BibleWord.ai› Bible› 1 Kings› Chapter 22› Verse 16

1 Kings 22:16

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Kings 22:16 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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?
1 Kings 22:16 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Kings 22

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets [declare] good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak thou good.
14And Micaiah said, As Jehovah liveth, what Jehovah saith unto me, that will I speak.
15And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go up and prosper; and Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king.
16And 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?
17And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Jehovah said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace.
18And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?
19And [Micaiah] said, Therefore hear thou the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
← 1 Kings 22:151 Kings 22:17 →
← Full Chapter 22 1 Kings Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the king said unto him, how many times shall I adjure thee, etc.] Not that he had as yet adjured him at all, or not till now; but he asks him how often he must be obliged to do it; and now he adjures him once for all, that he might not be forced to repeat it: that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord? for he observed he did not speak in the name of the Lord before, and what he said was not in a serious but ludicrous manner, and not to be regarded as truth.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“shall I adjure: Jos 6:26; Sa1 14:24; Ch2 18:15; Mat 26:63; Mar 5:7; Act 19:13 that thou tell: Jer 42:3-6; Mat 22:16, Mat 22:17 3 Kings (1 Kings) 22:17”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read 1 Kings 22 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification