Bible Strands
1 Kings 22:21
Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — A spirit stands before Yahweh and volunteers to entice Ahab. This occurs during the LORD’s inquiry about who will provoke the king to march on Ramoth-gilead.
The words — The verb אֲפַתֶּ֑/נּוּ ('a.fat.Te./nu) literally means "I will deceive him." It follows the spirit’s declaration אֲנִי ('a.Ni), "I," identifying the agent of the enticement.
The thread — The divine council scene parallels the heavenly court in Job 1:6 and Job 2:1 where beings present themselves before Yahweh. The deception mechanism extends to the prophets in 1 Kings 22:23.
Why it lands — The text states that Yahweh sovereignly permits a lying spirit to fulfill His judicial decree. It asks readers to acknowledge divine oversight over false prophecy without excusing the deception.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 22:23 So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”
- Job 1:6 One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.
- Job 2:1 On another day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before Him.