1 Kings 22:13

KJV

And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets [declare] good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak [that which is] good.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the messenger {H4397} that was gone {H1980} to call {H7121} Micaiah {H4321} spake {H1696} unto him, saying {H559}, Behold now, the words {H1697} of the prophets {H5030} declare good {H2896} unto the king {H4428} with one {H259} mouth {H6310}: let thy word {H1697}, I pray thee, be like the word {H1697} of one {H259} of them, and speak {H1696} that which is good {H2896}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The messenger who had gone to call Mikhay'hu said to him, "Here, now, the prophets are unanimously predicting success for the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them - say something good."

Berean Standard Bible

Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold now, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

American Standard Version

And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak thou good.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Kings 22:13 captures a pivotal moment as a messenger implores the prophet Micaiah to align his prophecy with the 400 court prophets, who have unanimously declared a favorable outcome for King Ahab's military campaign. This verse vividly illustrates the intense pressure on Micaiah to compromise divine truth for political expediency and popular approval, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation between God's unvarnished word and human desire for pleasing falsehoods.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the broader narrative of King Ahab's reign, particularly his alliance with King Jehoshaphat of Judah for a joint military campaign to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead from the Arameans. Prior to battle, Jehoshaphat insists on consulting a prophet of the Lord. Ahab, despite his reluctance, presents 400 of his own prophets who, in a display of unified flattery, declare certain victory for the king ([1 Kings 22:6](/1_kings/22-6 "1 Kings 22:6 - The 400 Prophets Prophesy Success")). Jehoshaphat, discerning the lack of true prophetic authority, presses for a genuine prophet of Yahweh ([1 Kings 22:7](/1_kings/22-7 "1 Kings 22:7 - Jehoshaphat Asks for a True Prophet")). Ahab reluctantly names Micaiah, whom he openly admits to hating because Micaiah consistently prophesies "evil" (calamity) concerning him, rather than "good" ([1 Kings 22:8](/1_kings/22-8 "1 Kings 22:8 - Ahab's Complaint About Micaiah")). The messenger's plea in verse 13 immediately precedes Micaiah's arrival before the kings, serving as a direct attempt to manipulate the prophet's message and prevent any dissenting word that might contradict the prevailing, false consensus.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the divided monarchy, with Ahab ruling Israel from Samaria and Jehoshaphat ruling Judah from Jerusalem. Kings in the ancient Near East often employed court prophets or diviners whose primary role was to legitimize royal decisions and provide favorable omens. These prophets were typically dependent on royal patronage, creating a strong incentive to deliver messages that pleased the monarch, even if it meant distorting or fabricating divine revelation. Ramoth-Gilead was a strategically important city in Transjordan, frequently contested between Israel and Aram (Syria). The cultural expectation was for prophets to support the king's agenda, especially concerning military ventures, and any prophet who spoke against the king's will risked severe punishment, including imprisonment or death. This context underscores the immense personal danger Micaiah faced by not conforming to the messenger's request.
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the book of 1 Kings and the broader prophetic literature. It highlights the **conflict between true and false prophecy**, a recurring tension where genuine divine revelation often stands in stark opposition to human desires and political agendas. The pressure exerted on Micaiah underscores the theme of **courage and integrity in the face of conformity**, illustrating the moral fortitude required to speak God's truth when it is unpopular or dangerous. Furthermore, it exemplifies the **deception of flattery and the danger of seeking only agreeable counsel**, showing how leaders like Ahab, surrounded by those who tell them what they want to hear, become blind to reality and God's true will, ultimately leading to their downfall as seen in [1 Kings 22:34-35](/1_kings/22-34 "1 Kings 22:34-35 - Ahab's Death"). This also touches on the theme of **divine sovereignty**, as God's plan unfolds despite human attempts to manipulate or resist it, often through the voice of a solitary, faithful prophet.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Good (Hebrew, _ṭôḇ_):** This word, appearing twice in the verse, signifies that which is pleasant, beneficial, favorable, or agreeable from a human perspective. In this context, it carries a pragmatic, rather than a moral, connotation. The messenger is not asking Micaiah to speak morally upright words, but rather words that are politically advantageous and pleasing to King Ahab's ears, mirroring the flattering pronouncements of the 400 court prophets. It stands in stark contrast to the "evil" (Hebrew, _ra'_) which Micaiah typically prophesied concerning Ahab, referring to calamity or misfortune.
* **Prophets (Hebrew, _nābî'_):** While this term generally refers to one who speaks for God, in this specific context, it highlights the distinction between genuine and false prophets. The 400 "prophets" are court functionaries who deliver a message designed to please the king, not necessarily to convey divine truth. The messenger's appeal to Micaiah to be "like one of them" is an invitation to join this chorus of false prophecy, illustrating the corruption of the prophetic office when it becomes subservient to human power rather than divine authority.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying,"**: This opening clause establishes the immediate context of the encounter. The messenger, having been dispatched by King Ahab at Jehoshaphat's insistence, intercepts Micaiah before he reaches the royal presence. This private conversation is a strategic attempt to influence Micaiah's message away from the public scrutiny of the kings and the other prophets, highlighting the pressure tactics at play.
* **"Behold now, the words of the prophets [declare] good unto the king with one mouth:"**: The messenger presents a compelling, seemingly undeniable, consensus. The 400 court prophets have spoken with "one mouth," indicating a unified, unwavering declaration of success. This collective affirmation of "good" (favorable outcome) is presented as an overwhelming standard that Micaiah is expected to conform to, implying that any deviation would be foolish or even rebellious. This clause underscores the power of groupthink and the difficulty of standing against a unanimous, albeit false, majority.
* **"let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak [that which is] good."**: This is the core of the messenger's appeal, a direct and urgent plea for conformity. The phrase "I pray thee" adds a layer of personal entreaty, perhaps implying a concern for Micaiah's well-being or simply a strong desire to avoid any disruption to the king's plans. The repeated emphasis on speaking "good" reinforces the expectation that Micaiah's prophecy should be palatable and advantageous to the king, regardless of its truthfulness. This reveals the deep-seated desire for pleasant lies over uncomfortable truths within Ahab's court.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as the "good" that the messenger and the 400 prophets advocate is, in fact, "evil" in its ultimate outcome, leading to Ahab's death. The king desires a pleasant lie, but God's truth, delivered by Micaiah, is the only path to genuine understanding, albeit a harsh one. There is also strong **Foreshadowing** in the messenger's words; by highlighting the unified, positive message of the 400, the text sets up the dramatic confrontation with Micaiah's dissenting, negative, yet true prophecy, which will inevitably lead to conflict and judgment. The **Contrast** between the 400 false prophets and the solitary true prophet Micaiah is a central literary and theological motif, emphasizing the rarity and cost of genuine prophetic integrity. The messenger's plea itself serves as a **Temptation**, a direct challenge to Micaiah's faithfulness and courage, testing whether he will succumb to human pressure or remain steadfast in delivering God's uncompromised word.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates the perennial conflict between divine truth and human desire, particularly the temptation to suppress uncomfortable realities in favor of pleasing falsehoods. It highlights God's unwavering commitment to revealing His will, even when it is contrary to human expectations or political expediency, and His raising up of faithful witnesses like Micaiah to declare it. The integrity of God's word stands in stark contrast to the deceptive flattery of false prophets, underscoring the critical importance of discerning true spiritual counsel from that which merely caters to "itching ears." This narrative serves as a powerful reminder that God's "good" is often not what we initially perceive as pleasant or beneficial, but rather what is ultimately true and righteous, even if it brings judgment or discomfort.

* [Deuteronomy 18:20-22](/deuteronomy/18-20 "Deuteronomy 18:20-22 - How to Discern a False Prophet")
* [Jeremiah 23:16-17](/jeremiah/23-16 "Jeremiah 23:16-17 - Warning Against False Prophets")
* [Ezekiel 13:1-3](/ezekiel/13-1 "Ezekiel 13:1-3 - Denunciation of False Prophets")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The messenger's plea to Micaiah resonates deeply with the pressures believers face in contemporary society. We are constantly confronted with voices that urge conformity, whether to popular opinion, cultural trends, or even within religious circles, to speak only what is "good" in the sense of being agreeable or non-offensive. This verse challenges us to cultivate a profound commitment to truth, even when it is unpopular, costly, or goes against the prevailing consensus. It compels us to examine our own hearts: do we genuinely seek God's unvarnished truth, or do we, like Ahab, prefer counsel that validates our desires and avoids discomfort? Discerning true wisdom requires a posture of humility and a willingness to listen to voices that may challenge our assumptions, rather than just those that affirm them. Micaiah's example calls us to integrity, reminding us that faithfulness to God's word is paramount, regardless of the consequences or the pressure to compromise.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you feel pressure to conform your words or beliefs to what is popular or pleasing, rather than what is true?**
* **How do you discern between counsel that is truly "good" (from God's perspective) and counsel that is merely "good" (from a human, self-serving perspective)?**
* **What are the potential costs of speaking God's truth in your current context, and how can you cultivate the courage to do so?**
* **Are there "prophets" in your life (media, leaders, friends) whose words you accept without critical discernment, simply because they are agreeable?**

### FAQ
**Why did the messenger try to influence Micaiah's prophecy?**

Answer: The messenger's primary motivation was likely to prevent conflict and ensure a smooth, favorable outcome for King Ahab's military campaign. Having witnessed the unanimous, positive declarations of the 400 court prophets, the messenger understood Ahab's desire for agreeable counsel. A dissenting prophecy from Micaiah would not only contradict the prevailing narrative but also potentially enrage the king, disrupt his plans, and perhaps even endanger Micaiah himself. The messenger, therefore, acted out of a pragmatic desire to maintain harmony and avoid an unpleasant confrontation, either for the king's sake or his own. He was attempting to manage the situation by ensuring Micaiah's message aligned with what was politically expedient and what the king wanted to hear, rather than what God truly intended to communicate.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The solitary stand of Micaiah, pressured to conform but choosing instead to speak God's unpalatable truth, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate Prophet, Jesus Christ. Like Micaiah, Jesus was the lone voice of uncompromised truth in a world steeped in deception and self-serving narratives. While the religious leaders and the crowds often sought a Messiah who would speak "good" in terms of political liberation or worldly prosperity, Jesus consistently declared the "good news" of the Kingdom of God, which often included uncomfortable truths about sin, repentance, and the necessity of suffering ([Mark 1:15](/mark/1-15 "Mark 1:15 - Repent and Believe the Gospel")). He refused to conform to popular expectations or political pressures, even when it led to His rejection and crucifixion ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom is Not of This World")). Jesus is the Word made flesh, the embodiment of God's truth, who "did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" ([Matthew 20:28](/matthew/20-28 "Matthew 20:28 - The Son of Man Came to Serve")). His prophetic ministry culminated in the ultimate "evil" from a human perspective – His death on the cross – which God sovereignly transformed into the ultimate "good" for humanity: salvation and eternal life ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")). Thus, Micaiah’s courage to speak the truth, even unto personal peril, points forward to Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the role of the faithful prophet, speaking God's truth even when it led to the cross, thereby securing our ultimate "good."

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.