2 Chronicles 18:21 kjv
And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.
2 Chronicles 18:21 nkjv
So he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And the LORD said, 'You shall persuade him and also prevail; go out and do so.'
2 Chronicles 18:21 niv
"?'I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,' he said. "?'You will succeed in enticing him,' said the LORD. 'Go and do it.'
2 Chronicles 18:21 esv
And he said, 'I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.'
2 Chronicles 18:21 nlt
"And the spirit replied, 'I will go out and inspire all of Ahab's prophets to speak lies.' "'You will succeed,' said the LORD. 'Go ahead and do it.'
2 Chronicles 18 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 22:22 | And he said, "I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets." And he said, "You shall entice him, and shall succeed... | Parallel account, direct confirmation |
| Pss 78:49 | He let loose on them his burning anger... a company of destroying angels. | God uses agents, even destructive ones |
| Isa 19:14 | The Lord has mingled within her a spirit of confusion, and they have made Egypt stagger... | God can send spirits of error |
| Jer 14:14 | But the prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them... They are prophesying to you a lying vision... and the delusion of their own minds. | False prophets speaking lies |
| Eze 13:6-7 | They have seen false visions and uttered lying divinations... have you not seen a lying vision and uttered a false divination, though you say, "Declares the Lord," when I have not spoken? | God not behind false prophets' origin |
| Amos 3:6 | Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it? | God's ultimate sovereignty over events |
| 2 Thes 2:9-11 | The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion... | God sends delusion to those who reject truth |
| Rom 1:24-28 | Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity... For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions... God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. | God "gives up" those who persist in sin |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies... and in their greed they will exploit you with false words. | Warnings against false prophets/teachers |
| 1 Tim 4:1 | Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons. | Deceitful spirits as agents of apostasy |
| 1 Jn 4:1 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. | Discernment of spirits |
| Isa 6:9-10 | And he said, "Go, and say to this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people dull..." | God hardening hearts for judgment |
| Jer 20:7 | O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived... | Prophetic lament re: God's dealing |
| Ezr 9:14 | Shall we again break your commandments and make marriages with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us, even to destroy us... | Consequence of persistent disobedience |
| Jn 12:39-40 | Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart..." | Spiritual blindness for unbelief |
| Mt 7:15 | Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. | Danger of false prophets |
| Prov 1:24-28 | Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel... then they will call upon me, but I will not answer... | Consequences of rejecting wisdom/truth |
| Num 22:20 | And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise and go with them; but only do what I tell you." | God permitting, but directing, action |
| Jdg 9:23 | God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem... | God sends "evil spirits" for judgment |
| Zech 13:2 | "And on that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land... and also remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness." | False prophecy as an "unclean spirit" |
| Rev 16:13-14 | And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world... | Demonic spirits used for deception |
| 1 Sam 16:14 | Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. | Spirit from the Lord tormenting Saul |
| Pss 145:20 | The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. | God's destruction of the wicked |
2 Chronicles 18 verses
2 Chronicles 18 21 Meaning
2 Chronicles 18:21 records a specific moment in a vision seen by the prophet Micaiah, where a "spirit" volunteers to be a "deceiving spirit" in the mouths of King Ahab's 400 prophets. This spirit's offer is then explicitly affirmed and commanded by the Lord, who states it will succeed in enticing Ahab to his downfall. This verse reveals God's sovereign hand in judgment, even permitting a deceptive influence to lead those who have rejected truth into their self-chosen destruction.
2 Chronicles 18 21 Context
This verse is situated within a crucial encounter in the narrative of King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, before their ill-fated battle at Ramoth-Gilead. Jehoshaphat, a righteous king, has allied himself with Ahab, a notoriously wicked and idolatrous king. Before going to war, Jehoshaphat insists on consulting the Lord. Ahab's 400 court prophets all unanimously predict victory for Ahab, but Jehoshaphat senses their words lack divine authority and presses for a true prophet. Reluctantly, Ahab summons Micaiah, whom he detests because Micaiah "never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil" (2 Chr 18:7).
Initially, Micaiah delivers a mock prophecy echoing the 400 prophets, knowing Ahab's preferred answer. But under oath, Micaiah then reveals a chilling vision of God's heavenly court. It is in this vision that 2 Chronicles 18:21 occurs. This verse follows the Lord's question in the divine assembly: "Who will entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-Gilead?" and various spirits offering suggestions. Micaiah's vision provides the theological explanation for the overwhelming deception being delivered by Ahab's 400 prophets, asserting God's ultimate control even over these agents of falsehood. This historical context underlines Ahab's deep-seated rejection of God's true messengers and his preference for pleasing lies, making him ripe for divine judgment.
2 Chronicles 18 21 Word analysis
- Then he said: Refers to the spirit mentioned in the preceding verse (2 Chr 18:20), who presents a specific plan in response to the Lord's query in the heavenly council. This "spirit" is part of the divine assembly.
- 'I will go out (Heb. אֵצֵא, êtsê, "I will go forth, come out"): Indicates the spirit's active decision and intention to leave the heavenly council and engage with the world below, specifically with Ahab's prophets. This is a deliberate, chosen action by the spirit.
- and be a deceiving spirit (Heb. רוּחַ שֶׁקֶר, ruach sheqer, "spirit of falsehood/lie"):
- Spirit (ruach): In Hebrew, ruach can mean wind, breath, or spirit. Here, it refers to a sentient spiritual being, an agent of divine or demonic power.
- Deceiving/Lying (sheqer): Conveys falsehood, fraud, deceit. It's not just a mistake but an intentional misrepresentation of truth. The spirit will embody and promote falsehood.
- in the mouths of all his prophets (referring to Ahab's 400 prophets): This specifies the method and the instruments of the deception. The lying spirit will directly influence what Ahab's prophets utter, ensuring their message of false hope. It signifies a collective and powerful deception.
- 'And the Lord said, 'You are to entice him, (Heb. פָּתָה, pathah, "to persuade, deceive, entice, seduce"):
- The Lord (Yahweh): Emphasizes divine sovereignty. It's God's direct authorization of the spirit's proposed action.
- Entice (pathah): This verb can have connotations of seduction or trickery leading to error. Here, it highlights the persuasive nature of the lie that will appeal to Ahab's desire to believe it, drawing him further into delusion. It is not about causing Ahab to lie but causing Ahab to be persuaded by lies that lead to his downfall.
- and you shall succeed. (Heb. יָכֹל, yakhol, "to be able, prevail, overcome"): This is a divine guarantee of success. The spirit will not only attempt to deceive but will effectively accomplish its goal. This underscores the certainty of God's judgment against Ahab.
- Go forth and do so.'': A divine command and empowerment. This final imperative from the Lord fully commissions the spirit to execute its deceptive task, confirming it as an agent of divine judgment against Ahab.
2 Chronicles 18 21 Bonus section
The "heavenly council" (or divine assembly) imagery presented by Micaiah (1 Kgs 22:19-23 // 2 Chr 18:18-22) is a recurring motif in the Old Testament, suggesting that God rules His creation through spiritual intermediaries. This doesn't mean God is bound by their counsel but rather that He engages with spiritual beings in the administration of His kingdom and judgments. The specific type of spirit here is not named as angelic or demonic but simply as "a spirit." However, its function as a "spirit of falsehood" suggests a malevolent nature, yet it acts here under divine command. This narrative stresses God's absolute sovereignty, illustrating that even negative spiritual forces operate ultimately within the boundaries of His will to achieve His righteous judgments. It’s a powerful portrayal of God's justice allowing those who hate truth to be delivered to falsehood for their deserved doom.
2 Chronicles 18 21 Commentary
2 Chronicles 18:21 offers a profound and sobering insight into God's sovereign hand in judgment, particularly concerning those who persistently reject His truth. It doesn't depict God originating evil or directly lying, but rather exercising His control over all creation, including spiritual forces, to bring about His just purposes. In this vision, a "spirit of falsehood" volunteers to be the instrument through which King Ahab, a wicked ruler steeped in idolatry and rebellion against God, would receive deceptive counsel leading to his demise.
The Lord's subsequent approval and command to this spirit—"You are to entice him, and you shall succeed. Go forth and do so."—highlights divine permission and empowerment. Ahab was not tricked into something he was not predisposed to; rather, his long history of ignoring true prophets (like Elijah and Micaiah himself), and his preference for prophecies that aligned with his desires, left him spiritually vulnerable and ripe for delusion. The lying spirit merely capitalized on Ahab's already hardened heart and his deliberate choice to listen to "feel-good" pronouncements instead of inconvenient truth. This acts as a divinely sanctioned "strong delusion" (2 Thes 2:11), ensuring the desired outcome of judgment.
This passage teaches that while God is holy and cannot tempt anyone to sin, He can, in His righteous judgment, allow or even send influences (spiritual or otherwise) to confirm and accelerate the destruction of those who have decisively chosen unrighteousness over truth. It's a fearful testament to the consequences of persistent rebellion and the dangerous spiral of spiritual blindness that results from rejecting divine revelation. It further distinguishes between true and false prophecy, affirming that even false prophecies can operate under God's overarching permission for His own sovereign, redemptive, and judicial plans.