Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 18:13
But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever my God tells me.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Micaiah addresses Ahab’s royal messenger and the king of Israel after being instructed to match the favorable prophecies of the court prophets.
The words — חַי יְהוָה (chai Yahweh) translates literally as “by the life of Yahweh,” serving as a binding oath, while יֹאמַר (yo.mar) means “he will say,” directly tying his forthcoming message to divine command.
The thread — This structural pattern appears in Numbers 22:35, where the angel of the LORD explicitly commands Balaam to speak only what God directs, and in Numbers 22:18 and 24:13, where Balaam states he cannot speak independently of God’s instruction regardless of royal wealth.
Why it lands — The text demands that the reader treat the source of a message as the sole determinant of its content, overriding the audience’s desire for confirmation.
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 Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.
Cross-references
- Numbers 22:35 But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
- Numbers 22:18 But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.
- Numbers 24:13 that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I must speak whatever the LORD says.
- Numbers 23:12 But Balaam replied, “Should I not speak exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?”
- Numbers 23:26 But Balaam replied, “Did I not tell you that whatever the LORD says, I must do?”
- 1 Kings 22:14 But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”
- Jeremiah 23:28 Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD.
- Jeremiah 42:4 “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.”
- Ezekiel 2:7 But speak My words to them, whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious.
- Micah 2:6 “Do not preach,” they preach. “Do not preach these things; disgrace will not overtake us.”