2 Chronicles 18 12

2 Chronicles 18:12 kjv

And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

2 Chronicles 18:12 nkjv

Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Therefore please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement."

2 Chronicles 18:12 niv

The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, "Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably."

2 Chronicles 18:12 esv

And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, "Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably."

2 Chronicles 18:12 nlt

Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him, "Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success."

2 Chronicles 18 verses

2 Chronicles 18 12 Meaning

2 Chronicles 18:12 recounts the direct counsel given to the prophet Micaiah by the king's messenger. The verse emphasizes the widespread and unanimous agreement among the other prophets who uniformly declared favorable outcomes for King Ahab. The messenger then urges Micaiah to conform to this popular narrative, requesting that his prophetic word also be pleasant and affirming to the king. It highlights the pressure to prioritize human comfort and political expediency over divine truth, setting the stage for Micaiah's resolute stand for the Lord's word.

2 Chronicles 18 12 Context

This verse is positioned at a pivotal moment in the narrative of King Ahab's plan to wage war against Ramoth-Gilead, as recounted in 2 Chronicles 18 (parallel to 1 Kings 22). King Jehoshaphat of Judah has come to visit Ahab of Israel, and Ahab proposes a joint military campaign. Jehoshaphat, seeking divine approval, insists that they first inquire of the Lord. Ahab, in response, gathers his 400 "prophets," who are clearly aligned with his royal agenda and unanimously prophesy success. Jehoshaphat, however, senses the absence of true divine word and asks if there is "yet a prophet of the Lord here whom we may inquire of." Reluctantly, Ahab admits to Micaiah son of Imlah, whom he detests because Micaiah "never prophesies good for me, but always evil." This sets the stage for the messenger's appeal to Micaiah in verse 12, urging him to conform to the positive pronouncements of the 400 prophets and provide a politically expedient "favorable" prophecy. This immediate context highlights the tension between genuine prophetic ministry and a court prophecy corrupted by a desire to please the king.

Historically, this era of the divided kingdom saw the Northern Kingdom (Israel) deeply entrenched in idolatry and political instability, with Ahab and Jezebel notably promoting Baal worship. True prophets often stood as dissenting voices against royal corruption and religious syncretism, making their message inherently "unfavorable" to unrepentant kings.

2 Chronicles 18 12 Word analysis

• Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah: The messenger is an intermediary, representing the powerful influences and pressures surrounding Micaiah. His mission highlights the direct expectation of the powerful.
• spoke to him, saying: Indicates a direct, persuasive conversation, laying out the expectations explicitly.
• “Indeed, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king.
  • Indeed: Emphatic particle, stressing the certainty and uniformity of the situation.
  • the words of the prophets: Refers to the 400 royal prophets. Their "words" (דִּבְרֵי, divrei) are presented as a collective, consistent message, implying a unified front.
  • are uniformly: The Hebrew phrase is literally "with one mouth" (בְּפֶה אֶחָ֕ד, befe echad). This emphasizes complete consensus and solidarity among the 400, suggesting a manufactured or humanly agreeable narrative rather than divinely diverse insights. It subtly indicates a lack of true independent prophetic voice.
  • favorable (ט֫וֹב, tov): Meaning "good," "pleasant," "agreeable," or "beneficial." This is the core of the expected message – something pleasing to the king and supportive of his plans, regardless of its truthfulness.
  • to the king: The intended recipient and beneficiary of the prophecy. This clarifies that the prophecy's value is judged by its impact on the king, not by its alignment with God's will.
• Please let your word be like one of them, and speak favorably.”
  • Please (בְּקַשׁ־נָא, baqash-na): An earnest request or entreaty, rather than a command. It shows the messenger's hopeful plea for conformity and a desire to avoid confrontation, recognizing Micaiah's reputation for inconvenient truth.
  • let your word (וְהָיָה דְבָרְךָ, vehayah devarcha): A direct appeal to Micaiah's specific prophetic gift. "Your word" carries the weight of his perceived divine communication.
  • be like one of them: The central pressure point. The call is for conformity to the majority, a surrender of unique divine insight for societal acceptance. It is a request for Micaiah to abandon his distinct prophetic identity.
  • and speak favorably (וְדַבֵּר־טוֹב, vedaber-tov): Reinforces the specific outcome desired – pleasantness and affirmation. This phrase encapsulates the core tension: the pressure to dilute truth for agreeable human ends. The repetition of "tov" underscores the desired pleasing nature of the message.

2 Chronicles 18 12 Bonus section

The Hebrew phrasing "with one mouth" (בְּפֶה אֶחָ֕ד, befe echad) for "uniformly" is very vivid, implying not just agreement but a complete, almost orchestrated, vocal unity. This suggests the extent of the collective deception. In contrast, true prophecy from God often comes from a solitary voice (like Micaiah) that challenges popular consensus. This single phrase beautifully sets up the powerful dichotomy that unfolds, distinguishing between human-generated agreement and divine revelation, which frequently involves conflict and discomfort. This serves as a cautionary tale against judging truth by its popularity or unanimous human affirmation.

2 Chronicles 18 12 Commentary

2 Chronicles 18:12 is a powerful illustration of the pressure to compromise truth for comfort, consensus, and convenience. The messenger's words to Micaiah perfectly encapsulate the widespread human desire to hear pleasant, affirming messages, especially from those perceived as speaking for the divine. The phrase "uniformly favorable" or "with one mouth" highlights a deceptive unanimity—a common tactic of false prophecy or sycophancy, where truth is suppressed for the sake of political or social expediency.

Micaiah is being tempted to join the chorus of 400 "prophets" who tell the king exactly what he wants to hear. This is not just a polite request but a test of Micaiah's allegiance: will he serve man or God? The "favorable" word desired by the king and conveyed through the messenger represents the pervasive human tendency to embrace what confirms existing biases and comforts aspirations, rather than confronting hard truths or acknowledging inconvenient realities from God.

This verse serves as a crucial setup for Micaiah's remarkable faithfulness in the face of such pressure. His response, where he declares he will only speak what the Lord says, directly challenges the entire premise presented here, emphasizing that God's word is independent of human desires, royal decrees, or popular opinion. It underlines the lonely but essential calling of a true prophet or follower of Christ: to speak God's truth, no matter how unpopular or unfavorable it may be to the prevailing mindset. This principle remains timeless for believers to discern truth and stand firm in it amidst conforming pressures.