Deuteronomy 6:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God, as thou temptedst him in the place of temptation.
Douay-Rheims

לֹ֣א תְנַסּ֔וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר נִסִּיתֶ֖ם בַּמַּסָּֽה׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

What does the phrase "lest you tempt the Lord your God" signify? The Lord provided clarity on this in the Holy Gospel. When the devil confronted Him, He responded, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God" (Matthew 4:7). However, anyone who acts without discernment and recklessly exposes themselves to peril is, in fact, tempting God.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.

Ex 17:7And he called the name of that place Temptation, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and for that they tempted the Lord, saying: Is the Lord amongst us or not?
Luke 4:12And Jesus answering, said to him: It is said: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Matt 4:7Jesus said to him: It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Ps 95 (94):8
Ps 95 (94):9
Heb 3:8Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the desert,
Heb 3:9Where your fathers tempted me, proved and saw my works,
1 Cor 10:9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them tempted and perished by the serpent.