2 Chronicles 18:20
2 Chronicles 18:20 in Multiple Translations
Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.
Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?
And there came forth a spirit, and stood before Jehovah, and said, I will entice him. And Jehovah said unto him, Wherewith?
Then a spirit came forward and took his place before the Lord and said, I will get him to do it by a trick. And the Lord said to him, How?
Finally a spirit came and approached the Lord and said, ‘I will trick him.’ ‘How are you going to do that?’ the Lord asked.
Then there came forth a spirit and stoode before the Lord, and said, I will perswade him. And the Lord said vnto him, Wherein?
And go out doth the spirit, and stand before Jehovah, and saith, I do entice him; and Jehovah saith unto him, With what?
A spirit came out, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ “The LORD said to him, ‘How?’
Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said to him, With what?
There came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said: I will deceive him. And the Lord said to him: By what means wilt thou deceive him?
“Finally one spirit, having received a message from Satan, came to Yahweh and said, ‘I can do it!’ “Yahweh asked him, ‘How will you do it?’
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Chronicles 18:20
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2 Chronicles 18:20 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Chronicles 18:20
Study Notes — 2 Chronicles 18:20
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Chronicles 18:20 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Chronicles 18:20
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:20
- Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:20
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:20
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Chronicles 18:20
- Whedon's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:20
- Sermons on 2 Chronicles 18:20
Context — Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab
20Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.
21And 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.’ 22So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 1:6 | One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. |
| 2 | 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 | For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions. |
| 3 | 2 Corinthians 11:3 | I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. |
| 4 | Job 2:1 | On another day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before Him. |
2 Chronicles 18:20 Summary
In 2 Chronicles 18:20, a spirit offers to entice King Ahab, and the LORD asks how it plans to do so. This shows that God is aware of the plans of evil spirits and allows them to carry out their plans, as part of His sovereign will (as seen in Isaiah 46:10 and Romans 9:17). However, this does not mean that God is promoting evil, but rather that He is in control of all things, including the actions of evil spirits. We can learn from this verse to be aware of the influence of demonic spirits in our lives and to seek wise and godly counsel, as opposed to following false or misleading guidance (as warned against in 1 Timothy 4:1 and 1 Peter 5:8).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the spirit coming forward in 2 Chronicles 18:20?
The spirit coming forward in 2 Chronicles 18:20 represents a demonic entity that offers to entice King Ahab, as seen in the context of 2 Chronicles 18:18-22, and is reminiscent of the demonic influence described in Ephesians 6:12 and 1 Peter 5:8.
Why does the LORD ask the spirit 'By what means?' in 2 Chronicles 18:20?
The LORD asks the spirit 'By what means?' to understand the spirit's plan for enticing King Ahab, which is later revealed to be through lying spirits in the mouths of Ahab's prophets, as seen in 2 Chronicles 18:21-22 and supported by the concept of spiritual deception in 1 Timothy 4:1.
Is the LORD promoting evil by asking the spirit 'By what means?' in 2 Chronicles 18:20?
No, the LORD is not promoting evil, but rather allowing the spirit to reveal its plan, as part of His sovereign will, which is also seen in Isaiah 46:10 and Romans 9:17, where God's sovereignty is demonstrated through His control over all things, including the actions of evil spirits.
What does this verse reveal about the nature of God's sovereignty and human free will?
This verse, 2 Chronicles 18:20, reveals that God's sovereignty and human free will are intertwined, as God allows the spirit to entice King Ahab, while also holding Ahab responsible for his actions, as seen in the broader context of 2 Chronicles 18 and supported by the teachings of Proverbs 21:1 and Jeremiah 10:23.
Reflection Questions
- How do I discern the influence of demonic spirits in my own life, and what does 2 Chronicles 18:20 teach me about this?
- What are the ways in which I am tempted to follow false or misleading guidance, and how can I apply the lesson of 2 Chronicles 18:20 to my situation?
- In what ways do I see the interplay between God's sovereignty and human free will in my own life, and how does 2 Chronicles 18:20 inform my understanding of this relationship?
- How can I protect myself from the influence of lying spirits, as described in 2 Chronicles 18:21-22, and what role does 2 Chronicles 18:20 play in this protection?
- What does this verse, 2 Chronicles 18:20, teach me about the importance of seeking wise and godly counsel, as opposed to following false or misleading guidance?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Chronicles 18:20
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:20
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:20
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:20
Cambridge Bible on 2 Chronicles 18:20
Whedon's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 18:20
Sermons on 2 Chronicles 18:20
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Job by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Job from the Bible. He highlights the various trials and tribulations that Job faced, including the loss of his possessions, the |
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Satan the Arch Rebel by Dwight Pentecost | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Job and how Satan tempted him to renounce God. The preacher highlights how Satan used Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples, t |
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David's Desire to Seek the Lord by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses David's desire to seek the Lord in 2 Samuel chapter 24. David takes responsibility for the suffering of the people and acknowledges his |
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The God of This Age by Brian Brodersen | In this sermon, the preacher discusses two instances of natural disasters in the Bible that were influenced by Satan. The first example is from the book of Job, where a great wind |
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Three Battlefronts: The Devil by Scott Moreau | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of living our lives in a way that glorifies God and reflects His image. He explains that Christians who manifest God's image mo |
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Distress of Job - Part 1 by W.F. Anderson | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the limited knowledge and understanding that humans have in the grand scheme of God's sovereignty. He uses the analogy of actors on a stage, e |
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The Theme of Job by Ed Miller | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the book of Job and highlights the scene in heaven where Satan appears before God. He suggests that Job was the battlefield in a spiritual w |






