1 Kings 22:17
1 Kings 22:17 in Multiple Translations
So 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.’”
And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Jehovah said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace.
Then he said, I saw all Israel wandering on the mountains like sheep without a keeper; and the Lord said, These have no master: let them go back, every man to his house in peace.
So Micaiah answered, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord said, ‘These people have no master; let each of them go home in peace.’”
Then he said, I sawe all Israel scattered vpon the mountaines, as sheepe that had no shepheard. And the Lord sayde, These haue no master, let euery man returne vnto his house in peace.
And he saith, 'I have seen all Israel scattered on the hills as sheep that have no shepherd, and Jehovah saith, These have no master; they turn back each to his house in peace.'
He said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. The LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.’”
And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
And he said: I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, like sheep that have no shepherd: and the Lord said: These have no master: let every man of them return to his house in peace.
So Micaiah said to him, “The truth is that in a vision I saw all the troops of Israel scattered on the mountains. They seemed to be like sheep that did not have a shepherd. And Yahweh said, ‘Their master has been killed. So tell them all to go home peacefully.’ ”
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Kings 22:17
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1 Kings 22:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Kings 22:17
Study Notes — 1 Kings 22:17
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Kings 22:17 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 22:17
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 22:17
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:17
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:17
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:17
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 22:17
- Barnes' Notes on 1 Kings 22:17
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:17
- Sermons on 1 Kings 22:17
Context — Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab
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?” 19Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 27:17 | who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” |
| 2 | Matthew 9:36 | When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. |
| 3 | 1 Kings 22:34–36 | However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!” The battle raged throughout that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. And the blood from his wound ran out onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died. As the sun was setting, the cry rang out in the army: “Every man to his own city, and every man to his own land!” |
| 4 | 2 Chronicles 18:16–17 | So 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.’” Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he never prophesies good for me, but only bad?” |
| 5 | Acts 10:11–17 | He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air. Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” “No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven. While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate. |
| 6 | Zechariah 13:7 | Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones. |
| 7 | Jeremiah 50:6 | My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, causing them to roam the mountains. They have wandered from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place. |
| 8 | Ezekiel 34:4–6 | You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts. My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. They were scattered over the face of all the earth, with no one to search for them or seek them out.’ |
| 9 | Jeremiah 50:17 | Israel is a scattered flock, chased away by lions. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria; the last to crush his bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.” |
| 10 | 1 Samuel 9:9 | (Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.) |
1 Kings 22:17 Summary
This verse means that the people of Israel are without a leader or guide, like sheep that have lost their shepherd. The LORD wants them to return home and live in peace, rather than going to war. This is a reminder that God is our Shepherd, as seen in Psalm 23:1-6, and He desires for us to trust in Him and follow Him. Just like Jesus, the good Shepherd, who lays down His life for His sheep, as seen in John 10:11, we can trust in God's care and provision for us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for Israel to be scattered like sheep without a shepherd?
This means that the people of Israel are without a leader or guide, much like sheep that have lost their shepherd, as seen in 1 Kings 22:17, and it is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Deuteronomy 17:14-20 that warns against Israel's disobedience to God's command to have a king.
Why did the LORD say 'let each one return home in peace'?
The LORD's statement in 1 Kings 22:17 is a declaration of His desire for the people of Israel to return to their homes and live in peace, rather than going to war, which is also reflected in Psalm 23:4 where God is the Shepherd who guides and protects His people.
Is this verse a prophecy of the future or a current event?
This verse is a prophecy given by Micaiah, as seen in 1 Kings 22:17, and it is a message from God regarding the current situation, but it also has implications for the future of Israel, as seen in the book of Ezekiel 34:1-16 where God promises to be the Shepherd of His people.
How does this verse relate to Jesus Christ?
This verse points to the need for a Shepherd, which is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, as seen in John 10:11, where Jesus says 'I am the good Shepherd' who lays down His life for His sheep, and in Matthew 9:36, where Jesus sees the crowds as 'sheep without a shepherd' and has compassion on them.
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in my life when I felt like a sheep without a shepherd, and how did God provide for me?
- How can I apply the principle of seeking peace, as seen in 1 Kings 22:17, to my own life and relationships?
- In what ways can I be a good shepherd to those around me, as Jesus teaches in John 10:1-16?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to trust in God's sovereignty, as seen in 1 Kings 22:17, and let Him be my Shepherd?
- How can I balance the desire for peace with the need to stand up for what is right, as seen in the example of Micaiah in 1 Kings 22:1-28?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 22:17
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 22:17
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:17
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:17
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:17
Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 22:17
Barnes' Notes on 1 Kings 22:17
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 22:17
Sermons on 1 Kings 22:17
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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His and His Alone by K.P. Yohannan | In this sermon, the speaker addresses various topics such as the influence of media, the importance of reading the New Testament, and the power of one individual to make a differen |
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(Om Orientation) Our Situation - Warfare - Part 1 by George Verwer | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the current state of the world and the shocking reality of billions of souls suffering physically and spiritually. He emphasizes the need fo |
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It's Harvest Time by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of harvest time and how it relates to the current generation. He emphasizes that God knew the unique challenges this generation wo |
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The Violent Overthrow of God's House by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, Pastor David speaks about the violent overthrow of God's house, referencing the story of Jesus entering the temple in Jerusalem. The city was moved by Jesus' presen |
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Spurgeon a New Biography #5 by C.H. Spurgeon | The video is a sermon transcript about the preaching of the word of God. The speaker describes his experiences in the dungeons beneath the castle of despair, which had a positive i |
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The Impact One Life Can Have, Part One by K.P. Yohannan | In this sermon, the speaker shares his experience of witnessing the devastation caused by natural disasters in southern India, where millions of people were displaced and villages |
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Breakthrough (P2) by K.P. Yohannan | In this sermon, K.P. Johannon emphasizes the importance of surrendering one's ambitions, plans, and self-centeredness to follow Jesus. He highlights the love and invitation of Jesu |





