Definition: And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And [the LORD] said, Thou shalt entice [him], and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do [even] so.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Chronicles 18:21. It's a really strange and complex passage, but we can understand the core idea. Here’s a simplified explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a situation where someone is actively trying to deceive and undermine God’s message. It’s essentially saying this person is deliberately misleading people with lies. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.” – This part describes the action of the person. They are actively trying to spread falsehoods and twist God’s words. Think of them as deliberately contradicting or misrepresenting God's teachings. “And [the LORD] said, Thou shalt entice [him], and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do [even] so.” – This is the crucial part. The Lord (God) is telling us to actively try to influence this person. He’s instructing us to use deception and persuasion to get them to believe something false. The phrase “do even so” means to go beyond just trying to trick them; we need to win over their beliefs with lies. What's the Big Picture? This verse is a warning about the dangers of spiritual manipulation. It suggests that those who are actively deceiving others are setting themselves up for failure. It’s like a trap – they’re trying to trick people into believing something that isn’t true, and if they succeed, they will lose their credibility and potentially face serious consequences. Important Context (Briefly): This verse is found in the Book of 2 Chronicles, which describes events leading up to the downfall of King David. It's part of a larger narrative about God’s judgment on those who are not faithful and who actively betray His word. It highlights a serious problem – someone is deliberately undermining God's message. In simpler terms: This verse warns us against being misled by someone who actively tries to trick people with lies, and it tells us we need to be vigilant in defending truth and God’s words. --- Do you want me to explain any of these concepts further? For example, would you like me to delve into: The historical context (2 Chronicles)? What "lying spirit" might mean in a spiritual sense?