of his person," | John 14:9 (Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father) |
| Rev 19:11 | "Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse!" | Rev 6:2 (And behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow) |
| Ps 77:13 | "Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?" | Deut 6:4 (Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one) |
| Ps 86:8 | "There is none like you among the gods, O Lord," | Ex 15:11 (Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?) |
| Ps 139:7-8 | "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there!" | Ps 139:1-6 (You have searched me and known me) |
| Amos 4:13 | "For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind," | Ps 104:1 (Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great) |
Isaiah 7 verses
Isaiah 7 11 Meaning
This verse is a divine invitation and challenge. God commands Isaiah to ask for a sign, not as a test of faith, but as a confirmation of His promise that the current threats against Judah will fail. The sign is to be chosen by Isaiah, either from the depths or from the heights, indicating God’s omnipotence.
Isaiah 7 11 Context
The eighth-century BC Syro-Ephraimite war is the backdrop. Kings Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel were pressuring Judah's King Ahaz to join their anti-Assyrian alliance. Ahaz was terrified and considering a political and military pact with Assyria. In this precarious situation, God sends Isaiah to reassure Ahaz and Judah. Isaiah’s mission is to convey God’s unwavering commitment and to reveal the ultimate futility of their enemies' plans. Isaiah is instructed to meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Fuller’s Field. This was a strategic location, possibly a place where Ahaz was inspecting defenses.
Isaiah 7 11 Word Analysis
- "Ask": (Hebrew: שְׁאַל, she'al) A command to request. God is not commanding him to demand something for selfish reasons, but to ask for confirmation of divine reassurance.
- "a sign": (Hebrew: אוֹת, 'ot) A miraculous token or proof. God is offering concrete evidence of His word.
- "for yourself": (Hebrew: לְךָ, l'kha) Directed to Ahaz personally. The sign is intended for his specific confirmation.
- "from the Lord your God": (Hebrew: מֵאֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, me'et YHWH 'eloheykha) Emphasizes the source of the sign and the personal relationship Ahaz had with God, despite his later unfaithfulness.
- "let it be": (Hebrew: יְהִי, y'hi) A simple copula, signifying existence or state.
- "deep as Sheol": (Hebrew: עָמֹק שְׁאוֹל, 'amoq she'ol) Referring to the depths of the grave, the netherworld. It signifies the lowest point, the uttermost depth.
- "or high as heaven": (Hebrew: גַּב הַשָּׁמָיִם, gav hashamayim) Referring to the highest point, the immensity of the sky. It signifies the utmost height.
- Group Analysis: The contrast between "deep as Sheol" and "high as heaven" underscores the limitless power of the Lord. Whatever sign Ahaz chooses, it will demonstrate God's sovereignty over all realms, life and death, the underworld and the heavens. God is the ultimate power, able to act from any extreme to fulfill His word.
Isaiah 7 11 Bonus Section
The concept of a sign in Isaiah is often prophetic, pointing to future fulfillment. While Ahaz is invited to ask for a sign, his ultimate choice to not ask reveals a profound spiritual blindness and unwillingness to receive divine guidance. This foreshadows later instances in Scripture where those who are offered clear signs of God’s power and presence still refuse to believe (e.g., John 12:37). The specific Hebrew words chosen emphasize the exhaustive reach of God’s authority, signifying that no corner of existence is beyond His control to enact His purposes. This verse functions as a pivotal moment, showcasing the human response of faith or disbelief to God's initiative.
Isaiah 7 11 Commentary
This verse presents a stark choice: a sign from the uttermost depths or the utmost heights. God is offering proof to Ahaz that His promises are secure and his enemies’ threats will fail. The magnitude of the sign's potential scope reflects God's absolute power, which transcends all limitations. Ahaz’s response, detailed in the next verse, reveals his unwillingness to trust God and his reliance on human power, choosing not to ask. The offer of a sign is not an invitation to test God, but an assurance of His faithfulness in a moment of crisis.