Deuteronomy 6:16

The Greatest Commandment · Deuteronomy 6:1–19
Read Deuteronomy 6

Translations

Modern
Do not test the LORD your God as you tested Him at Massah.
Traditional
Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
Literal
You shall not test YHWH your God, as you tested Him in Massah.
Latin
Non tentabis Dominum Deum tuum, sicut tentasti in loco tentationis.

Original

Hebrew
English
Do not test the LORD your God as you tested Him at Massah.

Notes

When Israel traveled through the Sinai desert after the exodus, they reached Rephidim. There was no water here (Exodus 17:1–7). Moses saw the people's demand for water as testing the Lord, so he called the place Massah, which means "testing."

Jesus later quoted this verse when Satan tempted him (Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12).

Moses here explains how the stipulations in the following sections should be applied and handed on to future generations.

Theme notes and profiles

Ancient Law Codes Children and Parents

Parallels

Matthew 22:34–40 Mark 12:28–34

Places

Massah: A place where the Israelites tested God

Glossary

Archaeology and the Bible Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (Old Testament) Bible, Quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of Massah and Meribah Teacher

Topics

Blessing: Temporal, from God God: Providence of Obedience: Enjoined Presumption: General Scriptures Concerning Quotations and Allusions in the New Testament From, and To, the Old Testament