Isaiah 7:11

11 "Ask a 1sign for yourself from the LORD your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven."

Isaiah 7:11 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 7:11

Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God
For though Ahaz was a wicked man, yet the Lord was his God, as he was the God of the people of Israel in general, as a nation; and knowing his unbelief and diffidence of his word unto him, offers to confirm it by a sign or miracle: ask it either in the depth, or in the height above,
in earth, or in heaven: so the Targum,

``ask that a miracle may be done for thee upon earth, or that a sign may be shown thee in heaven;''
either that the earth might gape and open its mouth, as in the days of Moses; or that the sun might stand still, as in the times of Joshua; or that a dead man might be raised out of the depth of the earth; or that there might be some strange appearances in the heavens.

Isaiah 7:11 In-Context

9 and the head of Ephraim is Samaria and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you will not believe, you surely shall not last.""'
10 Then the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying,
11 "Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven."
12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD !"
13 Then he said, "Listen now, O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well?

Cross References 1

  • 1. 2 Kings 19:29; Isaiah 37:30; Isaiah 38:7, 8; Isaiah 55:13

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. So with the versions; M.T. "make the request deep or high"
  • [b]. Lit "heights"
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