Devarim 6:16

16 Ye shall not test Hashem Eloheichem, as ye tested Him in Massah.

Devarim 6:16 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 6:16

Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God
By striving with him or against him, by murmuring at or complaining of his providential dealings with them, or by requiring a sign of him, or miracles to be done by him; this is another passage used by Christ to repel the temptations of Satan, ( Matthew 4:7 ) ,

as tempted him in Massah;
a place so called from the Israelites tempting the Lord there, ( Exodus 17:7 ) , the Targum of Jonathan adds, with ten temptations; see ( Numbers 14:21 ) .

Devarim 6:16 In-Context

14 Ye shall not go after elohim acherim, of elohei ha’amim (the g-ds of the peoples) which are round about you;

15 (For Hashem Eloheicha is an El Kannah among you) lest the anger of Hashem Eloheicha be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of ha’adamah.

16 Ye shall not test Hashem Eloheichem, as ye tested Him in Massah.

17 Ye diligently shall be shomer mitzvot over the mitzvot Hashem Eloheichem and His edut, and His chukkim, which He hath commanded thee.

18 And thou shalt do that which is yashar (right, straight) and hatov in the eyes of Hashem; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess ha’aretz hatovah which Hashem swore unto Avotecha.