2 Chronicles 18:21

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.'

Berean Standard Bible

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.’

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
Second Chronicles 18:21 records a profound moment within the heavenly council, where a spirit volunteers to become a deceptive influence in the mouths of King Ahab's prophets. This verse reveals the LORD's sovereign permission for this spiritual deception to occur, serving as a divine instrument to entice Ahab to his fated demise in battle. It underscores God's ultimate control over all forces, even malevolent ones, in the execution of His righteous judgment against persistent rebellion and wickedness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the climactic narrative of King Ahab's final days, as recounted in [2 Chronicles 18](/2_chronicles/18 "2 Chronicles 18 - Ahab's Death at Ramoth-Gilead") and paralleled in [1 Kings 22](/1_kings/22 "1 Kings 22 - The Death of Ahab"). Immediately preceding verse 21, the prophet Micaiah has just delivered a shocking vision to King Jehoshaphat and Ahab: a scene in the heavenly court where the LORD asks who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-Gilead. A spirit steps forward and offers to be a "lying spirit" in the mouths of Ahab's prophets. Verse 21 is the LORD's explicit authorization for this plan, sealing Ahab's doom. This divine decree stands in stark contrast to the unanimous, but false, prophecies of Ahab's 400 court prophets, highlighting the stark difference between true and false prophecy.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the mid-9th century BCE, a period of political maneuvering between the northern kingdom of Israel (under Ahab) and the southern kingdom of Judah (under Jehoshaphat), as well as their Syrian adversaries. Ramoth-Gilead was a strategically vital city on the eastern frontier, a point of contention between Israel and Aram (Syria). In the ancient Near East, kings often consulted prophets or diviners before military campaigns, believing they could ascertain the will of the gods. The concept of a "divine council" (or heavenly assembly) was a widespread motif in ancient Near Eastern thought, where a supreme deity presided over lesser divine beings or spirits. This passage portrays Yahweh as the supreme sovereign, orchestrating events even through the agency of spirits, demonstrating His absolute authority over all realms, both human and spiritual.

* **Key Themes:** The passage powerfully articulates several core themes. Firstly, **Divine Sovereignty** is paramount; God is not merely reacting to events but actively orchestrating them, even allowing deception to achieve His purposes. This decision is a direct consequence of Ahab's persistent and egregious wickedness, exemplified in passages like [1 Kings 21:25](/1_kings/21-25 "1 Kings 21:25 - Ahab's Wickedness") which states there was none like Ahab who sold himself to do evil. Secondly, the theme of **Divine Judgment** is evident, as God's permission for the lying spirit is a judicial act, leading Ahab to his deserved end. Thirdly, the nature of **False Prophecy** is illuminated; it is not merely human error but can be divinely permitted (or even dispatched) for specific, often punitive, purposes. This contrasts sharply with the true prophetic word, which, though often unpopular, always aligns with God's ultimate will, as seen in Micaiah's unwavering message in [2 Chronicles 18:13-17](/2_chronicles/18-13 "2 Chronicles 18:13-17 - Micaiah's Prophecy"). Finally, the narrative showcases the **Consequences of Persistent Disobedience**, where God, in His justice, can harden hearts and allow individuals to be led astray by the very falsehoods they prefer over His truth.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Spirit (Hebrew, _ruach'_):** This term is multifaceted, referring to wind, breath, or a spiritual entity. In this context, it denotes a non-corporeal being, an agent within the heavenly realm. The addition of "lying" (Hebrew, _sheqer_) specifies its nature as one inclined to falsehood, not implying that God creates evil, but rather that He utilizes an existing malevolent inclination for His sovereign purposes. This highlights God's absolute authority over all spiritual forces, even those inherently deceptive.
* **Entice (Hebrew, _pathah'_):** This verb means to persuade, deceive, or allure. In this context, it describes the method by which the lying spirit will influence Ahab's prophets. It implies a subtle, persuasive deception that plays into Ahab's desire for a favorable outcome, rather than an overt, coercive act. The spirit will offer a message that aligns with Ahab's preferences, leading him willingly into the trap.
* **Prevail (Hebrew, _yakol'_):** This word signifies to be able, to overcome, or to succeed. The LORD's declaration that the spirit "shalt also prevail" is a divine guarantee of success. It means the mission of deception will be effective and achieve its intended outcome, namely, Ahab's downfall. This emphasizes the certainty of God's judgment once it has been decreed and set in motion.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets."**: This clause presents the spirit's audacious proposal within the divine council. The spirit volunteers to be the specific agent of deception, operating through the very channels Ahab trusts—his 400 court prophets. The phrase "in the mouth of all his prophets" indicates a pervasive, unanimous deception, ensuring Ahab receives no dissenting voice from his preferred sources.
* **"And [the LORD] said, Thou shalt entice [him], and thou shalt also prevail:"**: This is the divine authorization. The LORD directly addresses the spirit, confirming its proposed method ("entice") and guaranteeing its success ("thou shalt also prevail"). This is a judicial pronouncement, not a moral endorsement of lying, but a sovereign permission for a pre-existing deceptive entity to execute a specific judgment. It underscores God's absolute control over the spiritual realm and His ability to use even evil for His righteous ends.
* **"go out, and do [even] so."**: This is the final, unequivocal command from the LORD, commissioning the spirit to execute its plan. It signifies the immediate and certain implementation of the divine decree. This short, decisive command highlights the finality of God's judgment upon Ahab, leaving no room for doubt about the outcome.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices. **Dramatic Irony** is central, as the audience is privy to the heavenly council's decision, knowing the prophets' words are deceptive, while Ahab remains tragically oblivious. The scene itself is a prime example of the **Divine Council Motif**, a common biblical and ancient Near Eastern literary trope where God presides over a celestial assembly, making decisions and issuing decrees. The portrayal of God directly commissioning a spirit, even a "lying spirit," is a form of **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human-like interaction (speaking, commanding) to God to convey His active involvement in human affairs. Furthermore, the entire episode functions as **Foreshadowing**, clearly signaling Ahab's impending death and the futility of his military campaign, despite the positive reassurances from his false prophets.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This passage profoundly illustrates God's absolute sovereignty, even over the forces of evil and deception. It is not that God creates evil or directly causes a spirit to lie, but rather that He, in His righteous judgment, can permit or even dispatch a spirit already inclined to deception to fulfill His purposes. This is a form of judicial hardening, where individuals who persistently reject God's truth are eventually given over to their own delusions. Ahab's long history of rebellion and idolatry (e.g., his promotion of Baal worship) led to a point where God allowed him to be deceived by the very voices he chose to trust over the true prophets. This demonstrates that God's justice is not merely punitive but can also involve a withdrawal of grace, allowing individuals to reap the consequences of their chosen path.

* [1 Kings 22:23](/1_kings/22-23 "1 Kings 22:23 - The Lord Has Put a Lying Spirit")
* [Isaiah 6:9](/isaiah/6-9 "Isaiah 6:9 - Hearts Hardened by God's Word")
* [Romans 1:24](/romans/1-24 "Romans 1:24 - God Gives Them Over to Their Desires")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of the lying spirit in 2 Chronicles 18:21 serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of spiritual discernment in a world filled with competing voices and deceptive messages. It challenges believers to not merely seek affirmation for their desires but to rigorously test all teachings and prophecies against the unchanging truth of God's Word. Ahab's tragic end underscores the perilous consequences of consistently rejecting divine truth and preferring flattering falsehoods. When we harden our hearts against God's warnings, we risk being given over to a spiritual blindness that can lead to our own undoing. This passage calls us to cultivate a deep love for truth, to remain humble and teachable, and to constantly seek wisdom from God, recognizing that His ways, though sometimes mysterious, are always just and ultimately for our good.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this passage challenge our understanding of God's sovereignty in relation to evil and deception?**
* **What practical steps can we take to cultivate spiritual discernment and avoid being misled by false messages?**
* **Considering Ahab's persistent rebellion, what are the long-term consequences of repeatedly rejecting God's truth in our lives?**
* **How does the concept of God permitting deception for judgment align with His character as a God of truth and love?**

### FAQ

**Does this passage imply that God directly causes evil or encourages lying?**

Answer: No, the passage does not imply that God directly causes evil or encourages lying in a moral sense. Instead, it demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty over all creation, including spiritual forces, both good and evil. The "lying spirit" is presented as an entity already inclined to deception, and God, in His judicial capacity, permits or dispatches it to fulfill a specific purpose: to bring judgment upon King Ahab, who had persistently rebelled against Him. This is a case of God using existing evil for His righteous ends, a theme seen elsewhere in Scripture where God "hardens" hearts (e.g., Pharaoh in [Exodus 4:21](/exodus/4-21 "Exodus 4:21 - God Hardens Pharaoh's Heart")), allowing individuals to be given over to the consequences of their own choices and desires. God remains holy and truthful, but He orchestrates circumstances, even through the agency of wicked entities, to accomplish His divine will and justice.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of the lying spirit in 2 Chronicles 18:21, while unsettling, ultimately points to the supreme truth revealed in Jesus Christ. Ahab's reliance on false prophets and his embrace of deception led to his demise, foreshadowing the ultimate consequence of sin and the rejection of divine truth. In contrast, Jesus Christ is the embodiment of truth, the "way, the truth, and the life" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). He is the true Prophet, who perfectly reveals the will of God, unlike the deceptive spirits and false prophets. His coming exposed the "father of lies" ([John 8:44](/john/8-44 "John 8:44 - The Devil, Father of Lies")) and broke the power of deception over humanity. The judgment visited upon Ahab for his persistent wickedness finds its ultimate resolution in Christ, who bore the full weight of God's righteous judgment against sin on the cross ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Through His sacrifice, believers are freed from the power of deception and are empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, to discern God's will and walk in righteousness ([John 16:13](/john/16-13 "John 16:13 - The Spirit of Truth Guides Into All Truth")). Thus, while 2 Chronicles 18:21 reveals God's sovereign judgment, it also implicitly magnifies the saving work of Christ, who delivers us from the domain of darkness and into His marvelous light, where truth reigns supreme.

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.

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.