1 Kings 22:6 kjv
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
1 Kings 22:6 nkjv
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?" So they said, "Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king."
1 Kings 22:6 niv
So the king of Israel brought together the prophets?about four hundred men?and asked them, "Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" "Go," they answered, "for the Lord will give it into the king's hand."
1 Kings 22:6 esv
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?" And they said, "Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king."
1 Kings 22:6 nlt
So the king of Israel summoned the prophets, about 400 of them, and asked them, "Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?" They all replied, "Yes, go right ahead! The Lord will give the king victory."
1 Kings 22 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 22:2-3 | King of Israel... proposed to Jehoshaphat... "Will you go with me?" | Context: Ahab seeks military alliance for Ramoth-gilead. |
| 1 Ki 22:7 | Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here another prophet of the LORD...?" | Discernment: Jehoshaphat's doubt regarding these prophets. |
| 1 Ki 22:11 | Zedekiah made for himself horns of iron and said... "Thus says the LORD..." | False prophecy: Visual action reinforcing a lie in Yahweh's name. |
| 1 Ki 22:22 | And the LORD said to him, 'How?' ... 'I will go out and be a deceiving spirit...' | Divine Sovereignty: God allowing a spirit of deception on prophets. |
| 1 Ki 22:28 | Micaiah said, "If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." | True vs. False: The test of a true prophecy by its fulfillment. |
| 2 Chr 18:1-2 | Jehoshaphat had great riches... he allied himself with Ahab... | Parallel: Jehoshaphat's problematic alliance with Ahab. |
| 2 Chr 18:6 | Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD besides these...?" | Parallel: Jehoshaphat's need for authentic prophecy is highlighted. |
| Deut 13:1-5 | If a prophet arises... and gives you a sign... saying, 'Let us go after other gods...' | False Prophet Test: Disregarding true God or promoting other gods. |
| Deut 18:20-22 | But the prophet who presumes to speak a word... that I have not commanded him... | False Prophet Test: Speaking a word not from God; prediction failing. |
| Jer 14:14 | "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name... a deceptive vision..." | Condemnation: Prophets speaking lies and false visions in God's name. |
| Jer 23:16-17 | "Do not listen to the words of the prophets... who fill you with vain hopes..." | Warning: False prophets offering pleasant, false messages. |
| Jer 23:25-28 | "I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name..." | God's Judgment: God condemns prophets for lying in His name. |
| Ezek 13:3 | "Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit..." | Condemnation: Prophets following their own ideas, not God's Spirit. |
| Ezek 13:8 | "Because you have spoken falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore I am against you..." | Consequences: God's opposition to prophets of falsehood. |
| Mic 3:5 | "Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray..." | Condemnation: Prophets leading people astray for gain. |
| Isa 30:10 | who say to the seers, "Do not see visions," and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us what is right..." | Human Desire: People wanting pleasing lies instead of truth. |
| Lam 2:14 | Your prophets have seen for you false and misleading visions... | Result: False visions leading people astray into their iniquity. |
| Hos 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge... | Consequences: People destroyed when spiritual guidance is corrupted. |
| Matt 7:15-16 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing..." | NT Warning: False prophets disguised, revealed by their fruits. |
| 2 Pet 2:1 | But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you... | NT Warning: Continuation of false prophets/teachers in New Covenant. |
| 1 Jn 4:1 | "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits..." | Discernment: The command to test every spirit claiming divine origin. |
| 2 Tim 4:3-4 | For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching... | End Times: People preferring pleasing fables over sound doctrine. |
1 Kings 22 verses
1 Kings 22 6 Meaning
King Ahab of Israel assembled a large group of four hundred individuals, identified as "prophets," seeking divine counsel on whether to launch a military campaign against Ramoth-gilead. These prophets, acting in unison, unanimously declared that he should proceed with the battle, confidently asserting that "the Lord" would deliver the city into the king's control. This verse highlights the practice of consulting prophets before major decisions, the quantity of court-appointed or compromised religious figures in Israel, and their readiness to deliver a seemingly positive, yet ultimately false, prophecy in the name of the covenant God.
1 Kings 22 6 Context
The events of 1 Kings chapter 22 recount a pivotal confrontation between true and false prophecy, culminating in King Ahab's demise. Before this verse, Ahab, King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and notorious for his wickedness and promotion of Baal worship, formed an alliance with Jehoshaphat, the generally righteous King of Judah, through marriage. Jehoshaphat visited Ahab, who proposed a joint military campaign to reclaim Ramoth-gilead from the Arameans. Jehoshaphat, while agreeing to the alliance, insisted they first inquire of "the word of the Lord." This sets the stage for 1 Kings 22:6, where Ahab presents his 400 prophets, attempting to fulfill Jehoshaphat's request with what appear to be court-appointed seers.
Historically, Ramoth-gilead was a strategically important city disputed between Israel and Aram (Syria). Ahab's desire to recapture it fueled his search for a prophecy endorsing his campaign. This episode also stands within a larger biblical narrative detailing the consequences of syncretism and idolatry in Israel, exemplified by Ahab and his queen Jezebel. The presence of numerous court prophets reflects a religious climate where "prophecy" could be manipulated to serve royal interests rather than divine truth, highlighting the critical need for spiritual discernment.
1 Kings 22 6 Word analysis
- Then the king of Israel: This refers to Ahab, Israel's monarch known for his pervasive wickedness and idolatry (1 Ki 16:30-33). His character defines the corrupted environment in which this "prophecy" unfolds.
- gathered the prophets together:
- prophets (נְבִיאִים, nevi'im): Individuals who claimed to receive and speak divine messages. In this context, given Ahab's promotion of Baalism, these are likely official court prophets subservient to the king, rather than true Yahweh prophets. They might have been Baal/Asherah prophets, or syncretistic prophets who mixed Yahweh worship with pagan practices, effectively diluting truth for royal favor. Their purpose here is to validate the king's will, not convey God's.
- about four hundred men: This substantial number indicates a well-established and large group of prophets. It underscores the pervasive nature of state-sanctioned prophecy that directly contrasts with the often solitary voice of true prophets like Elijah or Micaiah. Large numbers do not equate to divine authority or truth.
- and said to them, 'Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?': Ahab's question implies a seeking of divine will, but his pre-existing intent to attack Ramoth-gilead is clear (1 Ki 22:3). This suggests he seeks validation for his desired action rather than genuine guidance from God. This type of inquiry is often a spiritual pitfall, seeking confirmation of one's own desires rather than seeking God's transformative will.
- And they said, 'Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.':
- Go up: A direct command, immediately granting Ahab the permission he sought. This readiness to agree highlights their compromised integrity.
- for the Lord (יהוה, YHWH): This is the covenant name of God, used by these false prophets to give divine authority and legitimacy to their fabricated prophecy. The use of YHWH by corrupted prophets signifies a deep spiritual deception, exploiting the divine name for their own or the king's agenda, potentially even to sway Jehoshaphat, who specifically sought counsel from "the Lord." It demonstrates that false prophecy can use correct terminology but lead to disastrous ends.
- will give it into the hand of the king: A common Hebrew idiom for achieving victory and control over something. The essence of their false message is an unqualified promise of success and divine backing, providing precisely the pleasant news Ahab and his allies desired.
1 Kings 22 6 Bonus section
The scene in 1 Kings 22:6 foreshadows the spiritual battle that unfolds in the subsequent verses with Micaiah. The 400 prophets represent a system that has replaced authentic divine communication with human consensus and desire, serving the will of the ruler rather than the will of God. This also illuminates the profound spiritual state of the northern kingdom under Ahab's rule; religious institutions were so corrupted that delivering a unanimous lie in the name of God was the norm, making it extraordinarily difficult for the people to discern truth. It implicitly serves as a warning against conformity in belief simply because many people, especially those in authority, proclaim it. True prophecy is often singular and counter-cultural, challenging the status quo, whereas false prophecy tends to affirm the listener's preferences and comfort.
1 Kings 22 6 Commentary
1 Kings 22:6 is a critical pivot in the narrative of King Ahab, showcasing the pervasive nature of spiritual deception during his reign. The scene reveals a religious establishment that has become a tool of the monarchy, rather than a channel of divine truth. The sheer number of "prophets" (400) immediately signals that this is not an authentic gathering of God's uncompromised messengers. Unlike genuine prophets who often spoke unpopular or challenging words, these court prophets likely enjoyed royal patronage precisely because they delivered palatable messages.
Their immediate and unanimous affirmation ("Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king") further highlights their complicity or self-deception. This is a form of prophetic flattery, providing a favorable outcome that aligned with the king's military ambition. The most significant and deceptive aspect is their appropriation of the divine name, YHWH, to endorse their lie. By attributing a false promise of victory to the covenant God of Israel, they lend a deceptive legitimacy to their pronouncement, a dangerous spiritual tactic that mirrors how false teachers today can use biblical language to promote error. This verse underscores the ongoing need for spiritual discernment (as seen in Jehoshaphat's subsequent questioning in verse 7) and reminds believers that popularity, official sanction, or even the use of sacred terminology does not guarantee divine truth. The consequences of listening to such "prophets" were dire, as Ahab's fate demonstrates.