1 Kings 14:6 kjv
And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings.
1 Kings 14:6 nkjv
And so it was, when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps as she came through the door, he said, "Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another person? For I have been sent to you with bad news.
1 Kings 14:6 niv
So when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps at the door, he said, "Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why this pretense? I have been sent to you with bad news.
1 Kings 14:6 esv
But when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, he said, "Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another? For I am charged with unbearable news for you.
1 Kings 14:6 nlt
So when Ahijah heard her footsteps at the door, he called out, "Come in, wife of Jeroboam! Why are you pretending to be someone else?" Then he told her, "I have bad news for you.
1 Kings 14 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 27:21-23 | And Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near... for the voice is Jacob's voice..." | Example of a prophet (Isaac) discerning deception. |
| 1 Sam 9:15-17 | The LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before... "tomorrow I will send..." | God revealing future events to His prophet. |
| 1 Sam 10:22 | And they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come... | Divine revelation concerning hidden individuals. |
| 1 Sam 28:8 | So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes... | Kings disguising themselves. |
| 2 Ki 5:26 | And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee... when you received? | Elisha's spiritual discernment of Gehazi's sin. |
| 2 Ki 6:12 | "And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king... Elisha..." | God revealing secrets of an enemy to His prophet. |
| 2 Chr 18:29-30 | The king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle... | Futility of human disguise against God's plan. |
| Ps 139:7-12 | Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? | God's omnipresence and omniknowledge. |
| Prov 15:3 | The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch... | God's comprehensive oversight. |
| Eccl 12:14 | For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing... | Nothing is hidden from God. |
| Isa 6:8 | Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send?" | Prophet receiving divine commission. |
| Jer 1:7 | But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child'... for you must go" | God's commissioning of His prophets. |
| Jer 23:24 | Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? | Futility of hiding from God's sight. |
| Ezek 2:3-4 | He said to me, "Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel..." | Divine sending of a prophet to a rebellious people. |
| Hos 8:4 | They set up kings, but not by me... | Critique of disobedient leaders. |
| Amos 3:7 | For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants... | God's prior revelation of His plans to prophets. |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I send my messenger..." | God sending a messenger with a divine message. |
| Luke 12:2 | Nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. | Inevitable revelation of secrets. |
| Acts 5:3-4 | But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy..." | Apostolic discernment of deception by the Spirit. |
| Acts 5:8-9 | Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test..." | Spirit-filled discernment of hidden motives. |
| Heb 4:13 | And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed... | All things are visible to God. |
| 1 Ki 11:31 | And he said to Jeroboam, "Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says..." | Ahijah's initial prophecy appointing Jeroboam king. |
| 1 Ki 12:28-30 | So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold... | Jeroboam's foundational sin of idolatry. |
| 1 Ki 13:1-5 | And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Bethel. | Prophet sent to deliver a message against Jeroboam's altar. |
1 Kings 14 verses
1 Kings 14 6 Meaning
This verse describes the immediate and supernatural discernment of the prophet Ahijah. Despite being physically blind, he recognized the identity of Jeroboam's disguised wife as soon as she entered his house. He confronted her directly, questioning the futility of her deception. Ahijah then declared his divine commission, indicating that he was sent by God to deliver a severe and unsettling message regarding the fate of Jeroboam and his household due to their grave sins.
1 Kings 14 6 Context
The setting for 1 Kings 14:6 is the kingdom of Israel after the division, with Jeroboam ruling the northern ten tribes. Jeroboam had already profoundly alienated God by establishing rival worship centers in Dan and Bethel with golden calves, deviating from Jerusalem and the true worship of Yahweh. His son, Abijah, falls gravely ill. Jeroboam, desperate, sends his wife to consult Ahijah, the very prophet who had previously foretold Jeroboam's kingship (1 Ki 11). This highlights the king's spiritual inconsistency: he disobeys God through Ahijah's prophecies but turns to the same prophet when in distress, yet deceitfully sends his wife in disguise. Ahijah is old and blind, a state emphasizing that his perception and knowledge come directly from God, not from physical senses or cunning. This verse sets the stage for a severe prophecy of judgment against Jeroboam's house, revealing the swift and uncompromising consequences of his widespread idolatry and rebellion against God.
1 Kings 14 6 Word analysis
- And when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door: Ahijah, though physically blind (mentioned in v.4), demonstrates acute spiritual perception. His knowledge does not come from physical sight but from divine revelation. "Sound of her feet" (Hebrew: qol pa'ameyha) implies a simple, ordinary action that is immediately met with extraordinary spiritual insight. The "door" is the entry point for the deception.
- he said, Come in, you wife of Jeroboam; This phrase dramatically shatters the disguise. "Come in" (Hebrew: bo'i) is an immediate invitation, indicating he knows her presence. "You wife of Jeroboam" (Hebrew: 'ishet Yerov'am) is a direct address, removing all pretense. It emphasizes her identity in relation to the very king who rebelled against God.
- why do you pretend to be another? The rhetorical question (Hebrew: lamah zeh at mitnakkeret? - why do you act like a stranger/disguise yourself?) underscores the futility and foolishness of her deception before God's prophet. The root nakar relates to being unknown or alienated, highlighting the attempt to be perceived as someone she is not. It reveals that the attempt at secrecy was useless from the start.
- For I am sent to you with heavy tidings. This is Ahijah's divine authentication and the purpose of his direct confrontation. "I am sent" (Hebrew: anokhi shaluach) clearly states his prophetic commission from God, highlighting God's initiative in bringing forth His word. He is not merely guessing; he is an agent of the Almighty. "Heavy tidings" (Hebrew: qashah - hard, difficult, severe, grievous) conveys the severity and painful nature of the forthcoming judgment. It implies a burden or weight of suffering that Jeroboam's house is about to face.
1 Kings 14 6 Bonus section
- The Irony of Seeking Ahijah: Jeroboam, who abandoned Ahijah's God-given commands by creating false altars, paradoxically seeks the prophet's counsel for his son. This demonstrates the human tendency to seek divine intervention in crisis while persistently living in rebellion.
- Divine vs. Human Wisdom: Jeroboam's worldly cunning in using a disguise (a human strategy to evade responsibility or secure advantage) is immediately countered by God's perfect, supernatural knowledge operating through Ahijah. This highlights the complete superiority of divine wisdom over any human attempt at manipulation or deceit.
- A Recurring Prophetic Theme: This scene establishes a recurring motif in Israel's history: prophets being empowered by God to expose hidden sins and deliver uncomfortable truths directly to unrepentant leaders, regardless of their status or the circumstances. This reinforces the covenant God had with His people, even in their disobedience, His word would continue to come forth.
1 Kings 14 6 Commentary
This verse powerfully illustrates God's omniprescience and the unyielding nature of His divine revelation through His prophets. Jeroboam's attempt to circumvent divine knowledge through a disguise proves utterly futile. Ahijah's physical blindness contrasts sharply with his acute spiritual insight, demonstrating that God's sight is not dependent on human capabilities but rather infuses His chosen instruments. The prophet’s immediate and direct exposure of the disguise signals that there are no secrets hidden from God, and no human deception can deflect His ordained message of judgment. The pronouncement of being "sent with heavy tidings" emphasizes God's active involvement in human affairs, directly confronting rebellion with stern consequences, serving as a reminder that defiance of God's commands leads to inevitable and harsh retribution.