2 Chronicles 18:13 kjv
And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.
2 Chronicles 18:13 nkjv
And Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak."
2 Chronicles 18:13 niv
But Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD lives, I can tell him only what my God says."
2 Chronicles 18:13 esv
But Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak."
2 Chronicles 18:13 nlt
But Micaiah replied, "As surely as the LORD lives, I will say only what my God says."
2 Chronicles 18 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 18:18 | I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites... | God promises to raise true prophets. |
| Jer 23:28 | Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream... and he who has my word speak my word faithfully. | Distinction between dreams and God's true word. |
| Eze 13:3-7 | "Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!" | Condemnation of false prophets speaking from themselves. |
| 1 Kin 22:14 | But Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, whatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak." | Parallel verse, verbatim confirmation of the account. |
| Num 23:26 | But Balaam replied to Balak, "Did I not tell you, 'Whatever the LORD says, that I must do'?" | Echo of speaking only God's words, though Balaam later fell. |
| Job 13:7 | Will you speak unjustly for God, and speak deceitfully for him? | Rhetorical question about speaking falsely for God. |
| Acts 5:29 | But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men." | Apostolic principle of obedience to God over human authority. |
| 2 Tim 4:2 | Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with complete patience and teaching. | Imperative for ministers to preach God's word without compromise. |
| Psa 119:160 | The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever. | Affirmation of the truthfulness and eternal nature of God's word. |
| Joh 8:45 | But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. | Jesus, as the ultimate prophet, facing rejection for truth. |
| Prov 10:19 | When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. | Wisdom regarding speaking, contrasting Micaiah's precise speech. |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword... | Nature of God's word as potent and penetrating. |
| Jer 14:14 | The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them... | God explicitly disowns prophets speaking from their own heart. |
| Isa 55:11 | So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty... | God's word accomplishing His purpose. |
| Mat 5:11-12 | Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely... | Micaiah's experience of persecution for truth foreshadowed. |
| Lk 6:22-23 | Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you... because of the Son of Man. | Persecution of God's messengers for bearing truth. |
| Amos 7:14-15 | But Amos replied to Amaziah, "I was no prophet, nor the son of a prophet; but I was a herdsman... The LORD took me... and said, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'" | A prophet speaking solely on God's command. |
| 2 Pet 1:21 | For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. | Divine inspiration of true prophecy, contrasting human invention. |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | For rebellion is as the sin of divination... | Rejection of God's word (Ahab's later action) equated with grave sin. |
| Psa 33:9 | For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. | Emphasizes the creative and authoritative power of God's word. |
| Phil 1:20 | ...with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body... by life or by death. | Commitment to faithfulness even unto death. |
| Pro 29:25 | The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe. | Contrasts Micaiah's fearlessness with fear of Ahab. |
| Jer 1:17 | But you, dress yourself for work; arise and say to them everything that I command you. | Commission to speak God's full word. |
2 Chronicles 18 verses
2 Chronicles 18 13 Meaning
This verse succinctly captures Micaiah's unwavering commitment to divine truth, directly contrasting the overwhelming tide of false prophecy surrounding King Ahab. It declares his steadfast resolve to speak only what God reveals, placing divine authority above all human pressures, royal commands, or personal danger. His oath signifies that his life and message are bound entirely to the LORD, serving as a powerful declaration of prophetic integrity and obedience.
2 Chronicles 18 13 Context
This verse is central to the confrontation between true and false prophecy in 2 Chronicles 18. King Ahab of Israel, seeking to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead from the Arameans, had consulted 400 prophets, all of whom unanimously affirmed his success. Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, present as an ally, senses a lack of genuine divine counsel and asks for "a prophet of the LORD besides these." Micaiah, though disliked by Ahab for consistently prophesying evil, is reluctantly summoned. Just before this verse, the messenger tries to persuade Micaiah to conform his message to that of the 400 prophets. Micaiah's declaration in verse 13 is his steadfast response, immediately preceding his vision of the true divine council and his accurate, albeit unpopular, prophecy of Ahab's demise. The historical context involves the strained yet often allied relationship between the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and Southern Kingdom (Judah), with recurring conflicts with surrounding nations like Aram. The scene vividly contrasts politically expedient prophecies with the courageous, unyielding voice of a true prophet.
2 Chronicles 18 13 Word analysis
- But (אָכֵן - 'ākhēn): This conjunctive particle functions as a strong contrast, emphasizing Micaiah's statement against the preceding persuasive attempts of the messenger and the unanimous, yet false, prophecy of the 400. It signals a turning point in the narrative.
- Micaiah (מִיכָיְהוּ - Mîkhay'hû): Meaning "Who is like Yahweh?". His name itself carries a powerful theological statement, aligning his identity with the uniqueness and sovereignty of God, further underscoring his faithfulness to God's word above human dictates.
- said: Simple declarative verb, but in context, signifies a resolute declaration, not a hesitant one.
- As the LORD lives (חַי יְהוָה - ḥay YHWH): A solemn, binding oath used in the Old Testament, equivalent to swearing upon God's very existence. This invokes the full authority and integrity of the covenant God, Yahweh (YHWH), the self-existent One. It elevates his coming words to divine authority, far above human opinion or decree.
- what my God says:
- what my God (אֱלֹהַי - 'elohay): The possessive pronoun "my" implies a personal and intimate relationship between Micaiah and God. It's not just "God," but his God, underscoring the direct source of his revelation. Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) denotes God as the powerful and sovereign Creator, adding weight to His word.
- says: Implies active, present communication. Micaiah isn't recalling old prophecies but receiving a current divine utterance.
- that I will speak:
- that: A demonstrative, emphasizing the precise content he will deliver—nothing more, nothing less, nothing different.
- I will speak: A clear, volitional declaration. Micaiah’s action is entirely dependent on God's directive, but he commits fully to delivering it without alteration, despite potential dire consequences. It speaks to integrity and obedience.
2 Chronicles 18 13 Bonus section
- Micaiah's insistence on "what my God says" contrasts sharply with the general tendency of false prophets to speak "from their own hearts" or what people "want to hear."
- This verse encapsulates the very essence of true prophecy: not divination or flattering counsel, but the faithful transmission of God's revealed will.
- The severity of Micaiah's oath reflects the grave nature of his calling—false prophecy in ancient Israel was punishable by death, but true prophets who twisted God's word would also face severe divine judgment. Micaiah ensures his audience understands the gravity and truthfulness of his subsequent pronouncements.
- His stand illustrates the solitary and often confrontational nature of truly representing God in a world that resists divine authority. This aligns him with figures like Elijah who similarly stood against the majority for God's truth.
2 Chronicles 18 13 Commentary
Micaiah's declaration in 2 Chronicles 18:13 is a timeless testament to prophetic integrity. In a court filled with voices designed to please a king and validate his plans, Micaiah stands as a solitary figure, bound by a higher allegiance. His oath, "As the LORD lives," underscores that his life is consecrated to divine truth, making any deviation from God's word an act of personal and spiritual treason. The phrase "what my God says" emphasizes the personal, direct, and unadulterated nature of his prophetic calling; he is not an echoing chamber for popular opinion or royal convenience, but a faithful conduit for divine revelation. This commitment leads him to speak a deeply unwelcome truth, leading to persecution but ultimately revealing him as the true prophet of Yahweh, unlike the multitude of court prophets who merely reflected the king's desires. Micaiah embodies the ultimate obedience: prioritizing God's absolute word even when it costs dearly, providing a paradigm for faithfulness in ministry and life that rejects all compromise with worldly expediency.