Isaiah 7:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven."

NIV: "Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights."

NASB: Ask for a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.'

CSB: "Ask for a sign from the Lord your God—it can be as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven."

NLT: Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want — as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead. '

KJV: Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.

NKJV: “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.”

The Lord has told Ahaz, through Isaiah, not to be afraid. Two kings are coming with intent to lay siege to Jerusalem and remove Ahaz from the throne. God has described them as smoldering sticks about to go out (Isaiah 7:4). The Lord wants Ahaz to trust Him and not to put his hope in another solution (Isaiah 7:9).

Now Isaiah offers Ahaz the opportunity to see that this message is truly from the Lord God. He tells Ahaz to ask the Lord for a sign. The language here regarding "as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven" means the Lord is offering to do something miraculous. He is offering evidence that He can be fully trusted to take care of Ahaz and do all He has said He would do.

In Scripture, asking for a sign from the Lord to verify trust is almost always cast as a lack of faith. When Zechariah is told by the angel Gabriel he will have a son, he hints at wanting confirmation. Gabriel appears angry, but provides the sign in the form of making Zechariah mute (Luke 1:18–20). On the other hand, the Lord patiently provides Gideon with several miraculous signs to bolster his faith about incredible promises from the Lord (Judges 6:36–40).

God's offer to Ahaz is startlingly gracious. He tells Ahaz that the sky is the limit. He can ask for any supernatural act to show that God is with him and His power is real and effective. Ahaz will turn down this offer from the Lord (Isaiah 7:12).

Isaiah 7:10–25 describes the Lord's response, through Isaiah, to King Ahaz's refusal to obey the Lord. He was told to ask for a sign to confirm the prophecy that Israel and Syria would fail to conquer Judah. Isaiah prophecies that a virgin will conceive and name her child Immanuel. Before the child is old enough to reject evil, Israel and Syria will be wiped out. Then the Lord will use the king of Assyria to harshly judge Judah, humiliate His own people, and empty the land of Judah's citizens.

Isaiah 7 begins with the threat of invasion from two of Judah's enemies: Israel and Syria. Judah's King Ahaz and his people are terrified. Speaking for the Lord, Isaiah tells Ahaz to not be afraid because it will not happen. Israel and Syria will soon be gone. Ahaz, though, refuses the Lord's command to ask for a sign. In response, Isaiah tells Ahaz that after Syria and Israel are destroyed, the Lord will use the king of Assyria to bring judgment on Judah through invading armies, emptying the land until little remains.

Isaiah 7 follows the description of Isaiah's commission as a prophet in Isaiah 6. Now the Lord tells him to go and speak to Judah's king Ahaz, who is terrified about an impending invasion from Syria and Israel. Isaiah promises this invasion will not happen. Instead, both nations will soon be destroyed. Ahaz refuses the Lord's command to ask for a sign to confirm His words. Isaiah tells Ahaz that after Israel and Syria are wiped out, the Lord will use the king of Assyria to bring harsh judgment against Judah in the form of relentless invading armies.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).