1 Kings 22:14 kjv
And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.
1 Kings 22:14 nkjv
And Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, whatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak."
1 Kings 22:14 niv
But Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD lives, I can tell him only what the LORD tells me."
1 Kings 22:14 esv
But Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will speak."
1 Kings 22:14 nlt
But Micaiah replied, "As surely as the LORD lives, I will say only what the LORD tells me to say."
1 Kings 22 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 23:12 | "Must I not take heed to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?" | Balaam bound by God's instructions. |
| Num 23:26 | "Did I not tell you, 'Whatever the LORD says, that must I do'?" | Balaam reiterates commitment to God's word. |
| Deut 18:20 | "But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name... shall die." | Consequence for speaking without divine commission. |
| Deut 18:22 | "If what the prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place... it is a word the LORD has not spoken." | Test for distinguishing a true prophet. |
| Jer 1:7 | "You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you." | Jeremiah's divine mandate for utterance. |
| Jer 1:9 | "I have put My words in your mouth." | God's direct inspiration for prophets. |
| Jer 23:28 | "Let the one who has My word speak My word faithfully." | Call for fidelity in prophetic proclamation. |
| Ezek 2:7 | "You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen." | Prophet's duty to declare, irrespective of reception. |
| Jn 12:49 | "I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak." | Jesus as the ultimate obedient Prophet. |
| Acts 20:27 | "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God." | Paul's commitment to complete declaration of truth. |
| 2 Tim 4:2 | "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort." | Exhortation for steadfast preaching of the Word. |
| 2 Pet 1:21 | "Prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets... spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." | Divine origin and inspiration of prophecy. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets... he has spoken to us by his Son." | God's consistent self-revelation. |
| 1 Cor 2:13 | "This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit." | Spirit-empowered communication of divine truth. |
| Isa 55:11 | "My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty." | The power and efficacy of God's revealed word. |
| Matt 10:28 | "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body... but rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." | Prioritizing fear of God over fear of man. |
| Gal 1:10 | "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?" | Rejecting people-pleasing for God's approval. |
| Jer 5:31 | "The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and My people love it this way." | Society's preference for deceptive comfort. |
| 1 Jn 4:1 | "Test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." | The need for discernment against false claims. |
| Prov 29:25 | "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe." | Contrast between human fear and divine trust. |
| Job 23:12 | "I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread." | High regard for the sacredness of God's word. |
| Ps 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." | God's word providing guidance and clarity. |
1 Kings 22 verses
1 Kings 22 14 Meaning
1 Kings 22:14 encapsulates the unwavering commitment of a true prophet of the LORD: Micaiah. Faced with pressure to conform to popular opinion and the king's desires, he unequivocally declares that he will speak only what God reveals to him, binding himself with a solemn oath. This verse highlights the absolute authority of God's word over any human agenda or earthly power.
1 Kings 22 14 Context
1 Kings 22:14 is situated in the narrative of King Ahab of Israel and his decision to go to war against Ramoth-gilead. Following his typical disregard for the true God, Ahab gathers 400 court prophets who unanimously deliver a favorable message, promising victory, thereby appeasing the king's desire. However, King Jehoshaphat of Judah, known for his relative piety, senses the flattery and questions if there is "yet a prophet of the LORD" who can provide an honest word. Reluctantly, Ahab identifies Micaiah, the son of Imlah, but immediately reveals his disdain, admitting that Micaiah never prophesies good concerning him, only evil. This backdrop of royal hostility and pervasive false prophecy sets the stage for Micaiah’s profound declaration of allegiance to God's revealed truth, despite potential consequences, making his stance in verse 14 a pivotal moment of defiance and prophetic integrity.
1 Kings 22 14 Word analysis
- "And Micaiah said":
- This initiates the prophet’s direct response to the messenger’s instruction. It immediately grounds the coming statement in Micaiah’s character.
- Micaiah's name, "Who is like Yah?" (a short form of Yahweh), inherently speaks to the singularity and supremacy of God, a principle reflected in his unyielding stance.
- "As the LORD liveth":
- Hebrew: ḥay-Yahweh (חַי־יְהוָה), meaning "living is Yahweh."
- This is a deeply serious and binding oath, swearing on the very existence of God. It functions as the strongest possible affirmation of truth and commitment in biblical Hebrew, indicating absolute veracity and unbreakable resolve.
- It sharply contrasts Micaiah's divine allegiance with the self-serving pronouncements of the 400 court prophets who lacked such an ultimate reference.
- "what the LORD saith unto me":
- Hebrew: dibbēr Yahweh 'ēlāy (דִּבֶּר יְהוָה אֵלָי), "Yahweh has spoken to me."
- This phrase clearly establishes the divine origin of the message, signifying that Micaiah's words are not his own thoughts, desires, or political calculations but a direct revelation received from God.
- It highlights the passive role of the prophet as a receiver of revelation, stressing that the authority rests solely with the One who speaks.
- "that will I speak":
- Hebrew: ʾōtô ʾădabbēr (אֹתוֹ אֲדַבֵּ֔ר), "that I will speak."
- This concludes the oath, expressing Micaiah's unreserved fidelity to deliver the message precisely as received. There will be no editing, no embellishment, no softening, and no withholding.
- It signifies commitment to pure and unadulterated proclamation, defining the core essence of a true prophet’s mission to be a faithful conduit for the divine word.
- Words-Group Analysis:
- "As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak": This comprehensive declaration serves as Micaiah's prophetic covenant, outlining his sacred duty and unshakeable loyalty. It epitomizes the ideal of prophetic integrity: a message rooted purely in divine revelation, affirmed by a solemn oath, and delivered with unswerving faithfulness, irrespective of earthly pressures or personal peril. It stands as a profound rebuke to those who would twist divine communication for human favor or political gain.
1 Kings 22 14 Bonus section
- Micaiah's steadfastness in delivering God's unwelcome word, despite being threatened and imprisoned, serves as a historical and spiritual precursor to the persecution faced by true believers throughout history for their commitment to divine truth.
- This passage powerfully illustrates the principle that quantity does not equate to veracity in matters of divine revelation. One true prophet with God's word outweighs hundreds who speak from human will or deceptive spirits.
- Micaiah's stand highlights the biblical emphasis on the inspiration and authority of God's Word. It reinforces the expectation that divine messages must be transmitted with utmost precision and fidelity, underscoring the serious implications for those who corrupt or diminish it.
- The entire narrative implicitly warns against leaders and communities who surround themselves only with voices that confirm their own desires, thereby closing themselves off to the corrective and truthful voice of God.
1 Kings 22 14 Commentary
Micaiah's statement in 1 Kings 22:14 is a quintessential declaration of prophetic integrity. In a setting dominated by political ambition and the comforting lies of false prophets, Micaiah stands as an unyielding voice of divine truth. His solemn oath, "As the LORD liveth," immediately sets him apart, emphasizing that his loyalty and allegiance are directed solely to the living God, not to King Ahab or the desires of men. This profound commitment means he will relay exactly what God speaks to him, without fear of reprisal or hope of reward. This truthfulness, often unwelcome, highlights the challenging calling of a prophet: to prioritize God's message above personal safety or popularity. The verse therefore serves as a powerful testament to the necessity of faithful proclamation, challenging all who speak for God—whether prophets, preachers, or believers—to uphold divine truth regardless of the cost, reflecting the very character of God who cannot lie.