1 Kings 22:16

Verse

But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?”

American Standard Version (1901)

And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou speak unto me nothing but the truth in the name of Jehovah?

Bible in Basic English

Then the king said to him, Have I not, again and again, put you on your oath to say nothing to me but what is true in the name of the Lord?

Free Bible Version

But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me only the truth in the name of the Lord?”

Geneva Bible 1599

And the King said vnto him, How oft shall I charge thee, that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the Name of the Lord?

King James (Authorized) Version

And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?

Translation for Translators

But King Ahab realized that Micaiah was ◄lying/being sarcastic►, so he said to Micaiah, “I have told you [RHQ] many times that you must always tell only the truth when you say what Yahweh has revealed to you!”

Unlocked Literal Bible

Then the king said to him, “How many times must I require you to swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?”

Noah Webster Bible

And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?

World English Bible

The king said to him, “How many times do I have to adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in Yahweh’s name?”

Young's Literal Translation

And the king saith unto him, 'How many times am I adjuring thee that thou speak nothing unto me but truth in the name of Jehovah?'

Context

Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab

¹⁵When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.”¹⁶But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the LORD?”

Sermons

The Voice of Micaiah

T. Austin-Sparks

Summary

In this verse, King Ahab of Israel seeks the counsel of his prophets before going to war against Ramoth Gilead. The prophet Micaiah is summoned, and despite the pressure to align his message with the other prophets, he boldly speaks the truth given to him by the Lord. Micaiah's prophecy reveals the impending defeat of Ahab in battle, highlighting the consequences of Ahab's disobedience and unfaithfulness to God. This passage serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking and heeding God's true word, even when it may not align with popular opinion or personal desires.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And he saith, hear thou therefore the word of the Lord,.... Since he had represented what he had said as proceeding from hatred to him, he would make it clear and plain that what he had said was the word of the Lord, and according to his mind; and that what the other prophets had said was owing to a lying spirit in them, which the Lord suffered for his ruin; all which are represented as in a vision, in which things are brought down to the capacities of men, and not as really transacted: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne; so it was represented to his mind, as if he had seen with his bodily eyes the divine Being in a glorious form, as a king sitting on his throne, to do justice and judgment; as Ahab and Jehoshaphat were now sitting on their thrones, only as a far greater King, even the King of kings, and in a more splendid manner: and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left the ministering angels ready to do his will.