1 Kings 18:26
1 Kings 18:26 in Multiple Translations
And 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.
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped about the altar which was made.
So they took the ox which was given them, and made it ready, crying out to Baal from morning till the middle of the day, and saying, O Baal, give ear to us. But there was no voice and no answer. And they were jumping up and down before the altar they had made.
So they took the bull provided and prepared it. Then they called on Baal by name from morning until noon. “Baal, answer us!” they pleaded. But no voice was heard, no one answered. They hobbled in a dance around the altar they had made.
So they tooke the one bullocke, that was giuen them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal, from morning to noone, saying, O Baal, heare vs: but there was no voyce, nor any to answere: and they leapt vpon the altar that was made.
And they take the bullock that [one] gave to them, and prepare, and call in the name of Baal from the morning even till the noon, saying, 'O Baal, answer us!' and there is no voice, and there is none answering; and they leap on the altar that one had made.
They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, “Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice, and nobody answered. They leaped about the altar which was made.
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it , and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
And they took the bullock which he gave them, and dressed it: and they called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying: O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered: and they leaped over the altar that they had made.
So they killed one of the bulls and cut it up and placed the pieces on the altar. Then they called out to Baal all morning. They shouted, “Baal, answer us!” But no one answered. There was no reply at all [DOU]. Then they danced wildly around the altar that they had made.
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Kings 18:26
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1 Kings 18:26 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Kings 18:26
Study Notes — 1 Kings 18:26
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Kings 18:26 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 18:26
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 18:26
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:26
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:26
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:26
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:26
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 18:26
- Barnes' Notes on 1 Kings 18:26
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:26
- Sermons on 1 Kings 18:26
Context — Elijah on Mount Carmel
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.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 10:5 | Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.” |
| 2 | 1 Corinthians 8:4 | So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. |
| 3 | Matthew 6:7 | And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. |
| 4 | 1 Corinthians 12:2 | You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. |
| 5 | Psalms 115:4–8 | Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel; they have feet, but cannot walk; they cannot even clear their throats. Those who make them become like them, as do all who trust in them. |
| 6 | Isaiah 45:20 | Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save. |
| 7 | Isaiah 37:38 | One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place. |
| 8 | Isaiah 44:17 | From the rest he makes a god, his graven image. He bows down to it and worships; he prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.” |
| 9 | Psalms 135:15–20 | The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them, as do all who trust in them. O house of Israel, bless the LORD; O house of Aaron, bless the LORD; O house of Levi, bless the LORD; you who fear the LORD, bless the LORD! |
| 10 | 1 Kings 18:24 | Then you may call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered, “What you say is good.” |
1 Kings 18:26 Summary
This verse shows us what happens when people try to worship a fake god - nothing happens. The prophets of Baal shouted and danced around the altar, but their god didn't answer, just like it says in 1 Kings 18:26. This teaches us that only the one true God is real and powerful, as seen in Psalm 115:1-8. We should put our trust in Him, not in idols or false gods, and remember that He is always ready to hear and answer us, as promised in Jeremiah 33:3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the prophets of Baal shout and leap around the altar?
The prophets of Baal shouted and leaped around the altar in an attempt to get their god's attention, but as 1 Kings 18:26 says, there was no sound and no one answered, highlighting the powerlessness of their idol. This is similar to the experience of the Israelites in Exodus 32:1-6, where they also turned to idols and were met with silence.
What does this verse reveal about the nature of false gods?
This verse reveals that false gods, like Baal, are powerless and unresponsive, as seen in 1 Kings 18:26. In contrast, the one true God is all-powerful and responsive, as seen in verses like Psalm 65:2, where it says that all men will come to Him.
How does this verse relate to the concept of spiritual deafness?
This verse illustrates the concept of spiritual deafness, where those who worship false gods are unable to hear or respond to the true God, as seen in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, where it says that people will turn away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
What can we learn from the prophets of Baal's actions in this verse?
We can learn that fervent but misguided devotion to false gods will ultimately lead to disappointment and silence, as seen in 1 Kings 18:26, and that true faith and devotion should be directed towards the one true God, as seen in Matthew 22:37-38.
Reflection Questions
- What are some modern-day 'Baal's' that people worship, and how can we avoid falling into similar idolatry?
- How can we, like Elijah, stand firm in our faith and trust in the power of the one true God, even in the face of opposition or silence?
- What does this verse teach us about the importance of discerning between true and false spirituality?
- How can we apply the lesson of 1 Kings 18:26 to our own lives, avoiding the pitfalls of spiritual deafness and instead tuning our hearts to hear the voice of God?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 18:26
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 18:26
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:26
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:26
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:26
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:26
Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 18:26
Barnes' Notes on 1 Kings 18:26
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:26
Sermons on 1 Kings 18:26
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Have You Ever Felt That God Is Doing Nothing in Your Life? by Carter Conlon | Carter Conlon addresses the feeling of spiritual stagnation, emphasizing that even when it seems God is silent, He is actively working within us. He draws from Isaiah 30, highlight |
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K-490 False Prophets of the Last Days by Art Katz | In this sermon transcript, the speaker shares his personal experience of witnessing a demonstration of power without the presence of the living God. He describes a situation where |
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He Will Act for You! by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes that God is not passive and will act on our behalf against the devil's schemes. He draws parallels to Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal, i |
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Isaiah 46:1 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith emphasizes the contrast between supporting false gods and being supported by the true and living God. He illustrates how many people are burdened by the idols they crea |
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The Christian View of Life by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of viewing knowledge, liberty, and responsibility in the right way as a Christian. He highlights the need for knowledge to be |
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Homily 10 by Clement of Rome | Clement of Rome preaches in Tripolis about the dangers of ignorance and error, highlighting the difference between those who worship idols and those who worship the one true God. H |
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Against the Heathen by St. Athanasius | Athanasius preaches against idolatry, highlighting the inconsistency and godlessness of worshipping images and false gods. He questions the rationale behind attributing divine attr |







