2 Chronicles 18:21 Meaning and Explanation
“And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The spirit proposes to work through the court prophets as a lying spirit, and the LORD permits this.
The Context of 2 Chronicles 18:21
The spirit's method: becoming a lying spirit in the prophets.
What Does 2 Chronicles 18:21 Mean?
The spirit revealed its plan: it would become 'a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' Instead of working openly as a demon, it would operate through the very prophets Ahab had assembled, using them as its mouthpieces to deceive the king. This explains the stunning unanimity of the 400 prophets' false counsel.
God's permission for this deception is not a sign that God originated the lie, but that God permitted it as judgment. Ahab had chosen to surround himself with false prophets; God allowed those false prophets to be the means of his ruin. This is a profound example of judicial hardening: God gives people over to the consequences of their own choices.
2 Chronicles 18:21 in the Original Language
lying spirit (שֶׁקֶר), 'lying spirit' — a spirit dedicated to falsehood; deception as the mode of operation.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Chronicles 18:21
What does 2 Chronicles 18:21 mean?
The spirit proposes to work through the court prophets as a lying spirit, and the LORD permits this.
What is the context of 2 Chronicles 18:21?
The spirit's method: becoming a lying spirit in the prophets.