# test, tested, testing, testing in the fire

## Definition:

The term “test” refers to a difficult or painful experience that reveals a person’s strengths and weaknesses.

* God tests people, but he does not tempt them to sin. Satan, however, tempts people to sin.
* God sometimes uses tests to expose people’s sin. A test helps a person to turn away from sin and to draw closer to God.
* Gold and other metals are tested with fire to find out how pure and strong they are. This is a picture of how God uses painful circumstances to test his people.
* To “put to the test” can mean, “challenge something or someone to prove its value.”
* In the context of putting God to the test, it means to try to make him do a miracle for us, taking advantage of his mercy.
* Jesus told Satan that it is wrong to put God to the test. He is the almighty, holy God who is above everything and everyone.

## Translation Suggestions:

* The term to “test” could also be translated as, to “challenge” or to “cause to experience difficulties” or to “prove.”
* Ways to translate “a test” could be, “a challenge” or “a difficult experience.”
* To “put to the test” could be translated as to “test” or to “set up a challenge” or to “force to prove oneself.”
* In the context of testing God, this could be translated as “trying to force God to prove his love.”
* In some contexts, when God is not the subject, the term “test” can mean “tempt.”

(See also: [tempt](../kt/tempt.md))

## Bible References:

* [1 John 4:1](rc://en/tn/help/1jn/04/01)
* [1 Thessalonians 5:21](rc://en/tn/help/1th/05/21)
* [Acts 15:10](rc://en/tn/help/act/15/10)
* [Genesis 22:1](rc://en/tn/help/gen/22/01)
* [Isaiah 7:13](rc://en/tn/help/isa/07/13)
* [James 1:12](rc://en/tn/help/jas/01/12)
* [Lamentations 3:40-43](rc://en/tn/help/lam/03/40)
* [Malachi 3:10](rc://en/tn/help/mal/03/10)
* [Philippians 1:10](rc://en/tn/help/php/01/10)
* [Psalm 26:2](rc://en/tn/help/psa/026/02)

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H5254, H5713, H5715, H5749, H6030, H8584, G12420, G12630, G13030, G13820, G19570, G31400, G31410, G31420, G31430, G39840, G43030, G44510, G48280, G60200
