2 Chronicles 18:20

Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — A spirit addresses the LORD in the divine council after Yahweh asks who will entice Ahab to march to Ramoth-gilead. The spirit volunteers to carry out the deception while standing before God.

The words — The phrase אֲפַתֶּ֑נּוּ ('a.fat.Te./nu) translates literally as “I will deceive him,” while הָ/ר֗וּחַ (ha./Ru.ach) identifies the speaker as “the spirit.” These terms ground the declaration in direct divine permission rather than independent action.

The thread — This scene of a spirit presenting itself before Yahweh parallels the divine council gatherings in Job 1:6 and Job 2:1. The theme of deceptive spirits aligns with the warning in 2 Corinthians 11:3 about minds being led astray by cunning deception.

Why it lands — The text records God’s sovereign allowance of deception to fulfill His judgment on Ahab. Readers must recognize that even harmful spiritual activity operates within the bounds of divine permission and purpose.

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

וַיֵּצֵ֣אva/i.ye.Tze'and/ it came forth הָר֗וּחַha./Ru.achthe/ spirit וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙va/i.ya.'a.Modand/ it stood לִפְנֵ֣יli/f.Nei<to>/ before יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh וַיֹּ֖אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ it said אֲנִ֣י'a.NiI אֲפַתֶּ֑נּוּ'a.fat.Te./nuI will deceive/ him וַיֹּ֧אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said יְהוָ֛הYah.wehYahweh אֵלָ֖יו'e.La/vto/ it בַּמָּֽה׃ba./Mah<in>/ how?

King James Version

Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith?

Cross-references

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.
2 Corinthians 11:3 I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.