The Meaning of Isaiah 7:11 Explained

Isaiah 7:11

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

YLT: Ask for thee a sign from Jehovah thy God, Make deep the request, or make it high upwards.'

Darby: Ask for thee a sign from Jehovah thy God; ask for it in the deep, or in the height above.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Isaiah 7:11 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God commanded the king to ask Yahweh his God for a sign that He would indeed do what He had promised. Signs were immediate, physical confirmations that what a prophet had predicted further in the future would indeed happen. They either confirmed that God had caused something to happen (cf. Exodus 3:12), or they confirmed that He would cause something to happen, as here (cf. Isaiah 37:30; Jeremiah 44:29-30). [1] Ahaz had the freedom to request any type of sign, and God promised to use it to bolster his faith (cf. Gideon).

Context Summary

Isaiah 7:1-17 - The Sign Of Immanuel
A new cycle of prophecy begins here, covering the reign of Ahaz. The complete history which illustrates these chapters is given in 2 Chronicles 28:5. The invasion of Judah by Syria and Samaria was permitted because a severe warning was needed to enforce Isaiah's remonstrances and appeals. See 2 Kings 15:37. The Holy City, as Isaiah predicted, was not to be trodden by the invader, though it would pass through severe suffering and anxiety. This immunity, which neither Ahaz nor his people deserved, was secured by Isaiah's faith and prayer, pleading as he did, God's ancient covenant.
This great prophecy of the coming Immanuel must have greatly encouraged that generation, as it has all succeeding ones. It inspired Psalms 46:1-11. What greater comfort have we than that Jesus is the companion of our pilgrimage? See Matthew 1:21-23. Though the corn-lands were desolate, the cattle on the mountain-pastures would yield butter and the wild bees honey; and this would supply the nation's needs till the invader had withdrawn. Though God chastens us, He will not forget our daily bread. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 7

1  Ahaz, being troubled with fear of Rezin and Pekah, is comforted by Isaiah
10  Ahaz, having liberty to choose a sign, and refusing it, has for a sign, Christ promised
17  His judgment is prophesied to come by Assyria

What do the individual words in Isaiah 7:11 mean?

Ask for yourself a sign from Yahweh your God either in the depth ask it or in the height above
שְׁאַל־ לְךָ֣ א֔וֹת מֵעִ֖ם יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ הַעְמֵ֣ק שְׁאָ֔לָה א֖וֹ הַגְבֵּ֥הַּ לְמָֽעְלָה

שְׁאַל־  Ask 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁאַל 
Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.
לְךָ֣  for  yourself 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
א֔וֹת  a  sign 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֹות  
Sense: sign, signal.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
הַעְמֵ֣ק  either  in  the  depth 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: עָמַק  
Sense: to be deep, be profound, make deep.
שְׁאָ֔לָה  ask  it 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שְׁאֹול  
Sense: sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit.
הַגְבֵּ֥הַּ  in  the  height 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: גָּבַהּ  
Sense: to be high, be exalted.
לְמָֽעְלָה  above 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adverb, third person feminine singular
Root: מַעַל 
Sense: higher part, upper part adv.