Psalms 95:9
When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.
Original Language Analysis
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
1 of 7
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם
When your fathers
H1
אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם
When your fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
3 of 7
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
בְּ֝חָנ֗וּנִי
me proved
H974
בְּ֝חָנ֗וּנִי
me proved
Strong's:
H974
Word #:
4 of 7
to test (especially metals); generally and figuratively, to investigate
גַּם
H1571
גַּם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
5 of 7
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
Cross References
1 Corinthians 10:9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.Numbers 14:22Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;Psalms 78:56Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
Historical Context
Exodus 17:7 says they tested God "saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?" This after months of miraculous provision. The problem wasn't ignorance but willful unbelief. Later, at Kadesh-Barnea, they saw the Promised Land but refused to enter, disbelieving God could defeat the inhabitants despite all he'd done.
Questions for Reflection
- When have you been tempted to test God despite already having abundant evidence of his faithfulness?
- What distinguishes legitimate questions from the kind of "testing" God condemns here?
- How does witnessing God's works without trusting him demonstrate heart-hardening?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
When your fathers tempted me, proved me (אֲשֶׁר נִסּוּנִי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם בְּחָנוּנִי, asher nissuni avoteikhem bechanuni)—Nassah means test, try; bachan means examine, test, prove. And saw my work (גַּם־רָאוּ פָעֳלִי, gam-ra'u fo'oli)—Ra'ah means see, witness; po'al means work, deed, action.
The wilderness generation didn't lack evidence—they saw my work. They witnessed the plagues, the Red Sea parting, daily manna, the pillar of cloud and fire. Yet they still tested God, demanding proof he was with them. This reveals the nature of hardened unbelief: no amount of evidence satisfies because the problem isn't lack of proof but refusal to trust. Jesus faced similar demands for signs from those who'd seen his miracles (Matthew 12:38-39).