1 Kings 22 11

1 Kings 22:11 kjv

And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.

1 Kings 22:11 nkjv

Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, "Thus says the LORD: 'With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.' "

1 Kings 22:11 niv

Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns and he declared, "This is what the LORD says: 'With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.'?"

1 Kings 22:11 esv

And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, "Thus says the LORD, 'With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.'"

1 Kings 22:11 nlt

One of them, Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, made some iron horns and proclaimed, "This is what the LORD says: With these horns you will gore the Arameans to death!"

1 Kings 22 verses

1 Kings 22 11 Meaning

In 1 Kings 22:11, Zedekiah, a prophet in the court of King Ahab, performs a symbolic prophetic act. He fashions iron horns and uses them to demonstrate to Ahab and Jehoshaphat how the Lord would supposedly grant Ahab victory, empowering him to decisively defeat and annihilate the Syrians (Arameans) at Ramoth-Gilead. This action served to visually affirm the optimistic, yet false, prophecy desired by King Ahab.

1 Kings 22 11 Context

The setting for 1 Kings 22:11 is the joint venture between King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah. They are considering an attack on Ramoth-Gilead, a city controlled by the Syrians, to reclaim it for Israel. Ahab has gathered approximately 400 prophets, all of whom declare a favorable outcome, encouraging him to go to battle. Jehoshaphat, however, expresses doubt, sensing the absence of a true prophet of the Lord, and asks if there is another. Zedekiah's dramatic act, which is the focus of this verse, is part of the unanimous, yet ultimately deceptive, encouragement given by the assembled prophets, in stark contrast to the unpopular truth later delivered by the prophet Micaiah. The immediate historical context is the political and military alliance between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms and their ongoing conflict with Aram. Culturally, prophetic symbolic acts were a recognized form of communication, but here, it is employed by a false prophet, adding to the layers of deception present in the narrative.

1 Kings 22 11 Word analysis

• And Zedekiah:

  • Zedekiah (Hebrew: צִדְקִיָּהוּ - Tsidqiyyahu): Meaning "My righteousness is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is righteousness." This name is deeply ironic given his role as a false prophet whose prophecy directly contradicts the Lord's true word revealed by Micaiah. His very name becomes a mockery of divine truth and righteousness.

• the son of Chenaanah:

  • Chenaanah (Hebrew: כְּנַעֲנָה - Kena'anah): The name possibly links to "Canaan," which might subtly imply a connection to non-Yahwistic or pagan prophetic traditions, contrasting with the authentic prophets of Yahweh. It emphasizes his lineage within a particular prophetic guild, one seemingly aligned with Ahab's preferences rather than God's will.

• made him horns:

  • made him (Hebrew: וַיַּעַשׂ לוֹ - wayya‘as lo): "And he made for himself." Indicates a deliberate, active, and personal crafting of the prop for his symbolic performance. This wasn't a spontaneous vision but a calculated act.
  • horns (Hebrew: קַרְנֵי - qarnei): Plural of qeren. In the Bible, horns symbolize strength, power, might, dignity, exaltation, and often aggressive, irresistible force. They are used for kings, nations, and powerful individuals. By using "horns," Zedekiah appropriated a powerful biblical symbol to convey an idea of absolute dominance.

• of iron:

  • iron (Hebrew: בַּרְזֶל - barzel): Symbolizes extreme strength, unyielding toughness, and destructive capacity. The addition of "iron" emphasizes that the predicted strength would be superior, unstoppable, and unyielding, contrasting with other materials and implying an absolute and devastating victory. This highlights the perceived invincibility of Ahab's supposed divine backing.

• and said:

  • said (Hebrew: וַיֹּאמֶר - wayyo’mer): Indicates a formal declaration accompanying the symbolic act.

• Thus saith the Lord:

  • Thus saith the Lord (Hebrew: כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - koh amar YHWH): This is the standard prophetic formula used by genuine prophets to introduce God's direct words. Zedekiah's misuse of this sacred phrase constitutes blasphemy and an egregious act of deception, attempting to legitimize his own falsehoods with divine authority. It underscores the severity of false prophecy.

• With these shalt thou push the Syrians:

  • these (Hebrew: אֵלֶּה - ’elleh): Refers directly to the iron horns he has crafted, visually connecting his physical act to the claimed divine pronouncement.
  • shalt thou push (Hebrew: תְנַגַּח - t’naggaḥ): Derived from the verb nagach, meaning "to gore," "to thrust," or "to butt with horns," like a bull or an ox. This vivid imagery depicts a brutal, forceful, and complete conquest. It signifies absolute victory through crushing military might.
  • Syrians (Hebrew: אֲרָם - Aram): The Arameans, Israel's adversaries, indicating the specific target of the alleged divine judgment and Ahab's projected military success.

• until thou have consumed them:

  • until thou have consumed them (Hebrew: עַד כַּלֹּתָם - ‘ad kallotam): Kallotam derives from kalah, meaning "to finish," "to complete," "to bring to an end," or "to destroy utterly." This phrase signifies total and absolute annihilation, leaving no survivors or remnants. The promise extends to complete victory and extermination.

• "horns of iron": This specific combination exaggerates the common biblical symbol of power. Iron, known for its hardness and strength (e.g., in tools or weapons), elevates the concept of "horn" from natural strength to an invincible, manufactured, and devastating force. It reflects a promise of an insurmountable, crushing victory.

• "Thus saith the Lord, With these shalt thou push the Syrians": This phrase highlights the deceptive nature of false prophecy. Zedekiah directly attributes his self-made, performative act to divine authority, misusing sacred language (koh amar YHWH) to validate his own (and Ahab's desired) message. The performative verb "push" (gore) links the symbolic act directly to the promised military action, creating a powerful, albeit fraudulent, visual prophecy.

1 Kings 22 11 Bonus section

• Performative Prophecy: Zedekiah's act is a performative prophecy (similar to Jeremiah breaking a pot, Ezekiel acting out sieges), a recognized genre for prophetic communication. However, his performance is a perversion of this tradition, designed to deceive rather than instruct truth.
• Ahab's Preference for Lies: King Ahab actively sought out prophets who would tell him what he wanted to hear, demonstrating a hardened heart resistant to divine truth. This preference for pleasing falsehoods over uncomfortable truth sets the stage for his eventual demise.
• The Lying Spirit: 2 Chronicles 18:22 directly clarifies that "the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours" (including Zedekiah). This reveals the supernatural dimension of the deception, implying divine allowance for judgment upon Ahab for his persistent rebellion.
• The Power of Symbolic Action: The creation and use of the iron horns illustrate the cultural significance placed on symbolic actions in prophetic pronouncements. These were not mere words but visual and tactile experiences meant to impart powerful messages, even if deceptive in nature.

1 Kings 22 11 Commentary

1 Kings 22:11 serves as a critical example of the stark contrast between true and false prophecy in ancient Israel. Zedekiah's act embodies the flattery and self-serving nature of the court prophets who catered to Ahab's desires for military success. His elaborate display with the iron horns, accompanied by the authoritative phrase "Thus saith the Lord," was a potent attempt to lend divine weight to a false message. This specific prophecy was appealing because it promised easy victory and affirmed the king's aggressive plans. However, it entirely disregarded God's actual will, which Micaiah later revealed. The verse underscores that authentic prophecy comes from divine revelation, often challenging human desires, while false prophecy often appeals to what people want to hear, using performative actions and borrowed sacred language to deceive. This passage emphasizes the crucial need for discernment, especially when powerful or pleasing messages are delivered under the guise of divine authority, highlighting that true prophecy, unlike flattery, stands the test of reality and divine judgment.