1 Kings 22:5

Easy-to-Read Version

But first let's ask the Lord for advice."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what the Lord’s will is.”

Hebrew Names Version
Yehoshafat said to the king of Yisra'el, Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.

King James Version
And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to day.

English Standard Version
And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first for the word of the Lord ."

New Century Version
Jehoshaphat also said to Ahab, "But first we should ask if this is the Lord 's will."

New English Translation
Then Jehoshaphat added, "First seek an oracle from the Lord ."

Amplified Bible
But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire first for the word of the LORD."

New American Standard Bible
However, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please request the word of the LORD first."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Iehoshaphat saide vnto the King of Israel, Aske counsaile, I pray thee, of the Lord to day.

Legacy Standard Bible
Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire first for the word of Yahweh."

Contemporary English Version
But first, let's ask the Lord ."

Complete Jewish Bible
But Y'hoshafat said to the king of Isra'el, "First, we should seek the word of Adonai ."

Darby Translation
And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, this day of the word of Jehovah.

George Lamsa Translation
And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray, for the word of the LORD this day.

Good News Translation
But first let's consult the Lord ."

Lexham English Bible
Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire for the word of Yahweh today."

Literal Translation
And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Please inquire at the Word of Jehovah today.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Iosaphat sayde vnto ye kynge of Israel: Axe this daye at the worde of the LORDE.

American Standard Version
And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire first, I pray thee, for the word of Jehovah.

Bible in Basic English
Then Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Let us now get directions from the Lord.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Iehosaphat sayde vnto the king of Israel: Aske counsel I pray thee at the worde of the Lorde to day.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel: 'Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD today.'

King James Version (1611)
And Iehoshaphat said vnto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to day.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Josaphat said, As I am, so art thou also; as my people, so is thy people; as my horses, so are thy horses.

English Revised Version
And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD today.

Berean Standard Bible
But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire first for the word of the LORD."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Josophat seide to the kyng of Israel, As Y am, so and thou; my puple and thi puple ben oon; and my knyytis and thy knyytis `ben oon. And Josephat seide to the kyng of Israel, Y preie thee, axe thou to dai the word of the Lord.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehoshaphat saith unto the king of Israel, `Seek, I pray thee, to-day, the word of Jehovah;'

Update Bible Version
And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Inquire first, I pray you, for the word of Yahweh.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to-day.

World English Bible
Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Please inquire first for the word of Yahweh.

New King James Version
Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire for the word of the LORD today."

New Living Translation
Then Jehoshaphat added, "But first let's find out what the Lord says."

New Life Bible
Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Ask first for the word of the Lord."

New Revised Standard
But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first for the word of the Lord ."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people are us thy people, my horses as thy horses.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Josaphat said to the king of Israel: As I am, so art thou: my people and thy people are one: and my horsemen are thy horsemen. And Josaphat said to the king of Israel: Inquire, I beseech thee, this day the word of the Lord.

Revised Standard Version
And Jehosh'aphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first for the word of the LORD."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire first for the word of the LORD."

Contextual Overview

¹ For the next two years there was peace between Israel and Aram. ² Then during the third year, King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to visit King Ahab of Israel. ³ Ahab asked his officials, "Remember when the king of Aram took Ramoth Gilead from us? That city is ours, so why have we done nothing to get it back?" ⁴ So Ahab asked King Jehoshaphat, "Will you join with us to go fight the Arameans at Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat answered, "Yes, you and I will be as one—my men and my horses will be as yours. ⁵ But first let's ask the Lord for advice." ⁶ So Ahab called a meeting of the prophets. There were about 400 prophets at that time. Ahab asked the prophets, "Should I go and attack the Arameans at Ramoth Gilead or not?" The prophets answered Ahab, "Yes, because the Lord will let you defeat Ramoth Gilead." ⁷ But Jehoshaphat said, "Doesn't the Lord have another prophet here? Let's ask him the same question." ⁸ King Ahab answered, "Yes, there is another prophet. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he will not say anything good about me when he speaks for the Lord . He always says things that I don't like." Jehoshaphat said, "The king should not say that!" ⁹ So King Ahab told one of his officers to go and find Micaiah. ¹⁰ At that time the two kings were sitting on their thrones, with their royal robes on, at the judgment place near the gates of Samaria. All the prophets were standing before them, prophesying.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Inquire: Numbers 27:21, Joshua 9:14, Judges 1:1, Judges 20:18, Judges 20:23, Judges 20:29, 1 Samuel 14:18, 1 Samuel 23:2, 1 Samuel 23:4, 1 Samuel 23:9-12, 1 Samuel 30:8, 2 Kings 1:3, 2 Kings 3:11, 1 Chronicles 10:13, 2 Chronicles 18:4, 2 Chronicles 18:5, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 3:6, Jeremiah 21:2, Jeremiah 42:2-6, Ezekiel 14:3, Ezekiel 20:1-3

Reciprocal: Judges 18:5 - Ask counsel 1 Samuel 14:37 - Shall I go 2 Chronicles 34:21 - inquire

Cross-References

Hebrews 11:19
He believed that God could raise people from death. And really, when God stopped Abraham from killing Isaac, it was as if he got him back from death.

Hebrews 12:1
We have all these great people around us as examples. Their lives tell us what faith means. So we, too, should run the race that is before us and never quit. We should remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord today. Being a pious and religious prince, he did not choose to go into a war at once, without consulting the Lord by his prophets, whether it was his will and pleasure they should engage in it, and should prosper; and he was desirous of having this done immediately, before they proceeded any further.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Jehoshaphat, with characteristic piety 1 Kings 22:43 takes advantage of his position as Ahab’s friend and ally, to suggest inquiry of the Lord (Yahweh) before the expedition is undertaken. Lest Ahab should consent in word and put off the inquiry in act, he asks to have the prophets called in at once: “today.”