1 Kings 22 21

1 Kings 22:21 kjv

And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.

1 Kings 22:21 nkjv

Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, 'I will persuade him.'

1 Kings 22:21 niv

Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, 'I will entice him.'

1 Kings 22:21 esv

Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, 'I will entice him.'

1 Kings 22:21 nlt

and finally a spirit approached the LORD and said, 'I can do it!'

1 Kings 22 verses

1 Kings 22 21 Meaning

This verse describes a pivotal moment in Micaiah's prophetic vision, where a spirit from the heavenly council volunteers to entice King Ahab, leading him to his demise. It reveals a chilling aspect of divine sovereignty, indicating that God orchestrates events, even using deceptive means, to bring about His predetermined judgments. The Lord's subsequent question, "How?" demonstrates divine permission and participation in the plan to mislead Ahab, solidifying the decree for his judgment.

1 Kings 22 21 Context

1 Kings 22:21 is a crucial verse within Micaiah the prophet's extraordinary vision shown to King Ahab and King Jehoshaphat. Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, seeks counsel regarding going to war against Ramoth-Gilead. His 400 court prophets unanimously assure him of victory. However, Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, wisely suggests consulting a prophet of the Lord, leading to Micaiah's reluctant summons. Micaiah initially mocks Ahab by repeating the false prophets' assurances, but when pressed, he reveals this divine council scene. The immediate context of verse 21 is God's prior inquiry in verse 20: "Who will entice Ahab...?" The entire vision, and particularly this verse, aims to expose the deception underlying the favorable prophecies Ahab desires and believes, revealing them as part of God's judicial plan for Ahab's judgment. Historically, this occurs near the end of Ahab's reign, leading to his prophesied death. It starkly contrasts true prophecy (Micaiah's uncomfortable truth) with false prophecy (the agreeable but deceptive pronouncements of Ahab's court prophets).

1 Kings 22 21 Word analysis

Word-by-word analysis:

• Then (וַיֵּצֵא, va·ye·tse): Conveys sequence, marking the spirit's emergence from the divine council. The waw-consecutive imperfect indicates a sequential action within the narrative.
• a spirit (רוּחַ, ruach): The Hebrew ruach is versatile, meaning breath, wind, or spirit. Here, it signifies an immaterial being from the heavenly realm, an individual entity. Its precise nature (e.g., whether a righteous angel or an adversarial being permitted by God) is debated but points to a supernatural agent. The indefiniteness ("a spirit") leaves its identity open, emphasizing its role as an instrument.
• came forward (וַיֵּצֵא, va·ye·tse): From the verb yatsa, meaning "to go out, come forth." This implies its active emergence from the unseen assembly, taking a position before God to present its plan.
• and stood (וַיַּעֲמֹד, va·ya·'a·mod): From the verb amad, "to stand, to be present." This indicates its deliberate positioning before the Lord, signifying readiness to speak or act, in the manner of someone reporting or proposing within a formal court.
• before (לִפְנֵי, lif·nei): Literally "to the face of," denoting a direct presence, an audience with, or standing in the immediate presence of.
• the Lord (יְהוָה, YHWH): The covenant name of God, revealing Him as the sovereign ruler of the heavenly realm and orchestrator of human history, even when using agents for judgment.
• and said (וַיֹּאמֶר, va·yo·mer): Introduces direct speech, relaying the spirit's proposal.
• ‘I (אֲנִי, 'ani): Emphatic first-person pronoun, highlighting the spirit's personal initiative and willingness.
• will entice (אֲפַתֶּנּוּ, 'a·fat·ten·nu): From the Hebrew verb pathah, meaning "to open," then metaphorically "to persuade, entice, deceive, seduce, allure." It implies leading someone astray, often subtly and to their detriment. Here, it refers to leading Ahab into error through deception.
• him (ֶנּוּ, en·nu): Suffix indicating "him," referring directly to King Ahab, the target of the divine judgment.
• ’And the Lord (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, va·yo·mer YHWH): Reiteration of God as the one who speaks and responds, maintaining His ultimate authority.
• said to him (אֵלָיו, 'e·lav): "To him," referring to the spirit who just spoke.
• ‘How? (אֵיכָה, 'ei·kha): An interrogative asking "in what manner, how." This isn't a question of ignorance but an invitation for the spirit to elaborate on its method, demonstrating divine oversight and permission for the plan. It signifies God's deliberate engagement and allowance of the chosen means for judgment.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord": This phrase establishes the scene in the divine council (similar to scenes in Job and Isaiah), showcasing God's absolute sovereignty over heavenly beings. The spirit's independent action of "coming forward" to "stand before" the Lord indicates active participation and reporting, suggesting a subordinate yet proactive role within the heavenly court. This counters any notion of spirits operating independently of God's will.
• "and said, 'I will entice him.'": This is the core proposal. The spirit's declaration to "entice" Ahab directly addresses God's prior question ("Who will entice Ahab?") and volunteers for this task. The verb pathah (entice/deceive) underscores the nature of the action: it's not physical force, but subtle misleading, affecting Ahab's judgment. This prefigures the action of the false prophets whose words Ahab is willingly accepting.
• "And the Lord said to him, 'How?'": The Lord's simple, direct question is highly significant. It implies permission, not rejection. God does not initiate the deception itself, but when it is proposed, He inquires about the method, thereby implicitly granting approval for the plan's execution. This highlights God's judicial control: He is not tempted by evil (Jas 1:13) but can sovereignly use deception as a means of judgment for those who have persistently rebelled and refused the truth. It signifies His absolute authority and ultimate purpose being served through even such dark means. This is a divine act of 'giving over' (Rom 1:24, 26, 28) or 'sending strong delusion' (2 Th 2:11) for those bent on disobedience.

1 Kings 22 21 Bonus section

The vision presented in 1 Kings 22:19-23 is not meant to imply that God directly creates or inspires evil. Rather, it highlights His absolute authority to permit and even orchestrate events, including those involving evil agents, to achieve His righteous judgments. In the context of the heavenly court, the "spirit" (which some scholars view as a fallen angel or a member of the angelic host serving as an executioner of divine will) volunteers for a task that God has already purposed: the enticing of Ahab. The method chosen by this spirit (deception through false prophets, as revealed in verse 22) aligns with the Lord's decree for judgment against Ahab, who had shown repeated stubbornness and wickedness. This serves as a polemic against the idea that God's people should trust popular consensus over a single, truthful prophet, particularly when the king (Ahab) actively seeks comfortable lies over challenging truth. It underscores that God remains holy even while working through compromised means to justly condemn the wicked, as their fate is ultimately a consequence of their own choices and rejection of God.

1 Kings 22 21 Commentary

1 Kings 22:21 is a profound verse within Micaiah's prophetic vision, serving as a powerful demonstration of God's sovereign control, even over elements of deception. It portrays a dramatic scene in the heavenly council where, in response to God's inquiry as to who would "entice" Ahab, a spirit volunteers for the task. The Lord's simple follow-up, "How?", indicates not an unknowing question but a request for details, effectively giving permission and oversight to the spirit's plan.

This passage reveals that God, in His ultimate sovereignty, can use even deceptive means as instruments of His righteous judgment against those who have consistently rebelled and rejected truth. It's not that God actively causes people to sin, but for those who willingly persist in falsehood and rebellion (as Ahab did), God may allow or even orchestrate a scenario that confirms them in their chosen path towards deserved destruction. The spirit acts as an agent in a divine plan, not as an independent entity defying God's will. This challenges simplistic views of divine intervention and emphasizes that God is Lord over all creation, visible and invisible, righteous and unrighteous agents, bringing about His purposes. It serves as a stern warning against false prophecy and a reminder that pleasant messages do not always equate to truth or divine blessing, especially when one's heart is set against God.