Isaiah 7:10-14
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The verse emphasizes God's persistent pursuit of Ahaz, not just once, but "again," highlighting God's patience and desire to reach even a king who had demonstrated deep distrust. This repeated offer reveals God’s commitment to making His promises accessible, willing to provide further proof when faith falters.
Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz: “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having just received a message of reassurance mixed with a stern warning about his unbelief, King Ahaz is now given another opportunity. The LORD, through Isaiah, offers him a sign—a supernatural token—to confirm His promises and encourage faith in the face of impending invasion. Ahaz, however, defiantly rejects this offer, unwilling to trust God or acknowledge his own spiritual bankruptcy.
Ahaz is facing an existential threat, and the prophet Isaiah delivers a message from God. But Ahaz's heart is hardened. What happens when God's voice is ignored?
The verse begins with "Moreover the LORD spoke again unto Ahaz." This simple phrase is incredibly powerful. It tells us that God is not a one-time communicator. Even after delivering a message through Isaiah (likely found in verses 4-9), and even after that message may have been met with silence or disbelief by Ahaz, God doesn't give up.
God's Initiative
This persistent speaking highlights the seriousness of Ahaz's situation and God's deep desire for him to turn from his fearful, idolatrous path.
Imagine the immense pressure Ahaz was under. Two enemy kings were at his gates. Yet, God's response wasn't just about military strategy, but about trust. How did Ahaz's fear shape his response to God's offer?
The context leading up to this verse shows Ahaz in a state of great fear due to the impending invasion by Syria and Israel. God, through Isaiah, offers a sign – a tangible confirmation of His promise of deliverance. However, Ahaz's response, detailed in the following verses, is a refusal.
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Fear's Deceptive Shield
This is a classic case of spiritual blindness, where fear masquerades as wisdom, leading to a rejection of God's grace and a path of destruction.
Understand the original words
'owth · Hebrew Noun
A manifestation, miracle, or prophetic event intended to authenticate a divine message, confirm a promise, or serve as a visible token of God's authority and intervention in human history.
she'owl · Hebrew Noun
The abode of the dead, the underworld, or the place of the departed; it represents the deepest depths of the created order, often used in contrast to the heights of heaven to denote the totality of existence.
nacah · Hebrew Verb
To put to the test, to prove, or to tempt; in a negative sense, it refers to challenging God's faithfulness or power, thereby demanding that He prove Himself rather than trusting His revealed word.
bayith David · Hebrew Noun phrase
The royal lineage established by God through King David, to whom the eternal kingship of Israel and the future Messianic promise were entrusted.
la'ah · Hebrew Verb
To cause distress, burden, or frustration; in a theological sense, it refers to human rebellion or stubbornness that grieves the heart of God.
almah · Hebrew Noun
A young woman of marriageable age, often interpreted as one who is chaste or unmarried; in the context of this prophecy, it signifies a miraculous, supernatural conception.
Immanuel · Hebrew Proper Noun
A compound name meaning "God with us," signifying the divine presence and intervention among His people, ultimately fulfilled in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
This prophecy unfolds during a terrifying invasion by Syria and Israel, with King Ahaz's fearful and unfaithful response to God's offered sign. The promise of Immanuel is given not just as a sign of immediate deliverance from the current threat, but as a profound assurance of God's ultimate redemptive plan, reaching far beyond the immediate political crisis.
Late 8th century BC
Syrian-Ephraimite War begins
Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel form an alliance and invade Judah, seeking to depose King Ahaz and install their own candidate.
During the Syrian-Ephraimite War— this verse
Isaiah's Prophecy and the Sign of Immanuel
The LORD speaks through Isaiah to King Ahaz, offering a sign of deliverance. Ahaz, despite the terrifying invasion, refuses to ask for a sign, leading God to give a sign of His own choosing: the birth of Immanuel.
c. 732 BC
Fall of Damascus
Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria conquers Damascus, the capital of Syria, ending Rezin's reign and thus ending the immediate threat from Syria.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
Sargon II of Assyria conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and deports its population, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy of its destruction.
This foundational promise of a Seed who would crush the serpent's head is the ultimate sign of God's continued faithfulness to humanity, echoing the specific sign God offers Ahaz. It underscores that God's plan for salvation, centered on a divine deliverer, persists despite human rebellion.
Matthew 1:22-23This passage directly quotes Isaiah's prophecy about 'Immanuel,' fulfilling it in the birth of Jesus Christ. It highlights the ongoing significance of God's promise of a savior, transcending immediate political crises to reveal a cosmic plan.
John 3:16Jesus's birth as 'Immanuel' (God with us) is the ultimate expression of God's love, mirroring the offer of a sign in Isaiah to reveal God's presence and intention for His people. Both passages emphasize God's desire to be intimately involved in humanity's salvation, even when rejected.
Romans 8:28This verse speaks to God's sovereign hand working all things for good for those who love Him, a truth powerfully illustrated in Isaiah 7. Even amidst Ahaz's unbelief and impending judgment, God's ultimate purposes, including the coming of Immanuel, would be accomplished.
pooleIsaiah 7:10: "Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying,"
No text from Poole on this verse.
henryIsaiah 7:10-16: "Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying,"
7:10-16 Secret disaffection to God is often disguised with the colour of respect to him; and those who are resolved that they will not trust God, yet pretend they will not tempt him. The prophet reproved Ahaz and his court, for the little value they had for Divine revelation. Nothing is more grievous to God than distrust, but the unbelief of man shall not make the promise of God of no effect; the Lord himself shall give a sign.…
The verse emphasizes God's persistent pursuit of Ahaz, not just once, but "again," highlighting God's patience and desire to reach even a king who had demonstrated deep distrust. This repeated offer reveals God’s commitment to making His promises accessible, willing to provide further proof when faith falters.
Having just received a message of reassurance mixed with a stern warning about his unbelief, King Ahaz is now given another opportunity. The LORD, through Isaiah, offers him a sign—a supernatural token—to confirm His promises and encourage faith in the face of impending invasion. Ahaz, however, defiantly rejects this offer, unwilling to trust God or acknowledge his own spiritual bankruptcy.
Having just received a message of reassurance mixed with a stern warning about his unbelief, King Ahaz is now given another opportunity. The LORD, through Isaiah, offers him a sign—a supernatural token—to confirm His promises and encourage faith in the face of impending invasion. Ahaz, however, defiantly rejects this offer, unwilling to trust God or acknowledge his own spiritual bankruptcy.
"Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz: “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too litt…" — The verse emphasizes God's persistent pursuit of Ahaz, not just once, but "again," highlighting God's patience and desire to reach even a king who had demonstrated deep distrust. This repeated offer…
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Last reviewed October 2026
