1 Kings 18:4

1 Kings 18:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
• New International Version (NIV)While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)
• English Standard Version (ESV)and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.)
• New King James Version (NKJV)For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.)

Context of 1 Kings 18:4

2So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3Ahab called Obadiah who was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly; for when Jezebel destroyed the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water.) 5Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go into the land to all the sources of water and to all the streams; perhaps we may find grass and keep the horses and mules alive, and not have to kill some of the cattle.” 6So they divided the land between them to survey it. Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way by himself.

1 Kings 18:4 word by word

וַיְהִי֙ בְּהַכְרִ֣ית אִיזֶ֔בֶל אֵ֖ת נְבִיאֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּקַּ֨ח עֹבַדְיָ֜הוּ מֵאָ֣ה נְבִאִ֗ים וַֽיַּחְבִּיאֵ֞ם חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אִישׁ֙ בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה וְכִלְכְּלָ֖ם לֶ֥חֶם וָמָֽיִם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• when Jezebelאִיזֶבֶל'îyzebel · JezebelH348
• cut offכָּרַתkârath · to cut: eliminateH3772
• the prophetsנָבִיאnâbîy' · prophetH5030
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• that Obadiahעֹבַדְיָ֫הוּ‛ôbadyâh ‛ôbadyâhû · ObadiahH5662
• tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• an hundredמֵאָהmê'âh mê'yâh · hundredH3967
• and hidחָבָאchâbâ' · to hideH2244
• them by fiftyחֲמִשִּׁיםchămishshîym · fiftyH2572
• them by fiftyאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• in a caveמְעָרָהme‛ârâh · caveH4631
• and fedכּוּלkûl · to sustainH3557
• them with breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
• and waterמַיmayim · waterH4325

Cross-references for 1 Kings 18:4

• Nehemiah 9:26“Yet they were disobedient and rebelled against You, And cast Your law behind their backs And killed Your prophets who warned them To return to You; And they committed great [and contemptible] blasphemies.
• Matthew 21:35But the tenants took his servants and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third.
• Revelation 17:4The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stones and pearls, [and she was] holding in her hand a gold cup full of the abominations and the filth of her [sexual] immorality.
• Hebrews 11:38(people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and [living in] caves and holes in the ground.
• 1 Kings 18:13Has it not been told to my lord [Elijah] what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid a hundred of the Lord’s prophets by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water?
• 2 Kings 6:22Elisha answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and bow? Serve them bread and water, so that they may eat and drink, and go back to their master [King Ben-hadad].”
• Matthew 10:40“He who receives and welcomes you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
• Matthew 25:35For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
• 1 Kings 13:8But the man of God said to the king, “Even if you were to give me half your house (wealth), I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place.

Commentaries on 1 Kings 18:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Fed them with bread and water - By these are signified the necessaries of life, of whatsoever kind.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4We have no details of Jezebel‘s deed of blood. Some have conjectured that it was the answer of Jezebel to Elijah‘s threat, and that the command given him to hide in Cherith alone saved him from being one of the victims. This view receives some support from Obadiah‘s act and words 1 Kings 18:13. Fifty in a cave - The limestone formation of Judaea and Samaria abounds with large natural caverns, the size of which is easily increased by art. These “caves”…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Obadiah's care for 100 of the Lord's prophets suggests a group of prophets that existed since Samuel's time (1 Samuel 10:5–18; 19:20, 24). These groups met for study and spiritual support and are mentioned several times (2 Kings 4:1, 38; 9:1). Elijah and Elisha likely led some of these groups (2 Kings 2:3–7, 15; 6:1–7).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. an hundred prophets--not men endowed with the extraordinary gifts of the prophetic office, but who were devoted to the service of God, preaching, praying, praising, &c. (1Sa 10:10-12). fed them with bread and water--These articles are often used to include sustenance of any kind. As this succor must have been given them at the hazard, not only of his place, but his life, it was a strong proof of his attachment to the true religion.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 18:4

• Cave
• Elijah
• Fear of God
• Israel
• Jezebel
• King
• Love
• Martyrdom
• Obadiah
• Persecution
• Women
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Jezebel
• Obadiah
• Ahab
• Answer
• Carmel
• Cave
• Cut
• Either
• Follow
• Halt

Commentaries on 1 Kings 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings