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    Rebuke Before the Sign

    Isaiah 7:13 Commentary

    In-depth meaning, historical context, and practical application

    Written by Bible Sundays Editorial TeamChecked by Bible Sundays Scripture DeskLast reviewed August 1, 2026Our editorial standards
    "And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?"
    — Isaiah 7:13 (KJV)
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    Introduction

    Before God gives the great Immanuel sign in v. 14, Isaiah rebukes Ahaz for refusing to ask for one (v. 12). Ahaz's pseudo-piety masks unbelief, and God will not let it pass. The sign that follows is given despite — not because of — Ahaz's response.

    Historical Context

    Ahaz was facing the Syro-Ephraimite invasion. God offered any sign Ahaz could imagine; Ahaz declined under the guise of not tempting the LORD. In reality, he had already decided to trust Assyria, not God.

    Original Language Insights

    'Weary' (la'ah) — to exhaust by repeated provocation. Ahaz's unbelief is not a private failing but a corporate wearying — of prophets, and now of the LORD Himself.

    Theological Significance

    False humility can grieve God more than honest doubt. Refusing to ask is sometimes the most stubborn form of unbelief.

    Practical Application

    When God invites you to ask, ask. Pretending you don't need to is not piety; it is the kind of unbelief that wearies Him.

    Cross-References & Related Scriptures

    Isaiah 7:14

    "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive..."

    The Immanuel sign given despite Ahaz's refusal in v. 13.

    Isaiah 7:11-12

    "Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God... But Ahaz said, I will not ask."

    The exchange that prompts v. 13's rebuke.

    Prayer Response

    Lord, do not let me hide unbelief under false humility. Teach me to ask, and to receive what You give. Amen.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why does God still give the sign?

    Because the sign was never about Ahaz's faith — it was about God's covenant with the 'house of David.' The Messiah will come whether kings cooperate or not.

    Read commentary on surrounding verses

    Continue studying Isaiah 7 verse by verse:

    After · Isaiah 7:14Exact verse

    Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

    Theme: Prophecy & Fulfillment

    After · Isaiah 7:15Exact verse

    Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

    Theme: The Messiah's True Humanity

    Nearest commentary in Isaiah

    Earlier · 1 ch back · Isaiah 6:3Nearest chapter

    And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

    Theme: God's Holiness

    Earlier · 1 ch back · Isaiah 6:7Nearest chapter

    And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

    Theme: Lips Cleansed by the Altar Coal

    Earlier · 1 ch back · Isaiah 6:8Nearest chapter

    Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

    Theme: Calling & Mission

    Earlier · 1 ch back · Isaiah 6:9Nearest chapter

    And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

    Theme: A Hard Commission to a Hard People

    Read Isaiah 6Commentary: Isaiah 6:9
    Read Isaiah 7 (full)Nearest commentary: Isaiah 7:14
    Read Isaiah 8No commentary yet
    Previous commentary: Isaiah 6:9Next commentary: Isaiah 7:14

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    Related Bible Questions

    Common questions people ask about this passage — answered with KJV scripture.

    Who Was King David?

    David was the shepherd boy who became Israel's greatest king, known as 'a man after God's own heart' and an ancestor of Jesus Christ.

    Read answer

    Who was Ruth in the Bible?

    Ruth was a Moabite woman who showed extraordinary loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi, converted to the God of Israel, and became an ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ.

    Read answer

    Who was King Solomon?

    Solomon was David's son who became Israel's wisest and wealthiest king, built the first Temple in Jerusalem, but ultimately turned from God due to his many foreign wives.

    Read answer

    What is justification by faith?

    Justification by faith is the doctrine that sinners are declared righteous before God not by works but through faith in Jesus Christ, a cornerstone of Protestant theology.

    Read answer

    Who Was Isaiah?

    Isaiah was one of the greatest Old Testament prophets, known for his majestic visions of God and remarkably detailed prophecies about the coming Messiah.

    Read answer

    What Is the Great White Throne Judgment?

    It is the final judgment described in Revelation 20 where the dead stand before God and are judged according to their works, with those not in the Book of Life cast into the lake of fire.

    Read answer

    Quick Devotional

    For a shorter devotional reflection on related verses:

    Isaiah 40:31 – Meaning & Devotional

    "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

    Isaiah 53:5 – Meaning & Devotional

    "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

    Isaiah 26:3 – Meaning & Devotional

    "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

    Related Miracles

    Signs and wonders connected to this passage and its themes:

    Signs & Wonders
    Old Testament

    The Shadow on Hezekiah's Sundial Goes Backward

    The Lord moves the shadow back ten degrees on Ahaz's sundial as a sign of Hezekiah's healing.

    Read the miracle
    Healing
    Old Testament

    Hezekiah Healed of His Sickness

    God adds fifteen years to King Hezekiah's life after he prays in tears for healing.

    Read the miracle
    Deliverance & Judgment
    Old Testament

    The Assyrian Army Destroyed by an Angel

    The angel of the Lord smites 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night, delivering Jerusalem.

    Read the miracle
    Deliverance & Judgment
    Old Testament

    The Ten Plagues of Egypt

    Ten devastating signs by which God broke Pharaoh's pride and freed His people.

    Read the miracle

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