New American Standard Bible 1995
1 Kings 18:44
44It came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, 1a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘2Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’”
1 Kings 18:44 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.
- New International Version (NIV)The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And at the seventh time he said, "Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea." And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.'"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”
Context of 1 Kings 18:44
42So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go back” seven times. It came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’” 45In a little while the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy shower. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 46Then the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel.
Read all of 1 Kings 181 Kings 18:44 word by word
וַֽיְהִי֙ בַּשְּׁבִעִ֔ית וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּה־עָ֛ב קְטַנָּ֥ה כְּכַף־אִ֖ישׁ עֹלָ֣ה מִיָּ֑ם וַיֹּ֗אמֶר עֲלֵ֨ה אֱמֹ֤ר אֶל־אַחְאָב֙ אֱסֹ֣ר וָרֵ֔ד וְלֹ֥א יַעַצָרְכָ֖ה הַגָּֽשֶׁם׃Read the interlinear
- It cameהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- about at the seventhשְׁבִיעִיshebîy‛îy shebi‛îy · seventhH7637
- that he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Beholdהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
- a cloudעָב‛âb · cloudH5645
- as smallקָטָןqâţân qâţôn · smallH6996
- as a man’sאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- handכַּףkaph · palmH3709
- is comingעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- up from the seaיָםyâm · seaH3220
- to Ahabאַחְאָב'ach'âb 'echâb · AhabH256
- Prepareאָסַר'âsar · to bindH631
- and goיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- showerגֶּ֫שֶׁםgeshem · rainH1653
- does not stopעָצַר‛âtsar · to restrainH6113
Cross-references for 1 Kings 18:44
- Job 8:7Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end will increase greatly.
- Zechariah 4:10For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel--these are the eyes of the Lord which range to and fro throughout the earth.”
- 1 Samuel 6:7Now therefore, take and prepare a new cart and two milch cows on which there has never been a yoke; and hitch the cows to the cart and take their calves home, away from them.
- Micah 1:13Harness the chariot to the team of horses, O inhabitant of Lachish-- She was the beginning of sin To the daughter of Zion-- Because in you were found The rebellious acts of Israel.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 18:44
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 44There ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. - איש ככף kechaph ish, like the hollow of a man's hand. In the form of the hand bent, the concave side downmost. I have witnessed a resemblance of this kind at sea previously to a violent storm, a little cloud the size of a man's hand first appearing, and this increasing in size and density every moment, till at last it covered the whole heavens, and then burst forth with incredible fury. Mr…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 44A little cloud - Sailors know full well that such a cloud on the far horizon is often the forerunner of a violent storm.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. 41-45The servant saw a small cloud on the horizon, about the size of a hand. It signaled the coming of a huge rainstorm.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4444. Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand--The clearness of the sky renders the smallest speck distinctly visible; and this is in Palestine the uniform precursor of rain. It rises higher and higher, and becomes larger and larger with astonishing celerity, till the whole heaven is black, and the cloud bursts in a deluge of rain. Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not--either by the river Kishon…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 18:44
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. 1 Kings 18:44 Luke 12:54 ↩
- 2. 1 Kings 18:44 Lit Tie, harness ↩
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
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries