1 Kings 22:9 kjv
Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.
1 Kings 22:9 nkjv
Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, "Bring Micaiah the son of Imlah quickly!"
1 Kings 22:9 niv
So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, "Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once."
1 Kings 22:9 esv
Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, "Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah."
1 Kings 22:9 nlt
So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, "Quick! Bring Micaiah son of Imlah."
1 Kings 22 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 22:7 | But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here..." | Jehoshaphat seeks true prophetic counsel. |
| 1 Ki 22:8 | And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah... I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil." | Ahab's aversion to inconvenient truth. |
| 1 Ki 22:15-18 | Micaiah's sarcastic and then true prophecy of Ahab's defeat. | Prophet speaks unwelcome truth. |
| Deut 18:20-22 | A prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. | Criteria for true vs. false prophecy. |
| Jer 23:16 | Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you... they speak a vision of their own imagination, not from the mouth of the Lord. | Warning against false prophets. |
| Isa 30:9-10 | This is a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, "Do not see visions!" and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions." | Desire for pleasing lies over truth. |
| Amo 7:10-13 | Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you... get out of here!" | Opposition to an inconvenient prophet. |
| Jer 20:2 | Pashhur had Jeremiah beaten and put him in the stocks... | Persecution of God's messengers. |
| Jer 38:4-6 | So the officials said to the king, "This man ought to be put to death..." and they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern... | Efforts to silence true prophecy. |
| Ezek 2:3-5 | Son of man, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me... whether they hear or refuse to hear—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. | Prophets sent despite rebellion. |
| Matt 23:37 | O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! | Israel's pattern of rejecting prophets. |
| Lk 6:23 | Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! | Persecution of God's faithful. |
| Jn 3:19-20 | And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. | Rejection of light due to evil deeds. |
| Acts 7:51-53 | "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit... Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?" | Resistance to God's Spirit and prophets. |
| 2 Chron 18:7-8 | Same account in Chronicles. | Parallel historical account. |
| Prov 29:1 | He who is often reproved, yet hardens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing. | Warning against stubborn resistance. |
| Psa 119:28 | My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! | Value of God's comforting and strengthening word. |
| Rom 10:14-15 | How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? | Necessity of a messenger's proclamation. |
| Rev 11:3-7 | I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy... | End-time prophets facing opposition. |
| Jer 26:20-23 | Story of Uriah, another prophet killed by King Jehoiakim. | Royal rejection and murder of prophets. |
| Gal 1:10 | For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. | Prophetic integrity and fear of God alone. |
| 2 Tim 4:3 | For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions. | Rejection of truth for personal desire. |
1 Kings 22 verses
1 Kings 22 9 Meaning
1 Kings 22:9 records a command given by King Ahab of Israel to one of his court officials. Realizing the insistence of King Jehoshaphat of Judah to consult a true prophet of the Lord, Ahab reluctantly orders that Micaiah the son of Imlah, a prophet he intensely disliked due to his consistently unfavorable prophecies, be brought quickly into their presence. This act demonstrates Ahab's internal conflict and his superficial deference to spiritual counsel while still intending to follow his own will.
1 Kings 22 9 Context
This verse is situated within a critical narrative in 1 Kings chapter 22, detailing the ill-fated alliance between King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah to reclaim Ramoth-gilead from the Arameans. Prior to the verse, Ahab has gathered 400 prophets, who, in unison, encourage him to go to war, promising victory. However, Jehoshaphat, discerning that these may not be prophets of the LORD, presses Ahab, "Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here whom we may inquire of?" (1 Ki 22:7). Ahab's grudging reply (1 Ki 22:8) reveals his disdain for Micaiah, a true prophet, admitting that he hates Micaiah because he only prophesies evil concerning him. Despite his strong dislike, likely to satisfy Jehoshaphat or perhaps with a lingering hope of a favorable word, Ahab orders Micaiah to be summoned. This immediate context highlights Ahab's dilemma: his desire for affirmation versus Jehoshaphat's demand for divine truth, setting the stage for Micaiah's uncompromising prophecy of Ahab's death. The broader historical context includes Ahab's consistent rebellion against the Lord, his confrontation with other true prophets like Elijah, and his establishment of Baal worship, which explains why there were 400 'prophets' ready to tell him what he wanted to hear.
1 Kings 22 9 Word analysis
- So: (Hebrew: וַיִּקְרָא -
wayyiqrā- literally "And he called"). This conjunction links the command directly to the preceding discussion where Ahab, reluctantly and only after Jehoshaphat's urging, acknowledges Micaiah. It shows the immediate consequence of Jehoshaphat's query. - the king of Israel: Identifies Ahab. His title here underscores his royal authority and power in issuing such a direct command, but also ironically highlights his kingship being challenged by a singular, despised prophet. Ahab's reign was largely defined by his wickedness and conflict with the prophets of the Lord.
- called: (Hebrew: וַיִּקְרָא -
wayyiqrā). Indicates a direct command or summoning. It implies authority and immediate expectation of obedience. - an officer: (Hebrew: סָרִיס -
sārîs). This term literally means "eunuch," but often refers to a high-ranking court official, irrespective of his physical state. Such officers held positions of trust and authority within the king's palace and administration. Sending asārîsimplies the seriousness and formal nature of the king's summons. These officials often managed aspects of the royal household, including confidential matters or sensitive interactions. - and said: Introduces the king's direct order.
- 'Bring: (Hebrew: הָבִיאָה -
hāḇîʾāh). An imperative verb, "cause to come" or "bring." It emphasizes the king's authoritative command for Micaiah to be fetched immediately and presented before them. - Micaiah: (Hebrew: מִיכָיְהוּ -
Mîkāyhū). Meaning "Who is like Yahweh?" or "Who is like the Lord?". His name contrasts sharply with the contents of his prophecies, consistently declaring judgment and illustrating the incomparable power and truth of the Lord. He stands in stark opposition to the 400 court prophets. - the son of Imlah: Specifies his lineage, distinguishing him from any other Micaiah. It anchors him to his identity, perhaps indicating his humble or obscure background compared to the prominent court prophets, reinforcing his status as an independent prophet of the Lord.
- quickly: (Hebrew: מְהֵרָה -
məhērāh). This adverb emphasizes the urgency of the command. Ahab's "hatred" (1 Ki 22:8) for Micaiah's prophecies clashes with this urgency, suggesting a blend of impatience, perhaps some last-ditch hope for a different outcome, or simply a desire to get the unwelcome task over with and proceed with his plan for battle.
1 Kings 22 9 Bonus section
The immediate request for Micaiah "quickly" following Ahab's declaration of hatred for him demonstrates the depth of Ahab's dilemma. He desired divine affirmation but could not receive it truthfully. This subtle urgency reveals a king trapped between his pride and a growing premonition of fate. The event underscores that true prophets of God are not motivated by royal favor or public popularity, but by direct obedience to the Lord, often speaking unpalatable truths at great personal cost. Micaiah's willingness to speak a message directly opposed to the 400 false prophets, even after being advised to conform (1 Ki 22:13), sets him as a stark example of prophetic integrity. This tension sets the stage for one of the most powerful encounters between true and false prophecy in the Old Testament, where Micaiah's vision (1 Ki 22:19-23) shockingly reveals that the 400 prophets were being led astray by a deceptive spirit sent by God as a judgment against Ahab.
1 Kings 22 9 Commentary
1 Kings 22:9 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of King Ahab. After being challenged by Jehoshaphat, Ahab, despite his declared hatred for Micaiah due to the consistent nature of his "bad" prophecies (1 Ki 22:8), still commands his officer to bring the prophet quickly. This act showcases the tension inherent in Ahab's leadership. He preferred agreeable lies that aligned with his military aspirations over the uncomfortable truth from the Lord. Yet, pressed by Jehoshaphat, Ahab must outwardly perform an act of piety, sending for the genuine prophet. The "quickly" indicates an impatient urgency, possibly to validate his own pre-determined decision or to swiftly dismiss the prophet whose words he already anticipates. The king, embodying spiritual blindness, only seeks prophetic confirmation of his will, not guidance for the Lord's will. Micaiah's isolated stand as a solitary prophet against 400 false ones highlights the theme of divine truth often being a minority voice against popular, self-serving consensus. The verse underscores God's persistent attempt to speak truth to power, even when that truth is rejected by those in authority, leading ultimately to divine judgment upon their persistent rebellion.