And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
Parallel translations
- WEB A spirit came out and stood before Yahweh, and said, ‘I will entice him.’
- BSB Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.
- NKJV Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’
- NASB Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’
- NLT and finally a spirit approached the Lord and said, ‘I can do it!’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A spirit volunteers to entice Ahab, presenting itself before Yahweh to carry out the task.
Overview
One spirit steps forward, offering to be the instrument of Ahab's enticement. The scene portrays created spirits acting only under God's permission and direction. Faithful interpreters note that God ordains the outcome without himself doing evil; the deceiving agent acts willingly, and Ahab is justly given over to the lie he preferred.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Job 2:1Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
- Job 1:6–7Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
- 1 Kgs 22:23Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Solomon's glory, wisdom, and temple where God's presence dwells are a shadow of the greater Son of David — 'one greater than Solomon is here' — and of the true Temple, Christ himself.
How 1 Kings 22:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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