1 Kings 18:46

1 Kings 18:46 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
• New International Version (NIV)The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Context of 1 Kings 18:46

44The seventh time, the servant said, ‘I can see a small cloud above the sea that is coming this way. It is only as big as a man's hand.’ So Elijah said, ‘Go and tell Ahab, “Prepare your chariot now! Go back down quickly before the rain stops you.” ’ 45As Elijah said this, the sky became very dark with black clouds. The wind started to blow and there was a heavy storm of rain. King Ahab rode away towards Jezreel. Then the Lord gave Elijah special power. Elijah tied his robe into his belt and he ran all the way to Jezreel. Ahab followed him.

1 Kings 18:46 word by word

וְיַד־יְהוָ֗ה הָֽיְתָה֙ אֶל־אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ וַיְשַׁנֵּ֖ס מָתְנָ֑יו וַיָּ֙רָץ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אַחְאָ֔ב עַד־בֹּאֲכָ֖ה יִזְרְעֶֽאלָה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• was on Elijahאֵלִיָּה'êlîyâh 'êlîyâhû · ElijahH452
• and he girded upשָׁנַסshânas · to girdH8151
• his loinsמׇתְנַ֫יִםmôthen · loinH4975
• and ranרוּץrûts · to run: runH7323
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• Ahabאַחְאָב'ach'âb 'echâb · AhabH256
• to the entranceבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): towardsH935
• of Jezreelיִזְרְעֶאלyizre‛ê'l · JezreelH3157

Cross-references for 1 Kings 18:46

• 2 Kings 3:15But now, bring someone to play music on a harp for me.’ While the man was making music, the Lord's power came to Elisha.
• Isaiah 8:11Now the Lord spoke to me with great power. He warned me that I must not be like the other people in Judah. He said,
• Ezekiel 1:3the Lord spoke to Ezekiel, the priest. He was the son of Buzi. He was standing beside the River Kebar in Babylon. While Ezekiel was there, the Lord came to him with power.
• Ezekiel 3:14Then a spirit lifted me up and he took me away. I was angry and upset in my mind. But the Lord gave me great power and strength.
• 2 Kings 4:29Elisha said to Gehazi, ‘Tie your belt around you. Prepare to travel! Take my stick with you and run there quickly. If you meet anyone, do not stop to speak. If anyone speaks to you, do not stop to answer them. When you get there, put my stick on the boy's face.’
• 2 Kings 9:1The prophet Elisha told a man from the group of prophets to come to him. Elisha said to him, ‘Tie your belt around you and prepare to travel. Take this bottle of olive oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead.
• Job 38:3Prepare yourself for a difficult job! I will ask you some questions and you must answer them.
• Jeremiah 1:17You must be ready to move, Jeremiah! Go and say to the people whatever I tell you. Do not be afraid of them. If you are afraid of them now, when you are among them, I will cause you to be very frightened!
• Ephesians 6:14So you must stand strongly. This is God's armour that you must wear: God's true message will be like a belt that you tie round your body. Always do what is right. That will be like a metal shirt that you wear to keep your body safe.
• 1 Peter 1:13So now, prepare your minds, so that you are ready to live in a good way. Think clearly about how God helps you. Always remember that God will be very kind to you when Jesus Christ comes again.
• Matthew 22:21They replied, ‘It is Caesar's picture and Caesar's name.’ Jesus said to them, ‘So you should give to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar. And give to God the things that belong to God.’
• 1 Peter 2:17Respect all people. Love the believers as you would love your family. Obey God as your master. Respect the king.

Commentaries on 1 Kings 18:46

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 46Ran before Ahab - Many think that Elijah ran before the king in order to do him honor; and much learned labor has been spent on this passage in order to show that Elijah had put himself at the head of a company of chanters who ran before the king reciting his praises, or the praises of God; a custom which still exists in Arabian countries! I believe all these entirely mistake the writer's meaning: Ahab yoked his chariot, and made all speed to Jezreel. The…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 46Divinely directed, and divinely upheld, Elijah, instead of resting, ran in advance of the king‘s chariot the entire distance of at least 16 miles to the entrance of Jezreel. He thus showed himself ready to countenance and uphold the irresolute monarch, if he would turn from his evil courses, and proceed to carry out the religious reformation which the events of the day had inaugurated. The entrance of Jezreel - Modern “Zerin.” Ahab had not removed the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 41-46Verses 41-46 Israel, being so far reformed as to acknowledge the Lord to be God, and to consent to the execution of Baal's prophets, was so far accepted, that God poured out blessing upon the land. Elijah long continued praying. Though the answer of our fervent and believing supplications does not come quickly, we must continue earnest in prayer, and not faint or give over. A little cloud at length appeared, which soon overspread the heavens, and watered…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 46He tucked his cloak into his belt to run faster ahead of Ahab’s chariot. The Hebrew phrase means doing something with energy or enthusiasm (2 Kings 4:29). Jezreel was located between Megiddo and Beth-shan in the southeastern part of the Jezreel Valley, about seventeen miles from Mount Carmel.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4646. Elijah ... girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab--It was anciently, and still is in some countries of the East, customary for kings and nobles to have runners before their chariots, who are tightly girt for the purpose. The prophet, like the Bedouins of his native Gilead, had been trained to run; and, as the Lord was with him, he continued with unabated agility and strength. It was, in the circumstances, a most proper service for Elijah to render…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 18:46

• Ahab
• Carmel
• Hand
• Jezreel
• Prophets

In the dictionaries

• Ahab
• Elijah
• Jezreel
• Answer
• Carmel
• Cut
• Dress
• 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