And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall feign herself to be another woman.

1 KINGS 14:5KJV
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1 Kings 14:5 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 14:5 mean?

1 Kings 14:5 describes how the LORD told the prophet Ahijah that Jeroboam’s wife was coming to ask him about her sick son, and that she would pretend to be someone else. God instructed Ahijah on exactly what to say to her when she arrived, knowing her intentions in advance.

In this verse, God is speaking directly to Ahijah, preparing him for a secret visit from Jeroboam’s wife. Jeroboam, the king of Israel, sent his wife in disguise because he did not want people to know she was seeking help from a prophet. The verse shows that God is fully aware of human plans and motives, even when people try to hide them.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 14:5

  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name for God, emphasizing that it is God Himself who is revealing hidden things to Ahijah.
  • feign herself to be another (נָכְרִי, nokhri): This word means “to pretend” or “to act as a stranger.” It highlights that Jeroboam’s wife was intentionally trying to deceive the prophet by disguising her identity.

Why 1 Kings 14:5 matters

  • This verse makes clear that God’s knowledge is not limited by human deception; He knows the truth behind every action and intention.
  • The detail about Jeroboam’s wife disguising herself sets up the story’s tension and shows the lengths people will go to when they are desperate or afraid.
  • This moment connects to the broader theme in Kings of God’s prophets being given insight and words directly from God, even when others try to manipulate or hide the truth.