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?

1 KINGS 22:16KJV
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1 Kings 22:16 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 22:16 mean?

1 Kings 22:16 shows King Ahab pressing the prophet Micaiah to speak only the truth in the name of the LORD, insisting that he not hold anything back or say what the king wants to hear. The king demands a truthful prophecy, swearing Micaiah to honesty before God.

In this scene, King Ahab is speaking to Micaiah during a tense moment when the king wants to know if he should go to battle. Ahab is frustrated because he suspects Micaiah is not being fully honest, perhaps because previous prophets have only told the king what he wanted to hear. The verse highlights the seriousness of speaking truthfully when claiming to speak for God, and the king’s insistence that Micaiah answer under oath.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 22:16

  • adjure (שָׁבַע, shava‘): This word means to make someone swear an oath. Ahab is not just asking casually—he is putting Micaiah under a solemn obligation before God, which adds weight to the request.
  • true (אֱמֶת, ’emet): This word means truth, reliability, or faithfulness. Ahab is demanding not just any answer, but one that is genuinely reliable and faithful to what God says.
  • name (שֵׁם, shem) ... LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): To speak "in the name of the LORD" means to speak with God’s authority, not personal opinion. Ahab’s demand is for a prophecy that truly represents God’s will, not just human advice.

Why 1 Kings 22:16 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that ancient kings always wanted prophets to flatter them; here, Ahab insists on hearing the real message, even if it is unwelcome.
  • The emphasis on swearing "in the name of the LORD" shows how seriously both king and prophet took the act of speaking for God, highlighting the weight of prophetic words.
  • This moment sets up the tension in the story, as Micaiah’s truthful prophecy will soon clash with the king’s desires, revealing the cost of honesty in a hostile environment.

Where else these words appear

“times” Hebrew H6471 · used in 108 verses

  • Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
  • Deuteronomy 9:19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also.
  • 2 Kings 5:14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

“true” Hebrew H571 · used in 125 verses

  • Genesis 24:27 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.
  • Psalms 30:9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
  • Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.