1 Kings 13 18

1 Kings 13:18 kjv

He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.

1 Kings 13:18 nkjv

He said to him, "I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.' " (He was lying to him.)

1 Kings 13:18 niv

The old prophet answered, "I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the LORD: 'Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.'?" (But he was lying to him.)

1 Kings 13:18 esv

And he said to him, "I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'Bring him back with you into your house that he may eat bread and drink water.'" But he lied to him.

1 Kings 13:18 nlt

But the old prophet answered, "I am a prophet, too, just as you are. And an angel gave me this command from the LORD: 'Bring him home with you so he can have something to eat and drink.'" But the old man was lying to him.

1 Kings 13 verses

1 Kings 13 18 Meaning

1 Kings 13:18 describes a deceptive claim made by an old prophet to the man of God from Judah. The old prophet asserts his own prophetic status and falsely claims that an angel delivered a direct message from the LORD commanding the man of God to return with him to eat and drink. This verse highlights a crucial moment of temptation and deception, where a direct divine command previously given to the man of God is contradicted by a fabricated message, ultimately leading to the man of God's tragic disobedience and judgment. It underscores the biblical emphasis on the authority of God's revealed word and the grave consequences of falling for falsehood.

1 Kings 13 18 Context

1 Kings chapter 13 immediately follows King Jeroboam's establishment of idolatrous worship at Bethel and Dan to prevent his people from returning to Jerusalem and the true worship of the LORD. The chapter begins with the man of God from Judah, anonymously named, prophesying against Jeroboam's altar at Bethel. The man of God delivers a clear, unyielding message of judgment and demonstrates its divine origin through a sign (the altar splitting and Jeroboam's withered hand). He receives a specific, strict command from the LORD: he must not eat bread or drink water in that place (Samaria/Israel) and must not return by the way he came. He steadfastly refuses Jeroboam's invitation to eat, citing this divine command.

This verse (1 Ki 13:18) marks a pivotal moment where a new character, an "old prophet" residing in Bethel, enters the narrative. Hearing about the man of God's ministry and strict adherence to the divine command, this old prophet actively pursues the man of God. He catches up to him and, observing his tiredness and need for refreshment, offers a deceptive counter-command under the guise of divine authority. The immediate context shows the man of God, having previously stood firm against the king, now succumbing to this spiritual deception, highlighting the dangers of relying on human mediation even from someone claiming to be a prophet when God's word has already been explicitly given.

1 Kings 13 18 Word analysis

• He said to him: This refers to the old prophet addressing the man of God. It sets the scene for a direct, interpersonal interaction where deception will occur.
• I also am a prophet: The Hebrew word is navi (נָבִיא). This term denotes someone who speaks for God, often after receiving a divine message. The old prophet leverages this title to establish credibility and authority in the eyes of the man of God. The addition of "also" (גַם, gam) implies a shared status, putting himself on par with the man of God, thereby making his subsequent "revelation" seem plausible.
• as you are: This phrase further emphasizes the claimed parity between the two, making the old prophet's word appear trustworthy to the weary man of God. It's an appeal to brotherhood in the prophetic office.
• and an angel spoke to me: The Hebrew word for angel is mal'akh (מַלְאָךְ). It means "messenger." Angels often act as divine messengers in the Bible (e.g., to Abraham, Gideon, Mary). Claiming an angelic visitation lends immense authority to a message, as angels are direct emissaries of God. This makes the lie especially potent, as it bypasses direct divine revelation but invokes another divine source.
• by the word of the LORD: This is the most crucial part of the lie, as "word of the LORD" (devar YHWH, דְּבַר יְהוָה) signifies a direct, authoritative revelation from God Himself. The man of God had already received a direct "word of the LORD" (1 Ki 13:9), so this claim directly contradicts the previously established divine command. It shows the extent of the old prophet's deceit, invoking the ultimate divine authority to legitimate his fabrication.
• saying, "Bring him back with you to your house that he may eat bread and drink water.": This is the false command itself, a direct reversal of God's prior explicit instruction to the man of God. The content of the lie specifically targets the man of God's most vulnerable point: his physical needs after a long, strenuous journey, and his spiritual obedience to the specific command not to eat or drink.
• But he lied to him.: The Hebrew verb is kazav (כָּזַב), which means "to lie," "to deceive," "to prove faithless," or "to fail." This short, powerful declaration by the narrator immediately unmasks the old prophet's claim. It provides divine insight into the old prophet's heart and intentions, making it clear to the reader that the entire premise for the old prophet's request was a fabrication. This immediate disclosure serves to underscore the old prophet's moral failing and highlights the testing nature of the encounter for the man of God.

Words-group analysis:

• "I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD...": This is a masterstroke of deceptive rhetoric. It combines shared identity, divine messenger (angel), and ultimate divine authority ("word of the LORD") to create an unassailable façade of truth for someone weary or un vigilant. The danger lies in seemingly reputable sources contradicting previous divine commands.
• "...Bring him back with you to your house that he may eat bread and drink water.": This part of the false message directly appeals to natural human needs for rest and sustenance, making the disobedience appear compassionate or necessary. It highlights the insidious nature of temptation when it comes through seemingly legitimate means and offers what appears to be a good thing. The temptation wasn't evil in appearance but seemed to ease a burden, yet it led to transgression.

1 Kings 13 18 Bonus section

The motive of the old prophet is often debated among scholars. Some suggest envy—perhaps he resented the younger prophet's direct mission and renown, or felt slighted that God had used a younger prophet from Judah instead of him in Bethel. Others propose a test—that the old prophet, for his own reasons, sought to test the obedience of the man of God, perhaps even to expose him as a "man of God" truly from Judah, rather than someone influenced by Jeroboam. A third view suggests a lonely prophet who genuinely desired fellowship, yet chose a deceptive path to achieve it, perhaps demonstrating his own compromised spiritual state in the midst of a backslidden nation. Regardless of his motive, his action was a lie, declared unequivocally so by the biblical narrator, leading to severe consequences for the recipient of the lie, which also subtly highlights God's demand for integrity in His servants. This narrative also provides an early biblical instance of a "lying spirit" being active among prophetic claims, demanding believers to always test and compare every claimed message with God's established character and prior revelations (1 Thess 5:21).

1 Kings 13 18 Commentary

1 Kings 13:18 serves as a chilling example of spiritual deception and the supreme importance of strict obedience to God's revealed word, even when challenged by seemingly authoritative sources. The old prophet, despite holding the esteemed title of "prophet" (a title God still seemingly acknowledged for him, though his character was compromised), engaged in blatant lying "by the word of the LORD." This demonstrates that titles and past associations with God's work do not inherently guarantee current truthfulness or divine favor.

The man of God's failure lay in not verifying this new, contradictory command. He had a direct, unambiguous word from God himself (1 Ki 13:9). When a new "revelation" contradicts an existing clear command from God, it must be subjected to intense scrutiny (Dt 13:1-5; 1 Jn 4:1; Gal 1:8). The man of God was likely tired and perhaps found comfort in the old prophet's words, seeing them as a gracious amendment to his arduous mission. This teaches that even after faithfully executing a difficult divine task, a moment of weakness or desire for comfort can lead to compromise. The severe consequences that follow (his death by a lion, 1 Ki 13:23-24) emphasize the gravity of disobedience and the LORD's uncompromising standard for those entrusted with His word.

This episode warns against complacency, against preferring comfort over obedience, and crucially, against allowing human claims of divine authority to override the direct and clear word already received from God. True spiritual discernment demands constant adherence to God's explicit commands and a discerning spirit that tests every claim, even those cloaked in piety.