1 Kings 22:17 kjv
And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
1 Kings 22:17 nkjv
Then he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.' "
1 Kings 22:17 niv
Then Micaiah answered, "I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, 'These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'?"
1 Kings 22:17 esv
And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.'"
1 Kings 22:17 nlt
Then Micaiah told him, "In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, 'Their master has been killed. Send them home in peace.'"
1 Kings 22 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 27:17 | "that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd." | A prayer for a leader for God's leaderless flock. |
| Psa 23:1 | "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." | God as the ultimate good Shepherd. |
| Isa 40:11 | "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd..." | God's compassionate care for His people. |
| Ezek 34:5-6 | "And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd..." | Consequences of corrupt or absent leaders. |
| Ezek 34:11-12 | "For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out." | God's promise to personally shepherd His people. |
| Jer 23:1-2 | "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord." | Judgment against unfaithful leaders. |
| Zech 10:2 | "...they were as sheep without a shepherd." | People straying due to false leadership. |
| Zech 13:7 | "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered..." | Prophecy of the shepherd struck, flock scattered; also fulfilled in Christ's crucifixion (Matt 26:31). |
| Matt 9:36 | "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." | Jesus' compassion for the leaderless crowds. |
| Mark 6:34 | "And Jesus...saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd..." | Jesus' response to humanity's lost state. |
| John 10:11 | "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." | Jesus as the perfect Shepherd who sacrifices for His flock. |
| Heb 13:20 | "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep..." | Jesus identified as the "great Shepherd." |
| 1 Pet 2:25 | "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." | Believers returning to Christ, their true Shepherd. |
| 1 Pet 5:4 | "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory..." | Christ as the ultimate, returning Chief Shepherd. |
| Deut 28:64 | "And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other..." | Scattering as a curse for disobedience. |
| Lev 26:33 | "And I will scatter you among the heathen..." | God scattering Israel for breaking covenant. |
| Isa 45:7 | "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things." | God's sovereignty over good and evil/calamity. |
| Amos 3:6 | "...shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?" | God's ultimate hand in all events, including disaster. |
| Lam 3:38 | "Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?" | Acknowledging God's complete control. |
| Deut 18:22 | "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken..." | The test of a true prophet. |
| Jer 14:14 | "Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name..." | False prophets speaking deception. |
| Matt 7:15 | "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." | Warning against deceptive spiritual leaders. |
| 1 Kgs 22:34-37 | "And a certain man drew a bow... and smote the king of Israel... So the king died..." | Fulfillment of Micaiah's prophecy. |
1 Kings 22 verses
1 Kings 22 17 Meaning
The verse encapsulates the prophet Micaiah's divine vision revealing the inevitable defeat of King Ahab's army at Ramoth-gilead and the resulting death of Ahab himself. The imagery of "all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd" vividly portrays their utter disarray and vulnerability due to the demise of their leader. This prophetic pronouncement directly asserts YHWH's sovereign hand in bringing calamity (judgement/disaster) upon the unrepentant King Ahab and his kingdom due to their sustained idolatry and wickedness.
1 Kings 22 17 Context
1 Kings chapter 22 recounts the decision by King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah to reclaim Ramoth-gilead from Aram (Syria). While Ahab's 400 court prophets unanimously assure victory, Jehoshaphat, discerning their insincerity, insists on consulting a prophet of YHWH. Micaiah, despite facing scorn and pressure, is brought forth. He initially delivers an ironic prophecy of success but then reveals this true, devastating vision. This vision directly contradicts the consensus of the false prophets and signals divine judgment upon Ahab for his persistent wickedness, highlighting the tension between true divine revelation and politically convenient deception, ultimately demonstrating God's sovereign hand in all affairs.
1 Kings 22 17 Word analysis
- "And he said": Refers to Micaiah, distinguishing him as the sole true prophet among many false ones. His words carry the weight of divine revelation.
- "I saw": Denotes a prophetic vision given by God to Micaiah, emphasizing its certain, divinely ordained nature rather than a personal opinion or prediction. This indicates direct insight into heavenly reality.
- "all Israel": Refers specifically to the entire military force of Israel participating in the battle, symbolizing the full extent of the nation under Ahab's doomed leadership. It signifies a comprehensive judgment.
- "scattered": (Hebrew: putz-tseem, פֻצִּים) Implies disarray, confusion, and defeat in battle. This isn't just a retreat but a complete dispersal, losing all military order and command, signifying a crushing rout.
- "upon the hills": Illustrates their vulnerability, exposed and defenseless, with no refuge or unified defense strategy. This paints a stark picture of a defeated, broken army.
- "as sheep that have not a shepherd": (Hebrew: tso'n asher ein la-hem ro'eh, צֹאן אֲשֶׁר אֵין לָהֶם רֹעֶה) A powerful and recurrent biblical metaphor. "Sheep" represent the people or army, and the "shepherd" (ro'eh) symbolizes their leader, particularly the king (Ahab). This simile conveys profound helplessness, disorganization, and danger in the absence of a competent and living leader. It directly foreshadows King Ahab's death.
- "and the Lord said": Clearly identifies YHWH (יהוה) – the covenant God of Israel – as the source of Micaiah's vision and the authority behind the judgment. This sets His word against the deceitful prophecies of Ahab's prophets.
- "I will bring evil upon them": (Hebrew: mevi aleihem ra'ah, מֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם רָעָה) "Evil" here translates to calamity, disaster, misfortune, or judgment, rather than moral evil. It denotes a divine act, an orchestrated consequence from YHWH upon Israel (specifically through their leader Ahab) for their apostasy and defiance. This confirms God's active involvement in orchestrating the judgment.
- "I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd": This phrase functions as a concise yet devastating prophecy. It combines vivid imagery of military defeat (scattered on hills) with profound implications about leadership (sheep without a shepherd). The vision graphically foretells the utter chaos that will follow Ahab's death in battle, emphasizing the spiritual and practical void left by his removal.
- "and the Lord said, I will bring evil upon them": This powerful declaration attributes the impending disaster directly to YHWH's deliberate action and will. It establishes that the calamity is not arbitrary misfortune but a divinely ordained judgment against Israel, specifically due to Ahab's sinful leadership and the nation's spiritual straying. This confirms the true prophet's message against all comforting lies.
1 Kings 22 17 Bonus section
- Micaiah's prophetic delivery highlights the profound tension between unpopular divine truth and politically palatable lies. He endures opposition and imprisonment for delivering this message (1 Kgs 22:27).
- The 'sheep without a shepherd' motif foreshadows the broader spiritual state of Israel under wicked kings, where the people were left vulnerable and without true spiritual guidance. This theme resonates strongly in both the Old Testament's assessment of Israel's kings and the New Testament's depiction of the crowds Jesus ministered to.
- Despite Ahab's attempt to circumvent the prophecy by disguising himself in battle, God's sovereign judgment found him, demonstrating that divine decrees are inescapable.
- This verse subtly criticizes not just Ahab, but also Jehoshaphat, who allied himself with the wicked king despite warnings, demonstrating the spiritual dangers of unholy alliances even for righteous leaders.
- The concept of YHWH 'bringing evil' (judgment) serves as a polemic against pagan beliefs that attribute calamity to arbitrary fate or malevolent deities; instead, the God of Israel acts justly and purposively.
1 Kings 22 17 Commentary
Micaiah's prophecy in 1 Kings 22:17 serves as a stark contrast to the comfortable falsehoods spoken by Ahab's 400 prophets. It is a moment of divine truth breaking through layers of self-deception and political expediency. The imagery of "scattered sheep without a shepherd" precisely prefigures the death of King Ahab at Ramoth-gilead, demonstrating the tragic consequences of rebellious leadership. God's declaration, "I will bring evil upon them," highlights His active role in judgment and His sovereignty over nations and kings. This verse underscores the immutable nature of God's Word, which always comes to pass, validating the true prophet against popular deception and confirming that obedience to divine counsel is paramount.