Definition: But to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, [As touching] the words which thou hast heard;

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Kings 22:18. It's a really important and somewhat cryptic passage in the Book of Judges. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is essentially a response to a plea from King Judah (a powerful kingdom in Israel) to the prophet Elijah. King Judah, feeling pressured by God, asked Elijah to come and ask about the Lord. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “But to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of the LORD…” : This tells us who is speaking – it’s the King of Judah (a specific ruler). It’s important to remember that this wasn't just a casual request; it was a significant, potentially troubling one. “…thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel…” : This is where it gets interesting. The King is telling Elijah what the Lord says. It’s a direct quote from God. “[As touching] the words which thou hast heard” : This is the crucial part. Elijah is being told to interpret what the King is saying. He needs to understand the meaning of the words, not just repeat them verbatim. The verb "touching" suggests a deeper understanding – it’s more than just reading the words; it's about grasping their significance. So, putting it all together: The King of Judah is acknowledging and responding to Elijah's request. He’s giving Elijah a direct message from God, essentially saying, "Here's what God has told you." And he's instructing Elijah to carefully understand the meaning of that message – to interpret it correctly. What does this verse tell us? God’s Authority: It shows that God is in control and communicates through His prophets. The King isn't just making a request; he's receiving a direct command from God. Importance of Interpretation: It emphasizes that understanding divine words requires careful consideration and discernment. Don’t just take what someone says at face value – look for the deeper meaning and context. In short, this verse is a call to Elijah to be wise and understand what God is saying. --- Important Note: This is a complex passage, and there's still some debate among biblical scholars about its exact meaning. But this explanation should give you a good basic understanding of its significance. Do you have any specific questions about this verse that I can answer? For example, are you interested in: Its context within the larger story of the Judges? The potential interpretations of the phrase "touching" in more detail?