2 Chronicles 18:12
New International Version
The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably.”

New Living Translation
Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him, “Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success.”

English Standard Version
And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.”

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

King James Bible
And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

New King James Version
Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Therefore please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.”

New American Standard Bible
Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable to the king. So please let your word be like one of them, and speak favorably.”

NASB 1995
Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. So please let your word be like one of them and speak favorably.”

NASB 1977
Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. So please let your word be like one of them and speak favorably.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets, as if from one mouth, are good to the king. So please let your word be like one of them and speak that which is good.”

Amplified Bible
The messenger who went to call Micaiah said to him, “Listen, the words of the prophets are of one accord, foretelling a favorable outcome for the king. So just let your word be like one of them and speak favorably.”

Christian Standard Bible
The messenger who went to call Micaiah instructed him, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The messenger who went to call Micaiah instructed him, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

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

Contemporary English Version
Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah whispered, "Micaiah, all the prophets have good news for Ahab. Now go and say the same thing."

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The messenger who went to call Micaiah told him, "The prophets have all told the king the same good message. Make your message agree with their message. Say something good."

Good News Translation
Meanwhile, the official who had gone to get Micaiah said to him, "All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king, and you had better do the same."

International Standard Version
Meanwhile, the messenger who had gone off to summon Micaiah advised him, "Look, everything that the other prophets were saying has been unanimously favorable to the king. So please, cooperate with them and speak favorably."

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

NET Bible
Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, "Look, the prophets are in complete agreement that the king will succeed. Your words must agree with theirs; you must predict success!"

New Heart English Bible
The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Look, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Let your word therefore, please be like one of theirs, and speak good."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one consent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

World English Bible
The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Let your word therefore, please be like one of theirs, and speak good.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the messenger who has gone to call for Micaiah has spoken to him, saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets [as] one mouth [are] good toward the king, and please let your word be like one of theirs: and you have spoken good.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the messenger who hath gone to call for Micaiah hath spoken unto him, saying, 'Lo, the words of the prophets -- one mouth -- are good towards the king, and let, I pray thee, thy word be like one of theirs: and thou hast spoken good.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the messenger who went to call for Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets with one mouth good to the king; and now will thy word be as one of them, and speak good.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the messenger that went to call Micheas, said to him: Behold the words of all the prophets with one mouth declare good to the king: I beseech thee therefore let not thy word disagree with them, and speak thou also good success.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then the messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him: “Lo, the words of all the prophets, with one mouth, announce good to the king. Therefore, I ask you that you not dissent from them in your word, and that you speak prosperity.”

New American Bible
Meanwhile the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah said to him: “Look now, the words of the prophets are as one in speaking good for the king. Let your word be at one with theirs; speak a good word.”

New Revised Standard Version
The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king; let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold, the words of the false prophets have declared good to the king with one accord; let your words, therefore, be pleasant like one of theirs, and you also prophesy good.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And a Messenger who went to call Mika spoke with him and said to him: ”Behold, the words of the lying Prophets are alike, speaking good as one before the King. Let your words be sweet like those of one of them, and you should prophesy good also.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying: 'Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the messenger that went to call Michaias spoke to him, saying, Behold, the prophets have spoken favourably concerning the king with one mouth; let now, I pray thee, thy words be as the words of one of them, and do thou speak good things.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab
12Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.” 13But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever my God tells me.”…

Cross References
1 Kings 22:13
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.”

Jeremiah 23:16
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

Ezekiel 13:2-3
“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD! / This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit yet have seen nothing.

Jeremiah 14:14
“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.

Micah 3:5
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:

Jeremiah 23:26
How long will this continue in the hearts of these prophets who prophesy falsehood, these prophets of the delusion of their own minds?

Ezekiel 22:28
Her prophets whitewash these deeds by false visions and lying divinations, saying, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says,’ when the LORD has not spoken.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

2 Peter 2:1
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Jeremiah 6:14
They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all.

Ezekiel 13:10
Because they have led My people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built,

Jeremiah 8:11
They dress the wound of the daughter of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all.

Matthew 24:11
and many false prophets will arise and deceive many.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. / So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.


Treasury of Scripture

And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let your word therefore, I pray you, be like one of their's, and speak you good.

Behold

Job 22:13
And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

Psalm 10:11
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

Isaiah 30:10
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

assent [heb] mouth

Joshua 9:2
That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

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2 Chronicles 18
1. Jehoshaphat, joined in affinity with Ahab, is persuaded to go against Ramoth Gilead
4. Ahab, seduced by false prophets, according to the word of Micaiah, is slain there














Look
This word serves as an imperative, drawing attention to the situation at hand. In Hebrew, the word is often "hineh," which is used to emphasize the importance of what follows. It is a call to awareness, urging the listener to pay close attention to the unfolding events. In the context of this verse, it sets the stage for the pressure that Micaiah faces to conform to the majority.

the words of the prophets
This phrase refers to the collective message delivered by the prophets of King Ahab. In ancient Israel, prophets were seen as messengers of God, but here, the term is used to describe those who are more aligned with the king's desires than with divine truth. Historically, this reflects a time when prophetic voices were often co-opted by political powers, leading to a distortion of their true purpose.

are unanimously favorable
The unanimity of the prophets' message suggests a consensus that is not necessarily rooted in truth. The Hebrew root for "favorable" can imply a pleasing or agreeable message, often associated with what the listener wants to hear rather than what they need to hear. This highlights the danger of seeking affirmation over truth, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture.

to the king
King Ahab, the ruler of Israel, is the central figure to whom the prophets are speaking. His reign is marked by idolatry and a departure from the ways of the Lord, as documented in the historical books of the Bible. The prophets' favorable words are a reflection of their desire to please the king rather than God, illustrating the tension between divine authority and earthly power.

So let your word be like theirs
This phrase is a direct appeal to Micaiah to conform. It underscores the pressure to align with the majority, a common challenge for those who are called to speak truth in the face of opposition. The Hebrew concept of "word" (dabar) often signifies not just speech, but a message or decree, emphasizing the weight and responsibility of prophetic utterance.

and speak favorably
The final exhortation to "speak favorably" is a temptation to compromise integrity for the sake of acceptance. In the biblical narrative, this is a pivotal moment for Micaiah, who must choose between the easy path of conformity and the difficult path of truth-telling. This phrase serves as a reminder of the prophetic call to faithfulness, even when it is unpopular or dangerous.

(12) The words of the prophets . . . one assent.--See margin, and comp. Joshua 9:2, "they assembled . . . to fight against Israel, one mouth "--i.e., with one consent.)

Probably instead of dibhre, "words," we should read dibb?r-, "they said," a far slighter change in Hebrew writing than in English: "Behold the prophets have with one mouth spoken good unto (or, of) the king." So LXX.

Like one of their's.--Literally, like one of them. Kings, like the word of one of them.

Verse 12. - This verse bespeaks very clearly the rotten condition of Church and state, prophets and king and "officers" (ver. 8).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the messenger
וְהַמַּלְאָ֞ךְ (wə·ham·mal·’āḵ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel

who
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

had gone
הָלַ֣ךְ ׀ (hā·laḵ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

to call
לִקְרֹ֣א (liq·rō)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

Micaiah
לְמִיכָ֗יְהוּ (lə·mî·ḵā·yə·hū)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4321: Micaiah -- 'Who is like Yah?' three Israelites

instructed him,
דִּבֶּ֤ר (dib·ber)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

“Behold,
הִנֵּ֞ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

with one
פֶּֽה־ (peh-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

accord
אֶחָ֥ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

the words
דִּבְרֵ֧י (diḇ·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of the prophets
הַנְּבִאִ֛ים (han·nə·ḇi·’îm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5030: A spokesman, speaker, prophet

are favorable
ט֖וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

to
אֵלָיו֙ (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the king.
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

So please
נָ֧א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

let your words
דְבָרְךָ֛ (ḏə·ḇā·rə·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

be
וִֽיהִי־ (wî·hî-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

like
כְּאַחַ֥ד (kə·’a·ḥaḏ)
Preposition-k | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

theirs,
מֵהֶ֖ם (mê·hem)
Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

and speak
וְדִבַּ֥רְתָּ (wə·ḏib·bar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

favorably.”
טּֽוֹב׃ (ṭō·wḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 18:12 The messenger who went to call Micaiah (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
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