2 Chronicles 18:21
2 Chronicles 18:21 in Multiple Translations
And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’
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.
And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth, and do so.
And he said, I will go out and be a spirit of deceit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Your trick will have its effect on him: go out and do so.
‘I will go and be a lying spirit and make all his prophets tell lies,’ the spirit replied. ‘That will work,’ the Lord responded. ‘Go and do it.’
And he saide, I will goe out, and bee a false spirit in the mouth of all his Prophets. And hee said, Thou shalt perswade, and shalt also preuaile: goe forth and do so.
and he saith, I go out, and have become a spirit of falsehood in the mouth of all his prophets. And He saith, Thou dost entice, and also, thou art able; go out and do so.
“He said, ‘I will go, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ “He said, ‘You will entice him, and will prevail also. Go and do so.’
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.
And he answered: I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said: Thou shalt deceive, and shalt prevail: go out, and do so.
“The spirit replied, ‘I will go and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to tell lies.’ Yahweh said, ‘You will be successful; go and do it!’
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Chronicles 18:21
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
2 Chronicles 18:21 Interlinear (Deep Study)
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Chronicles 18:21
Study Notes — 2 Chronicles 18:21
Context — Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab
21And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’
22So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.” 23Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak with you?”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John 8:44 | You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. |
| 2 | 1 Kings 22:21–22 | Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD. And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ |
| 3 | 1 John 4:6 | We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception. |
| 4 | Genesis 3:4–5 | “You will not surely die,” the serpent told her. “For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” |
| 5 | 2 Chronicles 18:22 | So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.” |
| 6 | 2 Chronicles 18:19 | And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that. |
| 7 | Judges 9:23 | God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully, |
| 8 | Revelation 20:8 | and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore. |
| 9 | Revelation 13:14 | Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived. |
| 10 | Job 2:6 | “Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “He is in your hands, but you must spare his life.” |
2 Chronicles 18:21 Summary
This verse tells us that God allowed a lying spirit to deceive King Ahab, which led to his downfall. This shows us that God is sovereign over all things, even the actions of evil spirits. However, it also reminds us that we must be careful and discerning, testing the spirits and the words of our leaders, as seen in 1 John 4:1-3, to ensure we are following the truth. By being wise and discerning, we can avoid being led astray by false or deceiving spirits, and instead follow God's path, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does God allow a lying spirit to deceive King Ahab?
According to 2 Chronicles 18:21, God allows a lying spirit to deceive King Ahab as a form of judgment, as seen in other scriptures such as Isaiah 66:4 and Romans 1:24-25, where God gives people over to their sinful desires.
Is it God's will for people to be deceived?
While God is sovereign over all things, including the actions of evil spirits, it is not His will for people to be deceived, as seen in 1 Timothy 2:4, where God desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Can we trust our prophets and spiritual leaders to always speak the truth?
No, we must test the spirits and the words of our leaders, as seen in 1 John 4:1-3, to ensure they are speaking the truth and not being influenced by a lying spirit like in 2 Chronicles 18:21.
How does this verse relate to the concept of free will?
This verse shows that while God is sovereign, He also allows human beings to make choices, and in this case, King Ahab's choices led to his deception, as seen in Deuteronomy 30:19, where God sets before us life and death, and we must choose.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I may be deceived by false spirits or prophets in my own life, and how can I guard against them?
- How does this verse relate to the importance of testing the spirits and the words of our leaders, and what are some practical ways to do this?
- What does this verse teach us about the nature of God's sovereignty and human free will, and how can we balance these two concepts in our understanding of the world?
- In what ways can I be more discerning and wise in my decision-making, so that I am not led astray by false or deceiving spirits?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Chronicles 18:21
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:21
Cambridge Bible on 2 Chronicles 18:21
Whedon's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:21
Sermons on 2 Chronicles 18:21
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Where Is America Headed? by Vance Havner | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that as Christians, we are engaged in a spiritual battle that has already been won by Jesus on the cross. He compares our role to that of so |
|
This Way to Real Freedom by Warren Wiersbe | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of embracing God's truth and not being afraid of it. He explains that when our minds are filled with God's truth, our hearts |
|
(John - Part 34): If the Son Shall Make You Free, Ye Shall Be Free Indeed by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of examining one's conduct to determine their true nature. He highlights the need for humility and a willingness to learn, as |
|
(Genesis) Genesis 3:14-19 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the judgment of the fall as described in verse 14 of the Bible. He emphasizes that God must deal with the creature He made, who has turned aw |
|
(Basics) 65. Lying by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the widespread sin of lying and its destructive impact on relationships. He refers to John 8:44, where Jesus tells the Jews who believed in H |
|
A Very Close Look at Satan by Danny Bond | In this sermon, the preacher explores Revelation chapter 12 verses 7-12, focusing on the strategies of Satan and his ultimate defeat. The sermon emphasizes that Satan's tactics are |
|
War on Earth - Part 2 by Derek Prince | This sermon delves into the topic of demons, distinguishing them from devils and exploring their potential origins as disembodied spirits. It recounts a personal experience of deli |







