1 Kings 22:16
1 Kings 22:16 in Multiple Translations
But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?”
And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?
And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou speak unto me nothing but the truth in the name of Jehovah?
Then the king said to him, Have I not, again and again, put you on your oath to say nothing to me but what is true in the name of the Lord?
But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me only the truth in the name of the Lord?”
And the King said vnto him, How oft shall I charge thee, that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the Name of the Lord?
And the king saith unto him, 'How many times am I adjuring thee that thou speak nothing unto me but truth in the name of Jehovah?'
The king said to him, “How many times do I have to adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the LORD’s name?”
And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?
But the king said to him: I adjure thee again and again, that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord.
But King Ahab realized that Micaiah was ◄lying/being sarcastic►, so he said to Micaiah, “I have told you [RHQ] many times that you must always tell only the truth when you say what Yahweh has revealed to you!”
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Kings 22:16
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1 Kings 22:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Kings 22:16
Study Notes — 1 Kings 22:16
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Kings 22:16 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 22:16
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 22:16
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:16
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:16
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 22:16
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:16
- Sermons on 1 Kings 22:16
Context — Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab
16But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?”
17So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’” 18Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he never prophesies good for me, but only bad?”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acts 19:13 | Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I bind you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.” |
| 2 | Matthew 26:63 | But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.” |
| 3 | Joshua 6:26 | At that time Joshua invoked this solemn oath: “Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho; at the cost of his firstborn he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.” |
| 4 | Mark 5:7 | And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!” |
| 5 | Jeremiah 42:3–6 | Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do.” “I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will surely pray to the LORD your God as you request, and I will tell you everything that the LORD answers; I will not withhold a word from you.” Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act upon every word that the LORD your God sends you to tell us. Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us, for we will obey the voice of the LORD our God!” |
| 6 | Matthew 22:16–17 | They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance. So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” |
| 7 | 2 Chronicles 18:15 | But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?” |
| 8 | 1 Samuel 14:24 | Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food. |
1 Kings 22:16 Summary
In this verse, King Ahab asks the prophet Micaiah to promise to tell him the truth, even if it's not what he wants to hear. This shows that King Ahab values honesty, even if he doesn't always follow God's ways. We can learn from this by prioritizing truthfulness in our own lives, as encouraged in Proverbs 12:22 and Ephesians 4:25. By committing to speak the truth, we can build trust and integrity with others, and live in a way that honors God, as seen in Psalm 15:1-5 and 1 Peter 3:10-12.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did King Ahab ask Micaiah to swear to tell the truth in the name of the LORD?
King Ahab asked Micaiah to swear to tell the truth because he was skeptical of Micaiah's initial response, which seemed to contradict his expectations, as seen in 1 Kings 22:15, and he wanted to ensure that Micaiah would speak honestly, as the prophet had previously committed to doing in 1 Kings 22:14.
What is the significance of swearing in the name of the LORD?
Swearing in the name of the LORD, as mentioned in this verse, is a way of invoking God's authority and emphasizing the importance of truthfulness, as seen in Deuteronomy 10:20 and Jeremiah 12:16, where God's name is associated with faithfulness and integrity.
How does this verse relate to the concept of honesty and integrity?
This verse highlights the importance of honesty and integrity, as King Ahab recognizes the value of truthful speech, even if it is unpleasant, and this is a principle that is reinforced throughout the Bible, such as in Proverbs 12:22 and Colossians 3:9-10.
What can we learn from King Ahab's request for truthful speech?
We can learn that even those who may not always follow God's ways, like King Ahab, can recognize the importance of honesty and truthfulness, and this should encourage us to prioritize these values in our own lives, as encouraged in Ephesians 4:25 and Zechariah 8:16-17.
Reflection Questions
- What are some situations in my life where I am tempted to compromise the truth, and how can I apply the principle of honesty from this verse?
- How can I, like Micaiah, commit to speaking the truth, even if it is difficult or unpopular, and what support can I find in Scripture, such as in 1 Kings 22:14 and Acts 5:29?
- What are some ways that I can invoke God's authority in my own life, as King Ahab does in this verse, and how can this help me to live a more honest and integrity-filled life, as seen in Psalm 31:3-5 and 2 Timothy 2:15?
- How can I balance the desire for truthful speech with the need for sensitivity and compassion in my interactions with others, and what guidance can I find in Scripture, such as in Ephesians 4:15 and Colossians 4:6?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 22:16
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 22:16
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:16
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:16
Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 22:16
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:16
Sermons on 1 Kings 22:16
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Voice of Micaiah by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks explores the story of Micaiah, a minor prophet who stood alone against 400 false prophets, emphasizing the importance of truth over popularity. Micaiah's unwaverin |
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The Man Who Was Known in Hell by Rolfe Barnard | In this sermon, the preacher reflects on his preaching ministry and the impact it has had on people. He acknowledges that he may never know the full extent of the number of people |
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New Covenant- God's Final Goal - Church -Part 1 by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding the New Covenant, highlighting how many Christians are unaware of its significance despite its existence for centuries. It de |
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Utterance by Rolfe Barnard | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of presenting Christ in the truth as found in the Bible. He warns against accepting a distorted version of Jesus or reducing |
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Making the Testimony of Jesus Our Testimony by Stephen Kaung | This sermon emphasizes the importance of the testimony of Jesus becoming our testimony, highlighting the role of the Holy Spirit in transforming truth into personal experience. It |
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The State of the Church and Our Lives by Richard Langworthy | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not wasting time on worldly distractions such as TV and cell phones. He encourages the audience to redeem their time and p |
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Friends From Zulu - You Have to Keep It (Testimony Meeting) by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the beauty of a crow and how it realizes its own beauty. The speaker then tells a story about a fox who asks the crow to sing a song before |






