--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For when God is said by these things to…" description: "\"“For when God is said by these things to try men and prove them, to see what is in their hearts and whether they will keep His commandments or no, we a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53d/jonathan-edwards-770_abraham_for-when-god-is-said-by-these-things-to_2479082.png" --- # For when God is said by these things to try men and prove… ![“For when God is said by these things to try men and prove them, to see what is in their hearts and whether they will keep His commandments or no, we are not to understand, that it is for His own information, or that He may obtain evidence Himself of their sincerity (for he needs no trials for His…” quote by Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53d/jonathan-edwards-770_abraham_for-when-god-is-said-by-these-things-to_2479082.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53d/jonathan-edwards-770_abraham_for-when-god-is-said-by-these-things-to_2479082.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53d/jonathan-edwards-770_abraham_for-when-god-is-said-by-these-things-to_2479082.png) > ““For when God is said by these things to try men and prove them, to see what is in their hearts and whether they will keep His commandments or no, we are not to understand, that it is for His own information, or that He may obtain evidence Himself of their sincerity (for he needs no trials for His information); but chiefly for their conviction, and to exhibit evidence to their consciences... So when God tempted or tried Abraham with that difficult command of offering up his son, it was not for His satisfaction, whether he feared God or no, but for Abraham's own greater satisfaction and comfort, and the more clear manifestation of the favour of God to him.”” [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God's trials test believers' hearts, not to inform God, but to deepen their own faith and reveal divine favor. **In simple terms:** God tests us to strengthen our own belief. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges as spiritual growth. Themes faith testing divine purpose Mood contemplative inspirational Type theological reflective When to use this quote - personal trials - religious reflection - moral decision making - faith practice Key Concepts theodicy spiritual development Questions to Reflect On - What personal trials have deepened your faith? - How do you discern divine purpose in hardship? A Different Perspective Trials can cause distress if misinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham/) [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Consciences God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciences-god-323064/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [God Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-abraham-791407/) [God Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-said/) [God Tempted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-tempted-541173/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) [Tried Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried-abraham-843752/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [You will have all kinds of trials to pass through. And it is quite as necessary for you to be tried as it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/you-will-have-all-kinds-of-trials-to-pass-through-and-it-is-quite-as/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [Stand Fast Through the Storms of Life. "You will have all kinds of trials to pass through. And it is quite as necessary for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stand-fast-through-the-storms-of-life-you-will-have-all-kinds-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Now are the days, of humblest prayer, When consciences to God lie bare, And mercy most delights to spare. Oh hearken when we cry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-faber/now-are-the-days-of-humblest-prayer-when-consciences-to-god-lie-bare/) [Frederick William Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-faber/) > [“In the face of God's obvious inadequacies, the pious have generally held that one cannot apply earthly norms to the Creator of the universe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/in-the-face-of-god-s-obvious-inadequacies-the-pious-have-generally/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-is-what-i-am-trying-to-say-the-agreement-god-made-with-abraham/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How wonderfully beautiful is the delineation of the characters of the three patriarchs in Genesis! To be sure if ever man could, without impropriety,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/how-wonderfully-beautiful-is-the-delineation-of-the-characters-of-the/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [I have confused ideas of deity, heavily influenced by mind-altering years of reading science fiction, that do not often trouble me, but one thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/i-have-confused-ideas-of-deity-heavily-influenced-by-mind-altering/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“I no longer ask You for either happiness or paradise; all I ask of You is to listen and let me be aware and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-no-longer-ask-you-for-either-happiness-or-paradise-all-i-ask-of-you/) [elie wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“suddenly understood perfectly why Abraham had agreed to sacrifice Isaac, his son, when the Lord commanded him to do so. It was not obedience.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/suddenly-understood-perfectly-why-abraham-had-agreed-to-sacrifice/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Everyone who has eyes to see can see that if the God of Abraham exists, He is an utter psychopath--and the God of Nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/everyone-who-has-eyes-to-see-can-see-that-if-the-god-of-abraham/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [More often than not, we want him to have fairy wings and spread fairy dust and shine like a precious little star, dispensing nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/more-often-than-not-we-want-him-to-have-fairy-wings-and-spread-fairy/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [I think we have reason to thank God for Abraham Lincoln. With all his deficiencies, it must be admitted that he has grown continually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-m-child/i-think-we-have-reason-to-thank-god-for-abraham-lincoln-with-all-his/) [Lydia M. Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-m-child/) > [I don't want to claim that God is on our side. As Abraham Lincoln told us, I want to pray humbly that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-don-t-want-to-claim-that-god-is-on-our-side-as-abraham-lincoln-told/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [“Abraham was testing God. By denying the sacrifice at the last moment, by stopping the knife, God had earned the right—in Abraham’s eyes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/abraham-was-testing-god-by-denying-the-sacrifice-at-the-last-moment/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“But God was rolling. "No, Sarah will give you a boy named Isaac and I will be his god and both he and Ishmael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ebling/but-god-was-rolling-no-sarah-will-give-you-a-boy-named-isaac-and-i/) [Steve Ebling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ebling/) ## More by Jonathan Edwards > [The foundation of the Christian's peace is everlasting; it is what no time, no change can destroy. It will remain when the body dies;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/the-foundation-of-the-christian-s-peace-is-everlasting-it-is-what-no/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“Every saint in heaven is as a flower in that garden of God, and holy love is the fragrance and sweet odor that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/every-saint-in-heaven-is-as-a-flower-in-that-garden-of-god-and-holy/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [God is glorified not only by His glory being seen, but by its being rejoiced in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/god-is-glorified-not-only-by-his-glory-being-seen-but-by-its-being/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [There is no way that Christians, in a private capacity, can do so much to promote the work of God and advance the kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/there-is-no-way-that-christians-in-a-private-capacity-can-do-so-much/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [Godliness is more easily feigned in words than in actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/godliness-is-more-easily-feigned-in-words-than-in-actions/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“Let the main thing that we prize in God’s house be, not the outward ornaments of it, or a high seat in it, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/let-the-main-thing-that-we-prize-in-god-s-house-be-not-the-outward/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“But that is the nature of true grace and spiritual light, that it opens to a person's view the infinite reason there is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/but-that-is-the-nature-of-true-grace-and-spiritual-light-that-it/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“The most determining external influence on his style was unquestionably the old, so-called King James version of the English Bible. His language is saturated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/the-most-determining-external-influence-on-his-style-was/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“Edwards sought to impose a new test of qualification. He required, namely, that the candidate for full communion should give evidence of being converted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/edwards-sought-to-impose-a-new-test-of-qualification-he-required/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [ “But it is doubtless true, and evident from \[the\] Scriptures, that the essence of all true religion lies in holy love; and that in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/but-it-is-doubtless-true-and-evident-from-the-scriptures-that-the/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“Evangelical faith has the gospel of Christ for its foundation;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/evangelical-faith-has-the-gospel-of-christ-for-its-foundation/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“Prop. II. There are many mansions in the house of God. By many mansions is meant many seats or places of abode.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/prop-ii-there-are-many-mansions-in-the-house-of-god-by-many-mansions/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [I resolve to live with all my might while I do live. I resolve never to lose one moment of time and to improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/i-resolve-to-live-with-all-my-might-while-i-do-live-i-resolve-never/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has flung the door of mercy wide open, and stands in the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/and-now-you-have-an-extraordinary-opportunity-a-day-wherein-christ/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [Christ gives peace to the most sinful and miserable that come to Him. He heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/christ-gives-peace-to-the-most-sinful-and-miserable-that-come-to-him/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) [Explore all 375 Jonathan Edwards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) ## More Abraham quotes > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Hebron is a bone of contention between Israeli settlers and the Palestinians in part because Abraham is buried there, in the Tomb of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/hebron-is-a-bone-of-contention-between-israeli-settlers-and-the/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [Donald Trump is not going to be the nominee, because we are not going to allow - people will wake up and we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/donald-trump-is-not-going-to-be-the-nominee-because-we-are-not-going/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [“Never you look down on your Abraham because of your Sarah because the blessing is not in the womb of Sarah but in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikechukwu-izuakor/never-you-look-down-on-your-abraham-because-of-your-sarah-because-the/) [Ikechukwu Izuakor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikechukwu-izuakor/) > [“Whatever you are, be a good one.”   Abraham Lincoln”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rriiver-nyile/whatever-you-are-be-a-good-one-abraham-lincoln/) [Rriiver Nyile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rriiver-nyile/) > [Moses was a great leader, right? But he wasn't a great communicator. And so God sent him Aaron so he could, let's say, communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-milei/moses-was-a-great-leader-right-but-he-wasn-t-a-great-communicator-and/) [Javier Milei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-milei/) > [“king of Heshbon. 6 b Moses, the servant of the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/king-of-heshbon-6-b-moses-the-servant-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In the end, thought Sol, past logic and hope, it is dreams and the love of those dearest to us that form Abraham’s answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/in-the-end-thought-sol-past-logic-and-hope-it-is-dreams-and-the-love/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [It was psychobabbler Abraham Maslow who wrote of the phenomena of self-actualization. What Maslow failed to grasp is that reaching true self-actualization can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/it-was-psychobabbler-abraham-maslow-who-wrote-of-the-phenomena-of/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [“Mungu hutumia watu 'wajinga' na 'wapumbavu' kufanya mambo makubwa katika maisha yao na ya watu wengine. Katika Biblia, Musa aliitwa mjinga alipokiuka amri ya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/mungu-hutumia-watu-wajinga-na-wapumbavu-kufanya-mambo-makubwa-katika/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [“9. Abraham’s death (25:1 – 11) After Sarah’s death, Abraham took another wife, Keturah. Abraham was a rejuvenated old man and continued to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-sailhamer/9-abraham-s-death-25-1-11-after-sarah-s-death-abraham-took-another/) [John H. Sailhamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-sailhamer/) > [“The biblical story of the binding of Isaac shows that human sacrifice was far from unthinkable in the 1st millennium BCE. The Israelites boasted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-biblical-story-of-the-binding-of-isaac-shows-that-human-sacrifice/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Everybody faces obstacles. And I looked to people who had been through many to succeed in life. Abraham Lincoln, born to a poor family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-winfield/everybody-faces-obstacles-and-i-looked-to-people-who-had-been-through/) [Dave Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-winfield/) > [Someone asked me...how it felt and I was reminded of a story that a fellow townsman of ours used to tell--Abraham Lincoln. They asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-asked-me-how-it-felt-and-i-was-reminded-of-a-story-that-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [American foreign policy and military might have opened an opportunity for the Gospel in the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/american-foreign-policy-and-military-might-have-opened-an-opportunity/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) [Browse all 484 Abraham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For when God is said by these things to try men and prove them, to see what is in their hearts and whether they will keep His commandments or no, we are not to understand, that it is for His own information, or that He may obtain evidence Himself of their sincerity (for he needs no trials for His information); but chiefly for their conviction, and to exhibit evidence to their consciences... So when God tempted or tried Abraham with that difficult command of offering up his son, it was not for His satisfaction, whether he feared God or no, but for Abraham's own greater satisfaction and comfort, and the more clear manifestation of the favour of God to him.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Edwards" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/for-when-god-is-said-by-these-things-to-try-men-and-prove-them-to-see/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abraham" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/for-when-god-is-said-by-these-things-to-try-men-and-prove-them-to-see/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53d/jonathan-edwards-770_abraham_for-when-god-is-said-by-these-things-to_2479082.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53d/jonathan-edwards-770_abraham_for-when-god-is-said-by-these-things-to_2479082.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53d/jonathan-edwards-770_abraham_for-when-god-is-said-by-these-things-to_2479082.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For when God is said by these things to try men and prove them, to see what is in their hearts and whether…” — Jonathan Edwards", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jonathan Edwards", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“For when God is said by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/for-when-god-is-said-by-these-things-to-try-men-and-prove-them-to-see/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/for-when-god-is-said-by-these-things-to-try-men-and-prove-them-to-see/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```