1 Kings

1 Kings 18:25–29

²⁵Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.”

²⁶And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!”

But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made.

²⁷At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!”

²⁸So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them.

²⁹Midday passed, and they kept on raving until the time of the evening sacrifice. But there was no response; no one answered, no one paid attention.

Read all of 1 Kings 18

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Kings 18:25

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then Elijah	אֵלִיָּ֜הוּ	’ê·lî·yā·hū	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H452 Elijah
said	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to the prophets	לִנְבִיאֵ֣י	lin·ḇî·’ê	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct	H5030 spokesman, speaker, prophet
of Baal	הַבַּ֗עַל	hab·ba·‘al	Article; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1168 owner, lord
Since	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
you	אַתֶּ֖ם	’at·tem	Pronoun - second person masculine plural	H859 thou
are so numerous	הָרַבִּ֑ים	hā·rab·bîm	Article; Adjective - masculine plural	H7227 much, many, great
choose	בַּחֲר֨וּ	ba·ḥă·rū	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H977 choose
for yourselves	לָכֶ֜ם	lā·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural
one	הָֽאֶחָד֙	hā·’e·ḥāḏ	Article; Number - masculine singular	H259 one
bull	הַפָּ֤ר	hap·pār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6499 young bull, steer
and prepare	וַעֲשׂ֣וּ	wa·‘ă·śū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H6213 do, make
it first	רִאשֹׁנָ֔ה	ri·šō·nāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H7223 former, first, chief
Then call	וְקִרְאוּ֙	wə·qir·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H7121 call, proclaim, read
on the name	בְּשֵׁ֣ם	bə·šêm	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H8034 name
of your god	אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם	’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine plural	H430 God
but do not	לֹ֥א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
light	תָשִֽׂימוּ׃	ṯā·śî·mū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural	H7760 put, place, set
the fire	וְאֵ֖שׁ	wə·’êš	Conjunctive waw; Noun - common singular	H784 fire

1 Kings 18:26

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And they took	וַ֠יִּקְחוּ	way·yiq·ḥū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3947 take
the bull	הַפָּ֨ר	hap·pār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6499 young bull, steer
that	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
was given	נָתַ֣ן	nā·ṯan	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
them	לָהֶם֮	lā·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural
prepared	וַֽיַּעֲשׂוּ֒	way·ya·‘ă·śū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H6213 do, make
and called	וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ	way·yiq·rə·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7121 call, proclaim, read
on the name	בְשֵׁם־	ḇə·šêm-	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H8034 name
of Baal	הַ֠בַּעַל	hab·ba·‘al	Article; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1168 owner, lord
from morning	מֵהַבֹּ֨קֶר	mê·hab·bō·qer	Preposition-m, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1242 morning
until	וְעַד־	wə·‘aḏ-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
noon	הַצָּהֳרַ֤יִם	haṣ·ṣā·ho·ra·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H6672 midday, noon
shouting	לֵאמֹר֙	lê·mōr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H559 utter, say
O Baal	הַבַּ֣עַל	hab·ba·‘al	Article; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1168 owner, lord
answer us	עֲנֵ֔נוּ	‘ă·nê·nū	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; first person common plural	H6030 answer, respond
But there was no	וְאֵ֥ין	wə·’ên	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
sound	ק֖וֹל	qō·wl	Noun - masculine singular	H6963 sound, voice
and no one	וְאֵ֣ין	wə·’ên	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
answered	עֹנֶ֑ה	‘ō·neh	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H6030 answer, respond
as they leaped	וַֽיְפַסְּח֔וּ	way·p̄as·sə·ḥū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H6452 pass or spring over
around	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the altar	הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ	ham·miz·bê·aḥ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4196 altar
they had made	עָשָֽׂה׃	‘ā·śāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make

1 Kings 18:27

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
At noon	בַֽצָּהֳרַ֜יִם	ḇaṣ·ṣā·ho·ra·yim	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H6672 midday, noon
Elijah	אֵלִיָּ֗הוּ	’ê·lî·yā·hū	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H452 Elijah
began to taunt	וַיְהַתֵּ֧ל	way·hat·têl	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H2048 deceive, mock
them	בָּהֶ֣ם	bā·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural
saying	וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Shout	קִרְא֤וּ	qir·’ū	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H7121 call, proclaim, read
louder	גָּדוֹל֙	gā·ḏō·wl	Adjective - masculine singular	H1419 great
for	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
he is	ה֔וּא	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
a god	אֱלֹהִ֣ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
Perhaps he is deep in thought	שִׂ֧יחַ	śî·aḥ	Noun - masculine singular	H7879 complaint, musing
or occupied	שִׂ֛יג	śîḡ	Noun - masculine singular	H7873 a withdrawal
or on a journey	דֶ֣רֶךְ	ḏe·reḵ	Noun - common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
Perhaps	אוּלַ֛י	’ū·lay	Adverb	H194 peradventure, perhaps
he is	ה֖וּא	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
sleeping	יָשֵׁ֥ן	yā·šên	Adjective - masculine singular	H3463 sleeping
and must be awakened	וְיִקָֽץ׃	wə·yi·qāṣ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H3364 awake

1 Kings 18:28

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So they shouted louder	וַֽיִּקְרְאוּ֙	way·yiq·rə·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7121 call, proclaim, read
and cut	וַיִּתְגֹּֽדְדוּ֙	way·yiṯ·gō·ḏə·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1413 penetrate, cut
themselves with knives	בַּחֲרָב֖וֹת	ba·ḥă·rā·ḇō·wṯ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine plural	H2719 sword
and lances	וּבָֽרְמָחִ֑ים	ū·ḇā·rə·mā·ḥîm	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H7420 spear, lance
as	כְּמִשְׁפָּטָ֔ם	kə·miš·pā·ṭām	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H4941 judgment
until	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
the blood	דָּ֖ם	dām	Noun - masculine singular	H1818 blood
gushed	שְׁפָךְ־	šə·p̄āḵ-	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H8210 pour out, pour
over them	עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃	‘ă·lê·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H5921 height

1 Kings 18:29

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Midday passed	כַּעֲבֹ֣ר	ka·‘ă·ḇōr	Preposition-k; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
and they kept on raving	וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֔וּ	way·yiṯ·nab·bə·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5012 prophesy
until	עַ֖ד	‘aḏ	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
the	לַעֲל֣וֹת	la·‘ă·lō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
of the	הַמִּנְחָ֑ה	ham·min·ḥāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4503 gift, tribute, offering
But	וְאֵֽין־	wə·’ên-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
response	ק֥וֹל	qō·wl	Noun - masculine singular	H6963 sound, voice
no	וְאֵין־	wə·’ên-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
one answered	עֹנֶ֖ה	‘ō·neh	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H6030 answer, respond
no	וְאֵ֥ין	wə·’ên	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
one paid attention	קָֽשֶׁב׃	qā·šeḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H7182 attentiveness

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Kings 18:26 Jeremiah 10:5 · 1 Corinthians 12:2 · 1 Corinthians 8:4 · Matthew 6:7

1 Kings 18:27 Isaiah 41:23 · Psalm 78:65–66

1 Kings 18:28 Leviticus 19:28 · Deuteronomy 14:1 · Mark 5:5 · Mark 9:22 · Micah 6:7

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.