1 Kings 13:18

He said unto him, I [am] a prophet also as thou [art]; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. [But] he lied unto him.

He said {H559} unto him, I am a prophet {H5030} also as thou art; and an angel {H4397} spake {H1696} unto me by the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068}, saying {H559}, Bring him back {H7725} with thee into thine house {H1004}, that he may eat {H398} bread {H3899} and drink {H8354} water {H4325}. But he lied {H3584} unto him.

The other said to him, "I too am a prophet, just like you; and an angel spoke to me by the word of ADONAI and said, 'Bring him back with you to your house, so that he can eat food and drink water.'" But he was lying to him.

Then the prophet replied, “I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” The old prophet was lying to him,

And he said unto him, I also am a prophet as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of Jehovah, saying, Bring him back with thee into thy house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.

Commentary

1 Kings 13:18 is a pivotal verse in the tragic narrative of the man of God from Judah, revealing the deceit that led to his downfall. It records the lie spoken by the old prophet of Bethel, who falsely claimed to have received a divine message, thereby enticing the man of God to violate a direct command from the Lord.

Context of 1 Kings 13:18

This verse is set against the backdrop of King Jeroboam's establishment of idolatrous worship in the northern kingdom of Israel, specifically at Bethel, in an attempt to prevent his subjects from returning to Jerusalem to worship God (1 Kings 12:26-33). The man of God from Judah had been sent by the Lord to prophesy against Jeroboam's altar at Bethel, delivering a powerful message that saw the altar split and ashes poured out (1 Kings 13:1-5). Crucially, the Lord had given the man of God a strict command: he was not to eat bread or drink water in that place, nor was he to return by the way he came (1 Kings 13:9). The old prophet, hearing of these events, sought out the man of God and, despite being a prophet himself, concocted a false message to lure him back to his home, directly contradicting God's clear instruction.

Key Themes in 1 Kings 13:18

  • Deception and Lies: The most direct theme is the old prophet's blatant lie, stating, "an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD," when no such message was given. This act of spiritual manipulation is central to the verse.
  • Testing of Obedience: The man of God's faith and obedience to a clear divine command were put to the test. His subsequent failure to adhere to the initial, direct word from God, swayed by a secondary, false claim, is a critical element of the narrative.
  • The Danger of False Prophets: The story serves as a stark warning about the perils of listening to those who claim divine authority but speak falsehoods. Even a prophet can be a source of grave error if not truly speaking for God. This mirrors warnings found elsewhere in Scripture about false prophets (Jeremiah 14:14) and false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-3).
  • Consequences of Disobedience: Though the ultimate consequence occurs later in the chapter (1 Kings 13:23-24), this verse sets the stage for the tragic outcome of the man of God's decision to trust a deceptive word over God's direct command.

Linguistic Insight

The KJV's simple yet powerful phrase, "But he lied unto him," leaves no ambiguity about the old prophet's actions. The Hebrew word for "lied" (כָּחַשׁ, kāḥash) implies deceit, denial, or speaking falsely. It underscores the deliberate nature of the old prophet's fabrication, highlighting a profound moral and spiritual failure.

Significance and Application

The account in 1 Kings 13:18 holds significant lessons for believers today:

  • Discernment is Crucial: We are called to exercise spiritual discernment and "test the spirits" to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1). Not every claim of divine revelation is true, even if spoken by someone appearing to be a spiritual authority.
  • Prioritize God's Direct Word: When God gives a clear command, it should not be overridden by a secondary, contradictory message, regardless of its purported source. The written Word of God (Scripture) remains the ultimate standard for truth and guidance.
  • The Seriousness of Deception: The narrative reminds us that God takes lying seriously (Proverbs 12:22). Deceit, especially when used to manipulate others in spiritual matters, has severe consequences, both for the deceiver and the deceived.
  • Personal Responsibility: While the man of God was deceived, he was still held accountable for his disobedience. This highlights the importance of personal responsibility in adhering to God's known will, even when faced with persuasive counter-arguments.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 John 4:1 (7 votes)

    ¶ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

  • Matthew 7:15 (6 votes)

    Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

  • Numbers 22:35 (4 votes)

    And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

  • 2 Peter 2:1 (4 votes)

    ¶ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

  • Jeremiah 5:31 (3 votes)

    The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love [to have it] so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

  • 2 Corinthians 11:13 (3 votes)

    For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:15 (3 votes)

    Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.