2 Chronicles 18:21

And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And [the LORD] said, Thou shalt entice [him], and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do [even] so.

And he said {H559}, I will go out {H3318}, and be a lying {H8267} spirit {H7307} in the mouth {H6310} of all his prophets {H5030}. And the LORD said {H559}, Thou shalt entice {H6601} him, and thou shalt also prevail {H3201}: go out {H3318}, and do {H6213} even so.

He answered, 'I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.'ADONAI said, 'You will succeed in enticing him. Go, and do it.'

And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’

And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth, and do so.

Commentary

Context of 2 Chronicles 18:21

This verse is a pivotal moment in the narrative of King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, detailed in 2 Chronicles 18 and paralleled in 1 Kings 22. Ahab, known for his persistent wickedness (1 Kings 21:25), sought to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead from the Syrians. Before battle, Jehoshaphat insisted on consulting a prophet of the LORD. Ahab's 400 court prophets unanimously prophesied victory, but the true prophet Micaiah was eventually brought in. Micaiah, unlike the others, revealed a vision of God's heavenly council where a spirit volunteered to deceive Ahab's prophets, leading to his downfall. Verse 21 describes the permission granted by the LORD for this spiritual deception to occur, sealing Ahab's fate.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: This verse powerfully illustrates God's ultimate control over all events, even allowing spiritual deception to accomplish His righteous judgment. Ahab's persistent rejection of God's ways led to a divine decree for his downfall.
  • The Nature of False Prophecy: It reveals that false prophets can be instruments, albeit unwitting ones, in a larger divine plan. Their deceptive messages were not merely human error but part of a permitted spiritual operation to lead Ahab to his deserved end.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: Ahab's continual rebellion against God, despite warnings, culminated in a situation where he was allowed to be deceived by those he trusted, resulting in his death in battle.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "lying spirit" translates from the Hebrew ruach sheqer. This does not imply that God creates evil or directly causes a spirit to lie. Instead, it signifies that God, in His sovereignty, allows or dispatches a spirit already inclined to deception to fulfill a specific purpose, in this case, to bring judgment upon a wicked king. It emphasizes God's ultimate authority over all spiritual forces, even those that are malevolent.

Practical Application and Reflection

The account in 2 Chronicles 18:21 serves as a stark warning and offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Discerning Truth: It underscores the critical importance of spiritual discernment. We must be diligent in testing all spirits and teachings against the revealed Word of God, rather than blindly accepting popular or flattering messages.
  • Consequences of Rejecting God's Word: Ahab consistently rejected the true prophets of the LORD. This narrative shows that continued rejection of divine truth can lead to a spiritual hardening, where God allows one to be deceived by falsehoods.
  • God's Justice: While challenging to comprehend, this passage affirms God's justice. He is not mocked, and those who persistently rebel against His will will ultimately face the consequences, sometimes through means that highlight His absolute sovereignty, even over deceptive forces. It reminds us to always beware of false prophets and cling to the truth.
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

  • John 8:44

    Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

  • Genesis 3:4

    And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

  • Genesis 3:5

    For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

  • 1 John 4:6

    We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

  • Revelation 12:9

    And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

  • Revelation 13:14

    And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

  • Psalms 109:17

    As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
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