What Does Deuteronomy 6:16 Mean in the King James?

Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

Deuteronomy 6:16 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Massah is what happens when “Is the LORD among us?” becomes a test the LORD is required to pass.

THE MEANING

This verse speaks when the question of God’s nearness becomes a demand for proof. Massah names that demand as testing the LORD, and the name carries the same root as the act. The question beneath it is immediate: “Is the LORD among us, or not?”

WHAT THIS UNDOES

God is present only when he proves himself on demand.

THE ROOT

תְּנַסּוּ

tenassu

GROWS FROM

נ־ס־ה

n-s-h

To test, try, or put to the proof.

The word translated “tempt” is ⁨תְּנַסּוּ⁩ (tenassu), from ⁨נ־ס־ה⁩ (n-s-h), “to test or put to the proof.” Massah (⁨מַסָּה⁩) is formed from the same root, joining the testing action to the name that carries it. Hebrew makes the place-name itself a compressed expression of the command.

ALSO GROWS

Massah: Testing or proving; the name of the place.

מַסָּה

The place-name grows from the same testing root as “tempt,” joining the act to the name that carries it.

nissah: Tested or tried; the verb used in Genesis 22:1 when God tests Abraham.

נִסָּה

This branch shows that the root names the act of testing; who tests whom and why comes from the sentence’s context.

THE PATTERN

When God’s nearness is made conditional on a proof demanded of him, the demand becomes a test of the LORD.

And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

Exodus 17:7 · KJVThe verse states the question beneath the test and gives the place the name Massah.

When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.

Psalm 95:9 · KJVThe psalm places tempting and proving side by side, echoing the testing named in Deuteronomy.

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Matthew 4:7 · KJVJesus repeats Deuteronomy’s words when the LORD is challenged to prove himself.

THE THREAD

And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

Exodus 17:7 · KJV

Exodus 17:7 names the act with ⁨נַסֹּתָם⁩ (nassotam, “their testing”) and the place ⁨מַסָּה⁩ (Massah, “testing”). The shared root places the question “Is the LORD among us, or not?” inside Deuteronomy’s command.

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