1 Kings 22:5

THE MESSAGE

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.

Easy-to-Read Version
But first let's ask the Lord for advice."

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

¹They enjoyed three years of peace—no fighting between Aram and Israel. In the third year, Jehoshaphat king of Judah had a meeting with the king of Israel. Israel's king remarked to his aides, "Do you realize that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, and we're sitting around on our hands instead of taking it back from the king of Aram?" ⁴He turned to Jehoshaphat and said, "Will you join me in fighting for Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat said, "You bet. I'm with you all the way—my troops are your troops, my horses are your horses." He then continued, "But before you do anything, ask God for guidance." ⁶ The king of Israel got the prophets together—all four hundred of them—and put the question to them: "Should I attack Ramoth Gilead? Or should I hold back?" "Go for it," they said. " God will hand it over to the king." ⁷ But Jehoshaphat dragged his heels: "Is there still another prophet of God around here we can consult?" ⁸ The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "As a matter of fact, there is still one such man. But I hate him. He never preaches anything good to me, only doom, doom, doom—Micaiah son of Imlah." "The king shouldn't talk about a prophet like that," said Jehoshaphat. ⁹ So the king of Israel ordered one of his men, "On the double! Get Micaiah son of Imlah." ¹⁰Meanwhile, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat were seated on their thrones, dressed in their royal robes, resplendent in front of the Samaria city gates. All the prophets were staging a prophecy-performance for their benefit. Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had even made a set of iron horns, and brandishing them called out, " God 's word! With these horns you'll gore Aram until there's nothing left of him!" All the prophets chimed in, "Yes! Go for Ramoth Gilead! An easy victory! God 's gift to the king!" ¹³ The messenger who went to get Micaiah said, "The prophets have all said Yes to the king. Make it unanimous—vote Yes!" ¹⁴ But Micaiah said, "As surely as God lives, what God says, I'll say."

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 12:1
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

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.”