1 Kings · Unlocked Literal Bible
1 Kings 18 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 So after many days the word of Yahweh came to Elijah, in the third year of the drought, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab and I will send rain on the land.”
1 After many days, Yahweh’s word came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth.”
2 Elijah went to show himself to Ahab; now the famine was severe in Samaria.
2 Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria.
3 Ahab called Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. Now Obadiah honored Yahweh very much,
3 Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared Yahweh greatly;
4 for when Jezebel was killing the prophets of Yahweh, Obadiah took one hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.
4 for when Jezebel cut off Yahweh’s prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
5 Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the water springs and brooks. Perhaps we will find grass and save the horses and mules alive, so that we will not lose all the animals.”
5 Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land, to all the springs of water, and to all the brooks. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we not lose all the animals.”
6 So they divided the land between them to pass through it and look for water. Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way.
6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 As Obadiah was on the road, Elijah unexpectedly met him. Obadiah recognized him and lay facedown on the ground. He said, “Is it you, my master Elijah?”
7 As Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. He recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
8 Elijah answered him, “It is I. Go tell your master, 'Look, Elijah is here.'”
8 He answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here!’”
9 Obadiah replied, “How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, for him to kill me?
9 He said, “How have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?
10 As Yahweh your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent men to find you. Whenever a nation or kingdom says, 'Elijah is not here,' Ahab makes them take an oath swearing that they could not find you.
10 As Yahweh your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath of the kingdom and nation that they didn’t find you.
11 Yet now you say, 'Go, tell your master that Elijah is here.'
11 Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’
12 As soon as I am gone from you, the Spirit of Yahweh will carry you some place I do not know. Then when I go and tell Ahab, and when he cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I, your servant, have worshiped Yahweh from my youth.
12 It will happen, as soon as I leave you, that Yahweh’s Spirit will carry you I don’t know where; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared Yahweh from my youth.
13 Has it not been told to you, my master, what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh, how I hid one hundred of Yahweh's prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water?
13 Wasn’t it told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed Yahweh’s prophets, how I hid one hundred men of Yahweh’s prophets with fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
14 Now you say to me, 'Go and tell your master that Elijah is here,' so that he will kill me.”
14 Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”.’ He will kill me.”
15 Then Elijah responded, “As Yahweh of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to Ahab today.”
15 Elijah said, “As Yahweh of Armies lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him what Elijah said. Then the king went to meet Elijah.
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is it you? You are the one who brings trouble to Israel!”
17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
18 Elijah answered, “I have not brought trouble to Israel, but you and your father's family are the ones who have caused trouble by abandoning the commandments of Yahweh and by following the Baals.
18 He answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken Yahweh’s commandments and you have followed the Baals.
19 Now then, send word and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table.”
19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and four hundred fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20 So Ahab sent word to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.
20 So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel.
21 Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you keep changing your mind? If Yahweh is God, follow him. But if Baal is God, then follow him.” Yet the people did not answer him a word.
21 Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people didn’t say a word.
22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, I alone, am left as a prophet of Yahweh, but Baal's prophets are 450 men.
22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left as a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men.
23 So let them give us two bulls. Let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. Then I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it.
23 Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it.
24 Then you will call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh, and the God who answers by fire, then let him be God.” So all the people answered and said, “This is good.”
24 You call on the name of your god, and I will call on Yahweh’s name. The God who answers by fire, let him be God.” All the people answered, “What you say is good.”
25 So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many people. Then call on the name of your god, but put no fire under the bull.”
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
26 They took the bull that was given to them and prepared it, and they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, hear us.” But there was no voice, nor anyone who answered. They danced around the altar they had made.
26 They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, “Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice, and nobody answered. They leaped about the altar which was made.
27 At noon Elijah mocked them and said, “Shout out loudly! He is a god! Perhaps he is thinking, or is relieving himself, or he is traveling on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”
27 At noon, Elijah mocked them, and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is deep in thought, or he has gone somewhere, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he sleeps and must be awakened.”
28 So they shouted more loudly, and they cut themselves, as they usually did, with swords and spears, until their blood flowed out over themselves.
28 They cried aloud, and cut themselves in their way with knives and lances until the blood gushed out on them.
29 Midday passed, and they were still raving until the time of offering of the evening sacrifice, but there was no voice or anyone to answer; there was no one who paid any attention to their pleadings.
29 When midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the evening offering; but there was no voice, no answer, and nobody paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me,” and all the people came near to him. Then he repaired the altar of Yahweh that was lying in ruin.
30 Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me!”; and all the people came near to him. He repaired Yahweh’s altar that had been thrown down.
31 Elijah took twelve stones, each stone representing one of the tribes of the sons of Jacob—it was Jacob to whom the word of Yahweh came, saying, “Israel will be your name.”
31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom Yahweh’s word came, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”
32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahweh and he dug a trench around the altar large enough to contain two seahs of seeds.
32 With the stones he built an altar in Yahweh’s name. He made a trench around the altar large enough to contain two seahs of seed.
33 He arranged the wood for a fire, cut the bull in pieces, and laid the pieces of the bull on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”
33 He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”
34 Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time. Once more he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time.
34 He said, “Do it a second time;” and they did it the second time. He said, “Do it a third time;” and they did it the third time.
35 The water ran around the altar and filled the trench.
35 The water ran around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
36 It happened at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.
36 At the time of the evening offering, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.
37 Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that these people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again to yourself.”
37 Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.”
38 Then the fire of Yahweh fell and consumed the burnt offering, as well as the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
38 Then Yahweh’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust; and it licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 When all the people saw this, they lay facedown on the ground and said, “Yahweh, he is God! Yahweh, he is God!”
39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces. They said, “Yahweh, he is God! Yahweh, he is God!”
40 So Elijah said to them, “Take the prophets of Baal. Do not let one of them escape.” So they took them, and Elijah brought the prophets of Baal down to the Kishon River and killed them there.
40 Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let one of them escape!” They seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there.
41 Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of much rain.”
41 Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.”
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Then Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down on the earth, and put his face between his knees.
43 He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” His servant went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” So Elijah said, “Go again, seven times.”
43 He said to his servant, “Go up now and look toward the sea.” He went up and looked, then said, “There is nothing.” He said, “Go again” seven times.
44 At the seventh time the servant said, “Look, there is a cloud going up from the sea, as small as a man's hand.” Elijah replied, “Go up and say to Ahab, 'Make ready your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.'”
44 On the seventh time, he said, “Behold, a small cloud, like a man’s hand, is rising out of the sea.” He said, “Go up, tell Ahab, ‘Get ready and go down, so that the rain doesn’t stop you.’”
45 It happened that in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode and went to Jezreel,
45 In a little while, the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
46 but the hand of Yahweh was on Elijah. He tucked his robe in his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
46 Yahweh’s hand was on Elijah; and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Ahab
Son of Omri, who reigned twenty-two years in Samaria, married Jezebel and served Baal, took Naboth's vineyard, fought Ben-hadad of Aram, and died of an arrow wound at…
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 16:29; 1 Kings 16:30; 1 Kings 18:17
Elijah the Tishbite
A prophet among the settlers of Gilead who announced a drought to Ahab, was fed by ravens, revived the widow's son at Zarephath, defeated Baal's prophets on Mount Carmel, heard…
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 18:36; 1 Kings 19:9
Jezebel
Daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians and wife of Ahab, who slaughtered the LORD's prophets, threatened Elijah, had Naboth stoned on false testimony, and was thrown down from…
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 16:31; 1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 19:2
Obadiah
The man in charge of Ahab's palace who greatly feared the LORD, hid a hundred prophets in caves when Jezebel slaughtered the LORD's prophets, and brought Elijah's message to Ahab.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 18:3; 1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 18:7
Places
Mount Carmel
A fertile ridge jutting into the sea near Haifa. Elijah's contest with the prophets of Baal here vindicated the Lord as the God who answers by fire.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 18:20; 1 Kings 18:38
Cross references (43)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Luke 4:25; James 5:17; 1 Kings 18:15–40; Deuteronomy 28:12; 1 Kings 17:1
- 2 Joel 1:15–20; Leviticus 26:26; Psalm 27:1; Psalm 51:4; Isaiah 51:12
- 3 Nehemiah 7:2; 1 Kings 16:9; Matthew 10:28; Malachi 3:16; Genesis 41:40
- 4 1 Kings 18:13; Matthew 10:40–42; Matthew 25:35; Revelation 17:4–6; Matthew 21:35
- 5 Jeremiah 14:5–6; Joel 1:18; Joel 2:22; Habakkuk 3:17; Romans 8:20–22
- 6 Jeremiah 14:3
- 7 2 Kings 1:6–8; Isaiah 60:14; Genesis 44:16; Matthew 11:8; Genesis 50:18
- 8 1 Kings 18:3; Romans 13:7; 1 Peter 2:17–18
- 9 Exodus 5:21; 1 Kings 17:18; 1 Kings 18:12
- 10 1 Kings 17:1; Psalm 10:2; 1 Kings 18:15; 1 Samuel 29:6; 1 Kings 17:9
- 11 1 Kings 18:8; 1 Kings 18:14
- 12 Acts 8:39; 2 Kings 2:16; Ezekiel 8:3; Ezekiel 11:24; Ezekiel 40:1–2
- 13 1 Kings 18:4; Matthew 25:35; Acts 20:34; Matthew 10:41–42; Genesis 20:4–5
- 14 Matthew 10:28
- 15 1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 18:10; Job 25:3; Psalm 148:2–3; Jeremiah 8:2
- 17 Joshua 7:25; 1 Kings 21:20; Acts 16:20; Acts 17:6; Amos 7:10
- 18 2 Chronicles 15:2; 1 Kings 9:9; 1 Kings 16:31; Jeremiah 2:19; 1 Kings 21:25
- 19 Joshua 19:26; 1 Kings 16:33; 2 Peter 2:1; 2 Kings 2:25; 1 Samuel 15:12
- 20 1 Kings 22:9
- 21 Matthew 6:24; Joshua 24:15; 1 Corinthians 10:21–22; 2 Corinthians 6:14–16; 1 Samuel 7:3
- 22 1 Kings 19:10; 1 Kings 19:14; 1 Kings 20:13; 2 Timothy 4:3–4; 2 Peter 2:1–3
- 24 1 Kings 18:38; 1 Chronicles 21:26; Leviticus 9:24; 2 Chronicles 7:3; 2 Chronicles 7:1
- 26 Jeremiah 10:5; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Matthew 6:7; 1 Corinthians 12:2; Isaiah 44:17
- 27 Isaiah 41:23; Psalm 78:65–66; Ecclesiastes 11:9; Mark 4:38–39; 2 Chronicles 25:8
- 28 Leviticus 19:28; Deuteronomy 14:1; Mark 5:5; Mark 9:22; Micah 6:7
- 29 1 Kings 22:10; Exodus 29:39; 1 Corinthians 11:4–5; 1 Samuel 18:10; Galatians 4:8
- 30 2 Chronicles 33:16; 1 Kings 19:14; 1 Kings 19:10; Romans 11:3
- 31 2 Kings 17:34; Genesis 35:10; Genesis 32:28; Joshua 4:3–4; Joshua 4:20
- 32 Colossians 3:17; Exodus 20:24–25; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Judges 21:4; 1 Samuel 7:17
- 33 Genesis 22:9; Judges 6:20; John 11:39–40; Daniel 3:25; Daniel 3:19
- 34 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 8:21
- 35 1 Kings 18:32; 1 Kings 18:38
- 36 1 Kings 18:29; 2 Kings 19:19; Exodus 3:6; 1 Kings 8:43; Matthew 22:32
- 37 Daniel 9:17–19; Luke 1:16–17; Ezekiel 36:25–27; Malachi 4:5–6; 1 Kings 18:24
- 38 Leviticus 9:24; 1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1; Judges 6:21; 1 Kings 18:24
- 39 1 Kings 18:24; 2 Chronicles 7:3; 1 Kings 18:21; Judges 13:20; 1 Chronicles 21:16
- 40 Judges 4:7; Deuteronomy 18:20; Deuteronomy 13:5; Zechariah 13:2–3; Judges 5:21
- 41 1 Kings 18:1; Ecclesiastes 9:7; 1 Kings 17:1; Acts 27:34
- 42 Luke 6:12; 1 Kings 19:13; Genesis 24:52; 1 Kings 18:19–20; Ezra 9:6
- 43 Habakkuk 2:3; Luke 18:1; Luke 18:7; Genesis 32:26; Ephesians 6:18
- 44 Luke 12:54; Job 8:7; Micah 1:13; Zechariah 4:10; 1 Samuel 6:10
- 45 2 Kings 9:16; 1 Kings 21:23; 1 Kings 18:39–40; 2 Samuel 21:14; 1 Kings 21:1
- 46 Ezekiel 3:14; Ezekiel 1:3; 2 Kings 3:15; 2 Kings 9:1; Matthew 22:21
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… foot of the mountain, --the same number which was placed by Joshua in the river, and again, on the other side, the bearers of the ark of the covenant, --those stones which were set up by Elijah when the heifer was offered as a burnt-offering; the number, too, of the apostles; and, in fine, every event which embraces in it …
… is not lawful for thee to have thy brother Philip's wife;" such as he was possessed of, who before him was like him, and after him shall be so again; who said to Ahab, "I do not trouble Israel, but thou, and thy father's house;" such as the prophets had, such as all the apostles.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Elias, too, when all Israel was assembled at Mount Carmel, wishing to turn them from idolatry, says to them, "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him." And again, at the burnt-offering, he thus addresses the idolatrous priests: "Ye shall call upon the name of your gods, and I will call on the name …
… directed them to that God upon whom he believed, and who was truly God; whom invoking, he exclaimed, "Lord God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, hear me to-day, and let all this people know that Thou art the God of Israel."