2 Chronicles 18:11 kjv
And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
2 Chronicles 18:11 nkjv
And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the king's hand."
2 Chronicles 18:11 niv
All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. "Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious," they said, "for the LORD will give it into the king's hand."
2 Chronicles 18:11 esv
And all the prophets prophesied so and said, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph. The LORD will give it into the hand of the king."
2 Chronicles 18:11 nlt
All the other prophets agreed. "Yes," they said, "go up to Ramoth-gilead and be victorious, for the LORD will give the king victory!"
2 Chronicles 18 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 22:38 | Balaam said... "Must I not take heed to speak what the LORD putteth in my mouth?" | Prophetic integrity: speaking only God's words. |
| Deut 18:18-20 | "I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him... but the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him... shall die." | Defining a true prophet; the danger of false prophecy. |
| 1 Sam 3:17 | Eli said to Samuel... "Please do not hide it from me..." | Expectation for prophets to reveal God's whole message. |
| 1 Ki 22:14 | "As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will speak." | Parallel passage, identical declaration by Micaiah. |
| Isa 8:20 | "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." | Criterion for testing prophetic truth; adherence to divine revelation. |
| Jer 1:7 | The LORD said to me, "Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak." | God's commission for prophets to speak His words. |
| Jer 23:28 | "Let the prophet who has a dream tell a dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat?" | Distinguishing God's word from human invention in prophecy. |
| Jer 26:8 | "As soon as Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak..." | Prophet's obedience to deliver God's exact message. |
| Ezek 2:7 | "You shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear..." | Prophet's duty to speak despite reception. |
| Ezek 3:17 | "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me." | Watchman's responsibility to deliver God's message. |
| Acts 4:19-20 | Peter and John answered, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." | Apostolic boldness in prioritizing God's command over human authority. |
| Acts 5:29 | "We must obey God rather than men." | Core principle guiding faithful servants of God, echoing Micaiah's stance. |
| 1 Cor 2:13 | "And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual." | Paul's commitment to divinely inspired words. |
| 2 Tim 4:2 | "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." | Exhortation to faithfully proclaim God's word. |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit..." | The power and authority inherent in God's spoken word. |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Practical application of receiving God's word; obeying it. |
| 1 Pet 4:11 | "Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the actual words of God..." | Principle for speaking in ministry: as an oracle of God. |
| Prov 29:25 | "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe." | Micaiah's choice to fear God, not the king. |
| Isa 55:11 | "So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose..." | God's word's infallibility and power to achieve His will. |
| Amos 7:14-17 | Amos, though not a professional prophet, insisted he was commanded by God to speak. | God chooses whom He wills to speak His word, regardless of background. |
| Ps 119:42-43 | "...for I trust in your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules." | Desire for faithful speech based on God's truth. |
2 Chronicles 18 verses
2 Chronicles 18 11 Meaning
This verse captures the unshakeable resolve of the prophet Micaiah, declaring his absolute commitment to speak only what God reveals to him, regardless of human pressure or desired outcomes. It asserts the divine origin and authoritative nature of his message, underscoring the integrity demanded of a true prophet who prioritizes obedience to the Lord above all else.
2 Chronicles 18 11 Context
This verse is a crucial declaration by the prophet Micaiah in the presence of King Jehoshaphat of Judah and King Ahab of Israel. The setting is a moment of decision, where Ahab seeks prophetic counsel regarding a battle against Ramoth-gilead. Prior to this verse, Ahab had consulted 400 court prophets who unanimously assured him victory. King Jehoshaphat, however, discerned their flattery and asked for a prophet of the Lord, leading to Micaiah's reluctant summoning. An officer of the king, attempting to sway Micaiah, advises him to conform his message to the consensus of the 400 prophets, suggesting that he, too, should give a favorable prophecy. Micaiah's powerful response in 2 Chron 18:11 is his firm and unyielding resolve to speak only what Yahweh truly says, a stark contrast to the deceptive prophecies of the king's advisors. This incident serves as a vital historical lesson on the integrity of divine revelation versus human pleasing, culminating in the tragic fulfillment of Micaiah's warning concerning Ahab's death.
2 Chronicles 18 11 Word analysis
- And Micaiah said: Micaiah (מִיכָיְהוּ - Miykayhu), meaning "Who is like Yahweh?". His name itself carries prophetic weight, posing a rhetorical question that subtly points to Yahweh's unparalleled authority and truthfulness, especially in contrast to the numerous false prophets.
- As the LORD liveth: (חַי-יְהוָה - Chai-Yahweh). This is a solemn and potent oath, declaring commitment by the living God. It is often used to emphasize the absolute certainty and divine authority of the subsequent statement. It functions here not as a wish but as an affirmation of God's active, present reality and Micaiah's direct accountability to Him. This form of oath grounds his prophetic declaration in the ultimate reality of God's existence and power.
- what the LORD saith unto me: This phrase highlights the divine origin of the message. The prophet is merely a vessel, not the author. "LORD" (יְהוָה - Yahweh) is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship and sovereign authority over Israel and all creation. "Saith unto me" (`דָּבַר` - dabar, to speak, to word) underscores direct revelation. True prophecy originates from God alone.
- that will I speak: This is the core of Micaiah's resolute integrity and courage. It expresses a determined and unreserved commitment to deliver God's exact message, without addition, subtraction, or alteration, irrespective of personal consequence or the popularity of the message. It signifies a profound act of obedience and faithfulness in the face of pressure.
- "As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me" (word-group): This phrase group forms the theological foundation and moral imperative for Micaiah's stance. The oath establishes the unassailable truth and authority of his source (the living God), while "what the LORD saith unto me" explicitly names that source as Yahweh, defining the prophet's role as a faithful conveyor of divine revelation. This completely removes the message from human will or persuasion.
- "that will I speak" (word-group): This phrase group defines the prophet's unyielding action and fidelity. It is a direct declaration of courageous obedience, sealing his commitment to deliver the authentic word of God, distinguishing him sharply from the opportunistic false prophets who spoke what the kings desired to hear. It sets the standard for prophetic integrity.
2 Chronicles 18 11 Bonus section
Micaiah's situation in 2 Chronicles 18 illustrates a polemic against common Near Eastern practices where court prophets or diviners would often serve the king's interests, tailoring their oracles to maintain favor. In contrast, the true prophets of Yahweh, like Micaiah, consistently spoke truth that often challenged the prevailing political or social norms, sometimes at great personal cost. This defiance was rooted in the unique Israelite covenant relationship where God, not the king, was the ultimate sovereign. The passage also foreshadows the recurring tension throughout Scripture between divine truth and popular falsehood, a struggle epitomized by Christ and the apostles. The prophet's task, exemplified by Micaiah, was not merely to predict the future but to declare God's character and will, confronting sin and calling for righteousness, a word often met with hostility rather than acceptance.
2 Chronicles 18 11 Commentary
2 Chronicles 18:11 powerfully encapsulates the essence of true prophetic ministry: uncompromising obedience to God's revealed word. Micaiah's solemn oath and unwavering declaration stand in stark contrast to the 400 false prophets who delivered convenient, flattering messages to King Ahab. Micaiah refused to dilute or alter God's message, even under direct pressure from the king's officer, understanding that his ultimate allegiance was to Yahweh, not to earthly rulers or their desires. This verse underscores that a genuine spokesperson for God speaks only what God Himself has spoken, regardless of whether it brings favor or wrath, popularity or persecution. It highlights that the fear of God must always supersede the fear of man, demonstrating that divine truth is never negotiable or subject to human consensus. Micaiah's example serves as an enduring paradigm for all who are called to speak on God's behalf, emphasizing the paramount importance of integrity, courage, and fidelity to the divine message.