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1 Kings 18 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

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Obadiah Meets Elijah

18 Now it happened (A)after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and (B)I will provide rain on the face of the earth.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3 Ahab summoned Obadiah, (C)who was in charge of the household. (Now Obadiah [a](D)feared the Lord greatly; 4 for (E)when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and (F)provided them with bread and water.) 5 Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the river valleys; perhaps we will find grass and keep the horses and mules alive, and not have to kill some of the cattle.” 6 So they divided the land between them to [b]survey it; Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

7 Now as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him, (G)and he recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is it you, Elijah my master?” 8 And he said to him, “It is I. Go, say to your master, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’” 9 But he said, “What [c]sin have I committed, that you are handing your servant over to Ahab, to put me to death? 10 (H)As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom to which my master has not sent word to search for you; and whenever they say, ‘He is not here,’ he makes the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you. 11 Yet now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here!”’ 12 And it will come about when I leave you (I)that the Spirit of the Lord will carry you to where I do not know; so when I come and inform Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, though I, your servant, have [d]feared the Lord from my youth. 13 (J)Has it not been reported to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, that I hid a hundred [e]prophets of the Lord by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water? 14 Yet now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here”’; he will then kill me!” 15 Then Elijah said, “(K)As surely as the Lord of armies lives, before whom I stand, I will certainly present myself to him today.” 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and informed him; then Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17 When Ahab saw Elijah, (L)Ahab said to him, “Is this you, the cause of disaster to Israel?” 18 He said, “I have not brought disaster to Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because (M)you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and (N)you have followed the Baals. 19 Now then, send orders and gather to me all Israel at (O)Mount Carmel, (P)together with 450 prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of [f](Q)the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

God or Baal on Mount Carmel

20 So Ahab sent orders among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “(R)How long are you going to [g]struggle with the two choices? (S)If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him so much as a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I (T)alone am left as a prophet of the Lord, while Baal’s prophets are (U)450 men. 23 Now have them give us two oxen; and have them choose the one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and (V)the God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people replied, “[h]That is a good idea.”

25 So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose the one ox for yourselves and prepare it first, since there are many of you, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under the ox.” 26 Then they took the ox which [i]was given them and they prepared it, and they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was (W)no voice and no one answered. And they [j]limped about the altar which [k]they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah ridiculed them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, since he is a god; undoubtedly he is attending to business, or is on the way, or is on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep, and will awaken.” 28 So they cried out with a loud voice, and (X)cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until blood gushed out on them. 29 When midday was past, they raved (Y)until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and [l]no one paid attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come forward to me.” So all the people came forward to him. And (Z)he repaired the altar of the Lord which had been torn down. 31 Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “(AA)Israel shall be your name.” 32 And with the stones he built an altar in (AB)the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two [m]measures of seed. 33 (AC)Then he laid out the wood, and he cut the ox in pieces and placed it on the wood. 34 And he said, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time,” so they did it a second time. Then he said, “Do it a third time,” so they did it a third time. 35 The water flowed around the altar, and he also filled the trench with water.

Elijah’s Prayer

36 Then (AD)at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached and said, “(AE)Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that (AF)You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant, and that (AG)I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so that this people may know that You, Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back.” 38 Then the (AH)fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood, and the stones and the dust; and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw this, they fell on their faces; and they said, “(AI)The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God!” 40 Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to (AJ)the brook Kishon, (AK)and slaughtered them there.

41 Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of (AL)Carmel; and he (AM)bent down to the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, but he said, “There is nothing.” Yet Elijah said, “Go back” seven times. 44 And when he returned the seventh time, he said, “Behold, (AN)a cloud as small as a person’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And Elijah said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Harness your chariot horses and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’” 45 Meanwhile the sky became dark with clouds and wind came up, and there was a heavy shower. And Ahab rode and went to (AO)Jezreel. 46 Then (AP)the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and (AQ)he [n]belted his cloak around his waist and [o]outran Ahab [p]to Jezreel.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 18:3 Or revered
  2. 1 Kings 18:6 Lit pass through
  3. 1 Kings 18:9 Lit have I sinned
  4. 1 Kings 18:12 Or revered
  5. 1 Kings 18:13 Lit men of the prophets
  6. 1 Kings 18:19 I.e., wooden symbol of a female deity
  7. 1 Kings 18:21 Lit limp on the two crutches
  8. 1 Kings 18:24 Lit The matter is good
  9. 1 Kings 18:26 Lit he gave
  10. 1 Kings 18:26 I.e., in a type of ceremonial dance
  11. 1 Kings 18:26 As in some mss and ancient versions; MT he
  12. 1 Kings 18:29 Lit there was no attention
  13. 1 Kings 18:32 Heb seahs; i.e., one seah equals about 7 qt. or 7.7 liters
  14. 1 Kings 18:46 I.e., for travel
  15. 1 Kings 18:46 Lit ran ahead of
  16. 1 Kings 18:46 Lit until your coming to

Cross references

  1. 1 Kings 18:1 : 1 Kin 17:1; Luke 4:25; James 5:17
  2. 1 Kings 18:1 : Deut 28:12
  3. 1 Kings 18:3 : 1 Kin 16:9
  4. 1 Kings 18:3 : Neh 7:2; Job 28:28
  5. 1 Kings 18:4 : 1 Kin 18:13
  6. 1 Kings 18:4 : Matt 10:40-42
  7. 1 Kings 18:7 : 2 Kin 1:6-8
  8. 1 Kings 18:10 : 1 Kin 17:1
  9. 1 Kings 18:12 : 2 Kin 2:16; Ezek 3:12, 14; Acts 8:39
  10. 1 Kings 18:13 : 1 Kin 18:4
  11. 1 Kings 18:15 : 1 Kin 17:1
  12. 1 Kings 18:17 : Josh 7:25; 1 Kin 21:20
  13. 1 Kings 18:18 : 1 Kin 9:9; 2 Chr 15:2
  14. 1 Kings 18:18 : 1 Kin 16:31; 21:25, 26
  15. 1 Kings 18:19 : Josh 19:26; 2 Kin 2:25
  16. 1 Kings 18:19 : 1 Kin 18:22
  17. 1 Kings 18:19 : 1 Kin 16:33
  18. 1 Kings 18:21 : 2 Kin 17:41; Matt 6:24
  19. 1 Kings 18:21 : Josh 24:15
  20. 1 Kings 18:22 : 1 Kin 19:10, 14
  21. 1 Kings 18:22 : 1 Kin 18:19
  22. 1 Kings 18:24 : 1 Kin 18:38
  23. 1 Kings 18:26 : Ps 115:4, 5; Jer 10:5
  24. 1 Kings 18:28 : Lev 19:28; Deut 14:1
  25. 1 Kings 18:29 : Ex 29:39, 41
  26. 1 Kings 18:30 : 1 Kin 19:10, 14; 2 Chr 33:16
  27. 1 Kings 18:31 : Gen 32:28; 35:10; 2 Kin 17:34
  28. 1 Kings 18:32 : Col 3:17
  29. 1 Kings 18:33 : Gen 22:9; Lev 1:7, 8
  30. 1 Kings 18:36 : 1 Kin 18:29
  31. 1 Kings 18:36 : Gen 28:13; Ex 3:6; 4:5; Matt 22:32
  32. 1 Kings 18:36 : 1 Kin 8:43
  33. 1 Kings 18:36 : Num 16:28-32
  34. 1 Kings 18:38 : Gen 15:17; Lev 9:24; 10:1, 2; Judg 6:21; 2 Kin 1:12; 1 Chr 21:26; 2 Chr 7:1; Job 1:16
  35. 1 Kings 18:39 : 1 Kin 18:21, 24
  36. 1 Kings 18:40 : Judg 4:7; 5:21
  37. 1 Kings 18:40 : Deut 13:5; 18:20; 2 Kin 10:24, 25
  38. 1 Kings 18:42 : 1 Kin 18:19, 20
  39. 1 Kings 18:42 : James 5:18
  40. 1 Kings 18:44 : Luke 12:54
  41. 1 Kings 18:45 : Josh 17:16; Judg 6:33
  42. 1 Kings 18:46 : 2 Kin 3:15; Is 8:11; Ezek 3:14
  43. 1 Kings 18:46 : 2 Kin 4:29; Jer 1:17; 1 Pet 1:13

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1 Kings 18 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

18 And the days are many, and the word of Jehovah hath been unto Elijah in the third year, saying, `Go, appear unto Ahab, and I give rain on the face of the ground;' 2 and Elijah goeth to appear unto Ahab. And the famine is severe in Samaria, 3 and Ahab calleth unto Obadiah, who [is] over the house ...
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1 Kings 18 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

18 After many days the word of the Lord was made to Elijah, in the third year, and said, Go, and show thee to Ahab, that I give rain upon the face of the earth (Go, and show thyself to Ahab, and I shall send rain upon the face of the earth). 2 Therefore Elijah went to show himself to Ahab; forsooth ...
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1 Kings 18 - World English Bible (WEB)

18 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. The famine was severe in Samaria. 3 Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared Yahweh greatly...
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1 Kings 18 - The Voice (VOICE)

18 Many days passed, and the word of the Eternal visited Elijah during the third year of the drought.Eternal One: Go now, and reveal yourself to Ahab. When you do, I will bring rain on the earth. 2 Elijah then went to reveal himself to Ahab.During this time, there was a dangerous shortage of food in...
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1 Kings 18 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Elijah Confronts Ahab18 Now it was after many days that the word of Adonai came to Elijah in the third year saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; then I will send rain on the land. 2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab.Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3 Ahab summoned Obadiah who was the stew...
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1 Kings 18 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Elijah’s Message to Ahab18 After many days the word of the Lord came to Eli′jah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.” 2 So Eli′jah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samar′ia. 3 And Ahab called Obadi′ah, who was over t...
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1 Kings 18 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Elijah’s Message to Ahab18 After many days the word of the Lord came to Eli′jah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.” 2 So Eli′jah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samar′ia. 3 And Ahab called Obadi′ah, who was over t...
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1 Kings 18 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Elijah’s Message to Ahab18 After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year of the drought,[a] saying, ‘Go, present yourself to Ahab; I will send rain on the earth.’ 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria. 3 Ahab summoned Obadiah, who wa...
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1 Kings 18 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Elijah’s Message to Ahab18 After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year of the drought,[a] saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab; I will send rain on the earth.”(A)2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria. 3 Ahab summoned Obadiah, who wa...
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1 Kings 18 - New Living Translation (NLT)

The Contest on Mount Carmel18 Later on, in the third year of the drought, the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and present yourself to King Ahab. Tell him that I will soon send rain!” 2 So Elijah went to appear before Ahab.Meanwhile, the famine had become very severe in Samaria. 3 So Ahab summoned Obadiah, ...
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1 Kings 18 - New Life Version (NLV)

Elijah’s Word to Ahab18 After many days, the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go show yourself to Ahab. And I will send rain upon the earth.” 2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the time without food was very hard in Samaria. 3 And Ahab called Obadiah who was ...
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1 Kings 18 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Elijah’s Message to Ahab18 And it came to pass after (A)many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and (B)I will send rain on the earth.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and there was a severe famine in Samaria. 3 And A...
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1 Kings 18 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Elijah and Obadiah18 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: ‘Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.’ 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.Now the famine was severe in Samaria, 3 and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace adminis...
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1 Kings 18 - New International Version (NIV)

Elijah and Obadiah18 After a long time, in the third(A) year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present(B) yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain(C) on the land.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.Now the famine was severe(D) in Samaria, 3 and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his pala...
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1 Kings 18 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Elijah and Obadiah18 It was now three years since it had rained. A message came to Elijah from the Lord. He said, “Go. Speak to Ahab. Then I will send rain on the land.” 2 So Elijah went to speak to Ahab.There wasn’t enough food in Samaria. The people there were very hungry. 3 Ahab had sent for Ob...
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1 Kings 18 - New English Translation (NET)

Elijah Meets the King’s Servant18 Some time later, in the third year of the famine,[a] the Lord’s message came to Elijah, “Go, make an appearance before Ahab, so I may send rain on the surface of the ground.” 2 So Elijah went to make an appearance before Ahab.Now the famine was severe in Samaria. ...
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