1 Kings 22:21

21 Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, ‘I will entice him.’

1 Kings 22:21 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, 'I will entice him.'
New Living Translation (NLT)
21 and finally a spirit approached the LORD and said, ‘I can do it!’
The Message Bible (MSG)
21 Then a bold angel stepped out, stood before God, and said, 'I'll seduce him.' 'And how will you do it?' said God.
American Standard Version (ASV)
21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before Jehovah, and said, I will entice him.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
21 "Then the Spirit stepped forward, stood in front of the LORD, and said, 'I will deceive him.' "'How?' the LORD asked.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
21 "Then a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord, and said, 'I will entice him.'
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
21 Finally, a spirit came forward and stood in front of the Lord. The spirit said, 'I'll try to get Ahab to do it.'

1 Kings 22:21 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 22:21

And there came forth a spirit
Not from the heavenly host on the right hand or the left, for they are pure and holy spirits, and impeccable, and cannot lie or deceive; but the evil spirit, Satan, the father of lies, the old deceiver, who came forth from his own place and his own company:

and stood before the Lord
presented himself before him, as Satan did, ( Job 1:6 ) ,

and said, l will persuade him;
or prevail upon him; evil spirits love to be employed in doing harm to men, they go about seeking whom they may devour. This could not be the spirit of Naboth, as the Jews say {q}, seeking revenge on Ahab; that was in a state of happiness, could not move from thence, and be capable of sinning.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 89. 1. & 102. 2. Targum in 2 Chron. xviii. 20.

1 Kings 22:21 In-Context

19 Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left.
20 And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’ “One suggested this, and another that.
21 Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, ‘I will entice him.’
22 “ ‘By what means?’ the LORD asked. “ ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said. “ ‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’
23 “So now the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you.”
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