God’s Word Translation
1 Kings 17:1
1Elijah, who was from Tishbe but had settled in Gilead, said to Ahab, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord God of Israel whom I serve lives, there will be no dew or rain during the next few years unless I say so.”
1 Kings 17:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
- New International Version (NIV)Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”
Context of 1 Kings 17:1
Elijah, who was from Tishbe but had settled in Gilead, said to Ahab, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord God of Israel whom I serve lives, there will be no dew or rain during the next few years unless I say so.” 2Then the Lord spoke his word to Elijah: 3“Leave here, turn east, and hide beside the Cherith River, which is east of the Jordan River.
Read all of 1 Kings 171 Kings 17:1 word by word
וַיֹּאמֶר֩ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּ֜י מִתֹּשָׁבֵ֣י גִלְעָד֮ אֶל־אַחְאָב֒ חַי־יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָמַ֣דְתִּי לְפָנָ֔יו אִם־יִהְיֶ֛ה הַשָּׁנִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה טַ֣ל וּמָטָ֑ר כִּ֖י אִם־לְפִ֥י דְבָרִֽי׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Elijahאֵלִיָּה'êlîyâh 'êlîyâhû · ElijahH452
- the Tishbiteתִּשְׁבִּיtishbîy · TishbiteH8664
- of the inhabitantsתּוֹשָׁבtôshâb tôshâb · sojournerH8453
- of Gileadגִּלְעָדgil‛âd · GileadH1568
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto Ahabאַחְאָב'ach'âb 'echâb · AhabH256
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- livethחַיchay · aliveH2416
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- whom I standעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
- there shall not be dewטַלţal · dewH2919
- nor rainמָטַרmâţâr · rainH4306
- these yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
- but accordingפֶּהpeh · lip: wordH6310
- to my wordדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
Cross-references for 1 Kings 17:1
- Matthew 11:14If you are willing to accept their message, John is the Elijah who was to come.
- Matthew 16:14They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
- Matthew 27:47When some of the people standing there heard him say that, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
- Luke 1:17He will go ahead of the Lord with the spirit and power that Elijah had. He will change parents’ attitudes toward their children. He will change disobedient people so that they will accept the wisdom of those who have God’s approval. In this way he will prepare the people for their Lord.”
- Luke 4:25“I can guarantee this truth: There were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time. It had not rained for three-and-a-half years, and the famine was severe everywhere in the country.
- Luke 9:30Suddenly, both Moses and Elijah were talking with him.
- John 1:21They asked him, “Well, are you Elijah?” John answered, “No, I’m not.” Then they asked, “Are you the prophet?” John replied, “No.”
- Romans 11:2God has not rejected his people whom he knew long ago. Don’t you know what Elijah says in the Scripture passage when he complains to God about Israel? He says,
- 1 Kings 22:14Micaiah answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives, I will tell him whatever the Lord tells me.”
- 2 Kings 3:14Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord of Armies whom I serve lives, I wouldn’t even bother to look at you or notice you if it weren’t for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah.
- 2 Kings 5:16Elisha said, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord whom I serve lives, I will not accept it.” Naaman urged him to take it, but he refused.
- Isaiah 49:18Look up, look around, and watch! All of your children are gathering together and returning to you. “I solemnly swear as I live,” declares the Lord, “you will wear all of them like jewels and display them on yourself as a bride would.”
- Matthew 7:29Unlike their experts in Moses’ Teachings, he taught them with authority.
- Deuteronomy 10:8At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the Lord’s promise, to stand in the Lord’s presence when they serve him as priests, and to praise his name, as they still do today.
- Jeremiah 15:19This is what the Lord says: If you will return, I will take you back. If you will speak what is worthwhile and not what is worthless, you will stand in my presence. The people will return to you, but you will not return to them.
- Luke 1:19The angel answered him, “I’m Gabriel! I stand in God’s presence. God sent me to tell you this good news.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 17:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Elijah the Tishbite - The history of this great man is introduced very abruptly; his origin is enveloped in perfect obscurity. He is here said to be a Tishbite. Tishbeh, says Calmet, is a city beyond Jordan, in the tribe of Gad, and in the land of Gilead. Who was his father, or from what tribe he sprang, is not intimated; he seems to have been the prophet of Israel peculiarly, as we never find him prophesying in Judah. A number of apocryphal writers have…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The name Elijah means “Yahweh is my God.” It is expressive of the truth which his whole life preached. The two words rendered “Tishbite” and “inhabitant” are in the original (setting aside the vowel points) “exactly alike.” The meaning consequently must either be “Elijah the stranger, of the strangers of Gilead,” or (more probably) “Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbi of Gilead.” Of Tishbi in Gilead there is no further trace in Scripture; it is to be…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Elijah fed by ravens. (1-7) Elijah sent to Zarephath. (8-16) Elijah raises the widow's son to life. (17-24) Verses 1-7 God wonderfully suits men to the work he designs them for. The times were fit for an Elijah; an Elijah was fit for them. The Spirit of the Lord knows how to fit men for the occasions. Elijah let Ahab know that God was displeased with the idolaters, and would chastise them by the want of rain, which it was not in the power of the gods they…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Elijah was God's prophet to the northern kingdom during the reigns of the third-dynasty kings: Ahab, who ruled from 874 to 853 BC, Ahaziah, who ruled from 853 to 852 BC, and Joram, who ruled from 852 to 841 BC. Elijah showed his dedication to the Lord by declaring that he served the living God of Israel. Elijah stopped the dew and rain to challenge Baal, who supposedly controlled these natural forces. Their absence, until God instructed Elijah to speak…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-71Ki 17:1-7. Elijah, Prophesying against Ahab, Is Sent to Cherith. 1. Elijah the Tishbite--This prophet is introduced as abruptly as Melchisedek--his birth, parents, and call to the prophetic office being alike unrecorded. He is supposed to be called the Tishbite from Tisbeh, a place east of Jordan. who was of the inhabitants of Gilead--or residents of Gilead, implying that he was not an Israelite, but an Ishmaelite, as Michaelis conjectures, for there…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 17:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 17
- 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
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