2 Chronicles 18:10 kjv
And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.
2 Chronicles 18:10 nkjv
Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, "Thus says the LORD: 'With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.' "
2 Chronicles 18:10 niv
Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns, and he declared, "This is what the LORD says: 'With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.'?"
2 Chronicles 18:10 esv
And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, "Thus says the LORD, 'With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.'"
2 Chronicles 18:10 nlt
One of them, Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, made some iron horns and proclaimed, "This is what the LORD says: With these horns you will gore the Arameans to death!"
2 Chronicles 18 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 13:1-5 | If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you… saying, "Let us go after other gods…" you shall not listen… | Warning against false prophets and idolatry |
| Deut 18:20-22 | But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name which I have not commanded… shall die. | God's judgment on false prophecy |
| Jer 14:14 | The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I have not sent them… a false vision. | Jeremiah against false prophets of his day |
| Jer 23:16-17 | They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the LORD. | False prophets speaking from themselves |
| Jer 28:10-17 | Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke from the prophet Jeremiah’s neck… This very year I will break the yoke… | Hananiah's false prophecy and symbolic act |
| Lam 2:14 | Your prophets have seen for you false and worthless visions… | Deceptive nature of false visions |
| Ezek 13:6-7 | They have envisioned futility and false divination… Have you not envisioned a futile vision? | Against those who prophesy from their own spirit |
| Mt 7:15 | Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. | Jesus' warning about false teachers |
| 2 Pet 2:1 | But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you… | Persistence of false prophecy/teaching |
| 1 Ki 22:11 | Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made for himself horns of iron and said, "Thus says the LORD: 'With these…'" | Parallel account in Kings |
| 1 Ki 22:23 | So now behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets. | God allowing deception (Micaiah's explanation) |
| 2 Chr 18:21-22 | And the LORD said, "Who will entice Ahab…? "And a spirit came forward… said, "I will be a lying spirit…'" | God's permission of deception |
| Isa 44:25 | Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolish; | God's sovereignty over false claims |
| Pro 19:21 | Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the LORD will stand. | God's ultimate counsel prevails |
| Jer 27:2-7 | Make yourself bonds and yokes, and put them on your neck… deliver them to the king of Edom… | Jeremiah's symbolic action for judgment |
| Ezek 4:1-12 | Take a clay tablet… and carve the city of Jerusalem on it… Lie on your left side… | Ezekiel's extensive symbolic actions |
| Acts 21:11 | When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit…" | Agabus's prophetic symbolic act |
| Psa 75:4-5 | I said to the boastful, "Do not deal boastfully," And to the wicked, "Do not lift up the horn…" | Horn as a symbol of arrogant power |
| Psa 92:10 | But You have exalted my horn like a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil. | Horn as a symbol of strength and honor (positive) |
| Zech 1:18-21 | Then I raised my eyes… there were four horns. "These are the horns that have scattered Judah…" | Horns symbolizing destructive worldly powers |
| Exod 21:28-32 | If an ox gores a man or a woman to death… | Usage of "gore" in law context |
| Deut 33:17 | His glory is like a firstborn bull, And his horns are like the horns of wild oxen; With them he shall push the peoples to the ends of the earth. | Goring as a symbol of powerful conquest (Joseph's tribes) |
| 2 Chr 18:3 | Then King Jehoshaphat of Judah said to the king of Israel, "I am as you are…" | Context of the unholy alliance |
2 Chronicles 18 verses
2 Chronicles 18 10 Meaning
In 2 Chronicles 18:10, the false prophet Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, creates iron horns and dramatically declares a message purportedly from the LORD. His act and words promise King Ahab and King Jehoshaphat a decisive, annihilating victory over the Syrians, stating that with these horns, the kings will "gore the Syrians until they are destroyed." This event exemplifies a bold, performative deception, seeking to affirm the kings' desire for war and assure them of divine endorsement for their military campaign against Ramoth Gilead, directly contrasting God's true warning delivered by Micaiah.
2 Chronicles 18 10 Context
Chapter 18 of 2 Chronicles parallels 1 Kings chapter 22 and describes the alliance between King Jehoshaphat of Judah and King Ahab of Israel for a military campaign to reclaim Ramoth Gilead from the Syrians. Ahab, before going to battle, seeks a word from the LORD. He gathers his 400 prophets, who, in unison, encourage him to go to war and promise victory. Zedekiah's dramatic performance with iron horns occurs within this collective chorus of false assurance, directly before Micaiah, the true prophet of the LORD, is brought in to deliver God's contrary word of judgment and defeat. The verse serves as a potent example of how false prophets appeal to popular desire and political expediency rather than divine truth.
2 Chronicles 18 10 Word analysis
- Then Zedekiah (צִדְקִיָּהוּ, Tsidqiyyahu): The name means "My righteousness is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is righteous," which is deeply ironic considering he utters a falsehood and leads the king to ruin. He is distinguished by being "the son of Chenaanah."
- the son of Chenaanah (כְּנַעֲנָה, Kena'anah): The patronymic might hint at a less established lineage or, in some interpretations, evoke the notion of "Canaanite," implying one whose practices might be aligned with pagan prophetic forms rather than true Yahwism, even if this Zedekiah was ostensibly a prophet of the Lord. His specific identity as Chenaanah's son differentiates him among the 400 prophets.
- made (עָשָׂה, 'asah): A common Hebrew verb meaning "to do," "to make," "to fashion." Here it implies an intentional, physical construction, signifying a deliberate preparation for his performative prophecy.
- horns (קֶרֶן, qeren): A horn, symbolically represents strength, power, defense, and attack. In biblical contexts, "horns" often signify a king's or kingdom's military might and authority. The plural indicates a formidable and dual or multiple thrust of power. Animals gore with horns, making them instruments of powerful, destructive force.
- of iron (בַּרְזֶל, barzel): Iron denotes immense strength, hardness, and unyielding nature. Unlike weaker metals or wood, iron horns symbolize an unstoppable, invincible force. The use of iron underscores the certainty and severity of the promised victory and destruction. It implies an overwhelming and irreversible triumph.
- for himself: Implies Zedekiah's initiative and self-directed action, distinguishing him as the instigator and performer of this specific, theatrical prophecy among the general prophetic pronouncements.
- and said (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayyomer): Introduces his verbal pronouncement, making it clear that his symbolic act is accompanied by a specific, declared message.
- 'Thus says the LORD (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, koh amar YHWH):': This is the standard, authoritative formula used by true prophets to preface direct revelation from God. Zedekiah's fraudulent use of this sacred declaration signifies his profound deception and blasphemy, as he attributes his own lie directly to the Almighty Yahweh.
- "With these you shall gore (תְּנַגַּח, tenaggah): The verb nagakh means "to butt," "to push," "to gore," or "to contend." It conveys an aggressive, powerful, and violent impact, suggesting a complete and forceful overpowering of the enemy.
- the Syrians (אֲרַמִּים, 'Arammim): Refers to the Aramaeans, the people of Aram, who were the geopolitical adversaries, specifically their military forces at Ramoth Gilead. The target of this prophetic violence is explicitly identified.
- until they are destroyed (כַּלָּה, kallah)": From kalah, meaning "to finish," "to bring to an end," "to consume," or "to destroy utterly." This emphasizes a total, definitive annihilation, not just a victory or repulse. It promises absolute eradication of the enemy, aligning with the desires of Ahab for total triumph.
2 Chronicles 18 10 Bonus section
The account of Zedekiah's iron horns highlights the ancient practice of symbolic acts within prophecy, which were often powerful conveyors of divine messages. While true prophets like Jeremiah (Jer 27:2) and Ezekiel (Ezek 4:1ff) also employed such acts, Zedekiah's use was manipulative and deceptive. This emphasizes the need for discernment, as the form of communication might be similar, but the source and content are vastly different. The narrative subtly warns against the dangers of kings or leaders seeking prophecies that only confirm their preconceived notions or desires, rather than genuinely seeking God's will. It also underscores the isolation and unpopularity often faced by true prophets, who, like Micaiah in this chapter, stand against a multitude of flatterers and deliver an inconvenient truth.
2 Chronicles 18 10 Commentary
Zedekiah's dramatic performance in 2 Chronicles 18:10 encapsulates the essence of false prophecy: a compelling, reassuring message crafted to align with human desires rather than divine truth, often employing theatrical elements to heighten its impact. His creation of iron horns, symbols of unyielding strength, combined with the false appropriation of the authoritative phrase "Thus says the LORD," was designed to be supremely convincing to King Ahab and Jehoshaphat. This spectacle provided not just verbal encouragement but a powerful visual and physical affirmation of the 400 prophets' unified, albeit deceitful, message of victory. Zedekiah’s prophecy presented a deceptive spiritual "seal" on a war campaign destined for disaster. It reveals the seductive power of affirmations that pander to kingly ambition and popular sentiment, directly opposing the solitary and unpopular truth presented by Micaiah. The outcome of the battle, where Ahab perishes, dramatically confirms the falsehood of Zedekiah's declaration, serving as a timeless warning against relying on those who prophesy from their own imagination for personal gain or popularity.