H5254 H5254
To test, prove, or try; whether God testing humans, humans testing God, or attempting something daring
A Piel-intensive verb whose force depends entirely on who is testing whom. When God tests Abraham (Gen 22:1), the purpose is to prove and refine faith; when Israel tests God at Massah (Exod 17:2; Ps 78:18), the act is rebellious provocation. A third, rarer use means simply 'to attempt' -- as when Deuteronomy 4:34 asks whether any god has 'attempted' to take a nation from within another nation. Spanish keeps the senses distinct: 'probar' (prove), 'tentar' (tempt), and 'intentar' (attempt), while French 'eprouver' covers the first two but loses the third. The Syriac and Ethiopic cognates confirm the root's ancient association with trial and temptation.
Senses
1. put to the test, prove — God (or a legitimate authority) testing human beings to examine their faith, character, or obedience. Genesis 22:1 -- 'God tested Abraham' -- anchors this sense theologically. Exodus 15:25, 16:4, and 20:20 establish the pattern of wilderness testing. Deuteronomy 8:2, 16 and 13:3 present testing as pedagogical: God proves Israel to know what is in their heart. Spanish 'probo/probaste' (proved, tested) and German 'tested' reflect the evaluative, often benevolent purpose. 24×
AR["أَجَرِّبَكَ","أَمْتَحِنَهُ","أُجَرِّبُ","اخْتَبَرْتُهُ","امْتَحَنَ","امْتَحَنَهُ","امْتِحانٍ","اِمْتَحِنْ-","تَجْرِبَتِهِمُ","جَرَّبْتَهُ","لِ-امْتِحانِ","لِتَمتَحِنَ","لِيَمْتَحِنَهُ","لِيُجَرِّبَكَ","وَ-امْتَحَنَهُمْ","يَمْتَحِنَكُمْ","يُجَرِّبَكَ","يُمْتَحِنُ"]·ben["আমি-তাদের-পরীক্ষা-করি","আমি-পরীক্ষা-করব","এবং-পরীক্ষা-করলেন-তাদের","তাদের-পরীক্ষার","তিনি-তাকে-পরীক্ষা-করলেন","তোমাকে-পরীক্ষা-করেন","পরীক্ষা-করছেন","পরীক্ষা-করতে","পরীক্ষা-করতে-তাঁকে","পরীক্ষা-করব","পরীক্ষা-করব-তোমাকে","পরীক্ষা-করলাম","পরীক্ষা-করলেন","পরীক্ষা-করা","পরীক্ষা-করুন-","পরীক্ষা-করেছিলেন-তুমি"]·DE["Er-tested-ihn","[אנסה]","[אנסכה]","[וינסם]","[לנסות]","[לנסותו]","[נס]","[נסיתי]","du-tested-ihn","er-koennte-test-du","ich-moege-test-ihnen","ihr-testing","lass-mich-test","prüfte","test","testing","zu-test","zu-test-du"]·EN["He-tested-him","I-may-test-them","I-tested","I-will-test","and-he-tested-them","he-might-test-you","let-me-test","let-me-test-you","test","test-","tested","testing","their-testing","to-test","to-test-him","to-test-you","you-tested-him"]·FR["Il-éprouva-lui","Je-puisse-éprouver-eux","[אנסה]","[לנסות]","[לנסותו]","et-éprouver","il-puissance-éprouver-tu","leur-testing","que-moi-éprouver","testing","tu-éprouva-lui","à-éprouver","à-éprouver-tu","éprouva","éprouver","éprouver-toi"]·heb["אנסה","אנסה-ך","אנסנו","ו-ינסם","ל-נסות","ל-נסותו-ו","ל-נסותך","מנסה","ניסהו","ניסיתו","ניסיתי","נסה","נסות","נסותך","נסותם"]·HI["और-परखा-उन्हें","परख","परखने-उनके","परखने-को","परखूँगा","परखूं-उन्हें-मैं","परीक्षा-कर-रहा-है","परीक्षा-करने-उसे","परीक्षा-करने-को","परीक्षा-करे-तुझे","परीक्षा-किया-तूने","परीक्षा-की-उसकी","परीक्षा-ली","मैं-परखूँगा-तुझे","मैं-परीक्षा-करूंगा","मैंने-परखा"]·ID["Aku-menguji-mereka","Engkau-uji","aku-akan-mencobai","aku-akan-mengujimu","aku-menguji","biarlah-aku-menguji","dan-menguji-mereka","mencobai-mu","menguji","menguji-Nya","percobaan-mereka","ujilah","untuk-mencobai-mu","untuk-menguji","untuk-mengujinya"]·IT["Egli-tested-lui","Io-tested","[אנסה]","[וינסם]","[לנסות]","[לנסותו]","[נס]","a-test","a-test-tu","egli-potrebbe-test-tu","io-may-test-loro","lasciare-me-test","let-me-test-voi-tuo","loro-testing","test","tested","testing","tu-tested-lui"]·jav["Kawula-nyobi","Nyobi-","Panjenengan-nguji-piyambakipun","Panjenenganipun-nyobi","kanggé-nguji","kanggé-nyobi","kanggé-nyobi-piyambakipun","kawula-badhé-nyoba","kula-cobi","kula-nyobi","kula-nyobi-panjenengan","lan-nyobi-piyambakipun","nguji","nyoba-panjenengan","nyobi","nyobi-piyambakipun-sedaya","supados-nyoba-panjenengan"]·KO["그들이-시험함","그를-시험하셨다","그리고-시험했다-그들을","내가-그를-시험하려니","시험하게-해주소서-내가","시험하겠다","시험하기-를","시험하도록","시험하려고","시험하리라","시험하셨다","시험하시기-위해-너를","시험하시는도다","시험해-","시험했다","을-시험하려고-그를"]·PT["e-provou-os","eu-o-teste,","o-testou.","para-provar","para-testá-lo","prova","provando","provar","provar-te","provarei","provaste","provei","te-provarei","tentarei","testarem","testou"]·RU["Испытаю-я","буду-испытывать","и-испытал-их","искушения-их","испытай-","испытал","испытал-Ты","испытал-Я-его","испытал-его","испытать","испытать-его","испытать-тебя","испытаю-тебя","испытывает","испытывал-я","чтобы-испытать","чтобы-испытать-тебя"]·ES["Prueba","lo-probaste","lo-probó","lo-pruebe","para-probar","para-probarlo","para-probarte","probando","probar","probarte","probaré","probé","probó","te-probaré","tentar-de-ellos","y-los-probó"]·SW["Tujaribu-","alimjaribu","anawajaribu","kukujaribu-wewe","kumjaribu","kumjaribu-kwao","kuwajaribu","lnasּwotwo","na-akawajaribu","nijaribu","nimeyajaribu","nitakujaribu","niwajaribu","sitamjaribu","ulimjaribu"]·TR["dene-","denedi-onu","denedim","denemek-için","denemek-için-onu","denemek-için-seni","denemelerinin","deneyecegim-seni","deneyeceğim-onu","dolusu","sınadı","sınadın-onu","sınamak","sınamak-için","sınıyor","test-edecegim","ve-denedi-onları"]·urd["آزما","آزما-رہا-ہے","آزماؤں","آزماؤں-گا","آزماؤں-گا-میں","آزمانے","آزمانے-کو","آزمانے-کو-اُسے","آزمایا","آزمایا-اسے","آزمایا-میں-نے","اور-آزمایا-انہیں","اُن-کے-آزمانے","تمہیں-آزمائے","تو-نے-آزمایا","میں-آزماؤں-اُسے"]
2. test, tempt, challenge — Humans testing God rebelliously, demanding proof of His power or presence. Exodus 17:2 at Massah is the defining passage: 'Why do you test the LORD?' Numbers 14:22 indicts Israel for testing God ten times. Deuteronomy 6:16 codifies the prohibition: 'You shall not put the LORD your God to the test.' Psalm 78:18, 41, 56 and 95:9 recall these provocations. Spanish 'tentar/tentaron' and French 'eprouver' carry the connotation of impertinent challenge rather than legitimate inquiry. 9×
AR["تُجَرِّبُونَ","جَرَّبَنِي","جَرَّبْتُمْ","وَ-جَرَّبوا-","وَ-جَرَّبُونِي","وَجَرَّبُوا","وَجَرَّبُوا-"]·ben["আমাকে-পরীক্ষা-করেছিল","এবং-তারা-পরীক্ষা-করল","এবং-তারা-পরীক্ষা-করেছিল","এবং-তারা-পরীক্ষা-করেছিল-","এবং-পরীক্ষা-করেছে","তোমরা-পরীক্ষা-করবে","তোমরা-পরীক্ষা-করেছিলে","পরীক্ষা-কর"]·DE["du-soll-test","du-test","du-tested","geprüft-mich","und-geprüft","und-sie-geprüft","und-tested"]·EN["and-tested","and-they-tested","tested-me","you-shall-test","you-test","you-tested"]·FR["et-éprouva","et-éprouver","tu-devra-éprouver","tu-éprouva","tu-éprouver","éprouver"]·heb["ו-ינסו","ו-ינסו-","ניסוני","ניסיתם","תנסו","תנסון"]·HI["और-उन्होंने-परखा","और-उन्होंने-परीक्षा-की-","और-परखा","और-परखा-","और-परीक्षा-की-उन्होंने","परखते-हो","परखे-मुझे","परीक्षा-करोगे","परीक्षा-की-तुमने"]·ID["Dan-mereka-mencobai-","Tetapi-mereka-mencobai","dan-mencobai","dan-mereka-mencobai","kamu-mencobai","mencobai-Ku"]·IT["e-provo'","e-tested","provo'","tu-dovra-test","tu-test","tu-tested"]·jav["Saha-tiyang-tiyang-nyobi","Saha-tiyang-tiyang-nyobi-","lan-nyobi","nyobi-Kula","panjenengan-nyoba","panjenengan-sedaya-nyobi","saha-tiyang-tiyang-nyobi"]·KO["그리고-시험하였나이다","그리고-시험한","나-를-시험하였도다","너희가-시험하느냐","시험하라","시험하였나이다","시험하였다"]·PT["E-tentaram","Mas-tentaram","e-tentaram","me-tentaram","tentais","tentareis","tentastes"]·RU["и-искушали","и-искушали-","и-испытывали","искушаете","искушали-Меня","испытывайте","испытывали-вы"]·ES["Y-tentaron","Y-tentaron-","lo-tentasteis","me-tentaron","tentaréis","tentáis","y-me-tentaron","y-tentaron"]·SW["Lakini-wakamjaribu","Na-wakamjaribu","mlivyomjaribu","mnamjaribu","msimjaribu","na-wakamjaribu","na-wakanijaribu","walinijaribu"]·TR["denediler-beni","denediniz","deneyeceksiniz","deniyorsunuz","ve-denediler","ve-sınadılar","ve-sınadılar-"]·urd["آزماؤ","آزمایا-مجھے","اور-آزمایا","اور-آزمایا-اُنہوں-نے","اور-وہ-آزمانے-لگے","تم-آزماتے-ہو","تم-نے-آزمایا"]
3. attempt, venture, try — To attempt, venture, or dare to do something unprecedented or difficult. Deuteronomy 4:34 asks rhetorically whether any god has 'ventured' to take a nation out of another. Deuteronomy 28:56 describes the pampered woman who has never 'ventured' to set foot on the ground. Job 4:2 asks, 'If one ventures a word with you, will you be weary?' Spanish 'intentar' (attempt) and French 'essaya' (tried) mark the shift from theological testing to human daring. 3×
AR["جَرَّبَتْ","هَلْ-حَاوَلَ","هَلْ-نُجَرِّبُ"]·ben["চেষ্টা-করেছেন-কি","যদি-চেষ্টা-করা-হয়","সে-পরীক্ষা-করেছে"]·DE["[הנסה]","hat-tried","ventured"]·EN["has-tried","if-one-ventures","ventured"]·FR["a-essaya","ventured","éprouver"]·heb["ה-ניסה","ניסתה"]·HI["क्या-प्रयास-किया-गया","प्रयत्न-किया-है","प्रयास-की-है"]·ID["Apakah-dicoba","pernah-mencoba","pernahkah-mencoba"]·IT["ha-tried","se-one-ventures","ventured"]·jav["nyoba","punapa-dipun-coba","punapa-nyoba"]·KO["시도하셨느냐","시험하면","시험했다"]·PT["se-tentarmos","tentou"]·RU["если-попытаться","пробовала","пытался-ли"]·ES["ha-intentado","probó","¿Si-se-intenta"]·SW["alijaribu","je-amejaribu","kama-tutajaribu"]·TR["denedi","denedi-mi","denendi-mi"]·urd["آزمایا","آیا-کوئی-کوشش-کرے","رکھتی-تھی"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [נָסָה] vb. Pi. test, try (NH id., Pi.; 𝔗 Pa. נַסִּי; Syriac Pa. ܢܰܣܺܝ; cf. Ethiopic መንሱት temptation);— Pi. Pf. 3 ms. נִסָּה Dt 4:34 + 3 times; sf. נִסָּהוּ Ex 15:25; 3 fs. נִסְּתָה Dt 28:56; 1 s. נִסִּיתִי Ec 7:23, + 4 times Pf.; Impf. 3 ms. sf. יְנַסֵּם Dn 1:14; 1 s. אֲנְסֶּה Ju 6:39; sf. אֲנַסְּכָה Ec 2:2; 3 mpl. יְנַסּוּ Nu 14:22; 2 mpl. תְּנַסּ֑וּן Ex 17:2, + 7 times Impf.; Imv. נַס Dn…