1 Kings 22 8

1 Kings 22:8 kjv

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

1 Kings 22:8 nkjv

So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say such things!"

1 Kings 22:8 niv

The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah." "The king should not say such a thing," Jehoshaphat replied.

1 Kings 22:8 esv

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."

1 Kings 22:8 nlt

The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, "There is one more man who could consult the LORD for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah." Jehoshaphat replied, "That's not the way a king should talk! Let's hear what he has to say."

1 Kings 22 verses

1 Kings 22 8 Meaning

King Jehoshaphat, observing the uniformly positive prophecies given by Ahab's 400 prophets concerning the battle for Ramoth-Gilead, expressed his apprehension. His question reflects a discerning heart that recognized the potential for flattery and deceit among the assembled prophets. He implicitly sought a true prophet of YHWH, the God of Israel, indicating a desire for genuine divine counsel rather than popular opinion or political convenience.

1 Kings 22 8 Context

The immediate context of 1 Kings 22:8 places it at a pivotal moment in the narrative where King Ahab of Israel sought to recapture Ramoth-Gilead from Aram (Syria), soliciting the help of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Ahab had gathered 400 of his "prophets," who all enthusiastically prophesied victory. This verse reveals Jehoshaphat's skepticism and spiritual discernment regarding the unanimous, flattering counsel. Historically, the Northern Kingdom of Israel under Ahab and his queen Jezebel was steeped in idolatry, particularly Baal worship, leading to widespread corruption of true prophetic traditions. Judah, under Jehoshaphat, largely maintained the worship of YHWH, though Jehoshaphat sometimes entered into ill-advised alliances with the wicked kingdom of Israel. Jehoshaphat's demand underscores the profound theological and spiritual divide between the two kingdoms despite their political alliance. It is a polemic against state-controlled prophecy designed to affirm the king's desires rather than speak God's truth, and highlights the ongoing tension between false, popular prophecies and the difficult, true word of YHWH.

1 Kings 22 8 Word analysis

• but (אַךְ - ʾak̄): A strong adversative conjunction, signifying a contrast or emphasis. It immediately sets up Jehoshaphat's statement as contrary to or discerning of the preceding events and words of Ahab's prophets. It indicates a pause or hesitation, prompting a critical inquiry.
• Jehoshaphat (יְהוֹשָׁפָט - Yehoshaphat): King of Judah. His name means "YHWH has judged" or "YHWH is judge." His very name contrasts with Ahab's practices, emphasizing his allegiance to YHWH, and implying his concern for proper divine judgment.
• said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyōʾmer): The standard Hebrew narrative conjunction-plus-verb, simply stating he spoke.
• Is there not still (הַאֵין עוֹד - haʾēn ʿôḏ): A rhetorical question expressing surprise or an expectation that something should be present, implying a deficiency or something missing. Jehoshaphat subtly, yet pointedly, challenges the authenticity or sufficiency of the 400 prophets Ahab had consulted, hinting they might not be true prophets of YHWH.
• a prophet (נָבִיא - nāvîʾ): Refers to a divinely inspired messenger, one who speaks for God. In this context, it contrasts sharply with the group previously presented, whose divine connection Jehoshaphat implicitly doubts.
• of the Lord (לַיהוָה - la-YHWH): Crucial designation. YHWH (tetragrammaton) is the covenant name of God, specific to the God of Israel. Jehoshaphat explicitly seeks one who speaks for this specific God, differentiating from prophets of Baal, or self-proclaimed prophets, or even prophets who claim YHWH but speak only what kings desire to hear.
• here (פֹּה - pōh): Locally present, in Samaria, Ahab's capital. This asks whether in this very place, notorious for idolatry, there could still be a true voice from God.
• that we may inquire of him? (וְנִדְרְשָׁה מֵאִתּוֹ - wəniḏrəšāh mêʾittô): "And we may seek from him." The verb darash (דָּרַשׁ) implies a deep, earnest seeking or consultation, often with religious or legal overtones. It denotes a serious attempt to obtain divine guidance, indicating Jehoshaphat's sincerity in wanting God's genuine will known.

Words-group Analysis

• "but Jehoshaphat said": This opening sets a clear counterpoint to the prevailing atmosphere. Ahab had presented a multitude of favorable prophets, yet Jehoshaphat's single voice immediately creates tension, signaling a departure from the group consensus and hinting at his unique spiritual discernment.
• "Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here": This rhetorical question is potent. It simultaneously questions the legitimacy of the prophets already consulted and asserts the fundamental necessity of YHWH's authentic voice in matters of state. Jehoshaphat intuitively perceives the collective voice of the 400 as a political echo chamber rather than divine revelation, underscoring the spiritual bankruptcy in Ahab's court.
• "that we may inquire of him": This phrase highlights the true purpose of seeking a prophet—not merely for affirmation, but for genuine, authoritative divine guidance. It contrasts with Ahab's tendency to gather "prophets" who merely served his political ambitions, demonstrating Jehoshaphat's commitment to divine authority even if inconvenient.

1 Kings 22 8 Bonus section

• Jehoshaphat's inquiry here showcases the critical importance of spiritual discernment, especially for leaders. He sensed a uniformity in the 400 prophets' message that lacked the divine complexity or potential for warning, characteristic of YHWH's genuine word.
• This verse indirectly sets up a polemic against the prophetic schools of Ahab's era that seemingly thrived by telling the king what he wanted to hear. It implicitly defends the independence and integrity of true prophecy, which often brought confrontational messages from YHWH to wicked kings.
• The persistence of "false prophets" and "false teachers" is a recurring theme throughout biblical history, from Moses' warnings to New Testament epistles. Jehoshaphat's question serves as a timeless call to seek and uphold the true word of God against all imitations.

1 Kings 22 8 Commentary

1 Kings 22:8 serves as a pivotal point, sharply contrasting genuine spiritual discernment with convenient deception. Jehoshaphat, despite his flawed alliance with the apostate Ahab, possessed a sincere desire for truth from YHWH, a hallmark of his general righteousness. His questioning of the 400 prophets reveals wisdom to detect flattery masquerading as divine revelation. It highlights the biblical tension between true prophets who speak God's challenging word (even if unpopular) and false prophets who merely affirm human desires. This verse directly sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation with Micaiah, the true prophet who would deliver YHWH's actual, unvarnished message of judgment, proving that God's truth cannot be silenced by majority opinion or kingly authority. It emphasizes the importance of discerning the source and nature of "prophetic" messages, insisting that God's word is singular, authentic, and not for sale or manipulation.