1 Kings 18:16 — Word Study
WLCוַיֵּ֧לֶךְ עֹבַדְיָ֛הוּ לִקְרַ֥את אַחְאָ֖ב וַיַּגֶּד־ ל֑וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ אַחְאָ֖ב לִקְרַ֥את אֵלִיָּֽהוּ׃
BSASo ObadiahʻÔbadyâh [a faithful prophet] informnâgad▸ [tell, declare] AhabʼAchʼâb [the king of Israel] [who]ʼAchʼâb ElijahʼÊlîyâh [my God is Jehovah, a mighty prophet]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ | and he went | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| עֹבַדְיָ֛הוּ | Obadiah | Noun proper masculine |
| לִקְרַ֥את | to meet | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| אַחְאָ֖ב | Ahab | Noun proper masculine |
| וַיַּגֶּד־ | and he told | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| ל֑וֹ | to him | Preposition, suffix |
| וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ | and he went | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אַחְאָ֖ב | Ahab | Noun proper masculine |
| לִקְרַ֥את | to meet | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| אֵלִיָּֽהוּ׃ | Elijah | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So Obadiah went to inform Ahab, who went to meet Elijah. |
| KJV | So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. |
| ASV | So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah. |
| YLT | And Obadiah goeth to meet Ahab, and declareth [it] to him, and Ahab goeth to meet Elijah, |
| WEB | So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah. |
| BBE | So Obadiah went to Ahab and gave him the news; and Ahab went to see Elijah. |
Where they part company is וַיַּגֶּד־ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence contains a main clause and two subordinate clauses, detailing the actions of Obadiah and Ahab.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
subjectעֹבַדְיָהוּ
verbהלך
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 1 Kings 18:16
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Encounter Between Ahab and Elijahgenerated
1 Kings 18:16 describes a pivotal moment where Obadiah, a faithful servant of the Lord, goes to inform King Ahab about Elijah. This event occurs in the context of a significant confrontation regarding the worship of Yahweh versus Baal, highlighting the tension in Israel during Ahab's reign. The verses surrounding this moment illustrate the struggle between the true prophet and the corrupt king, setting the stage for Elijah's powerful ministry.
Cross References
The Key Word — עֹבַדְיָ֛הוּ, 'oad.Ya.hugenerated
The name עֹבַדְיָ֛הוּ (Obadyah) means 'servant of Jehovah.' It refers to a prophet who played a key role during a tumultuous time in Israel's history. His actions demonstrate loyalty to God amidst widespread idolatry.
Obadiah is noted for his faithfulness, serving in Ahab's household while secretly protecting the prophets of the Lord. This duality of serving a wicked king while remaining true to God adds depth to his character.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ (and he went) governs the sentence, with two clauses following: the first describes Obadiah's action of informing Ahab, and the second describes Ahab's action of going to meet Elijah.
The structure emphasizes the sequential actions of both Obadiah and Ahab, illustrating the flow of events leading to the encounter with Elijah.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַיַּגֶּד־ as ἀπήγγειλεν, meaning 'he announced' or 'he declared.' This choice suggests a more formal or official tone to Obadiah's communication with Ahab.
The Greek word συναντὴν for לִקְרַ֥את implies a meeting that is intentional, reinforcing the significance of the encounter between Ahab and Elijah.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Kings 18:16 tells us that Obadiah, a prophet, went to inform King Ahab about Elijah. Ahab then went to meet Elijah, setting the stage for a significant confrontation regarding the worship of God.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Obadiah was a prophet and servant of Jehovah, known for his loyalty to God during the reign of King Ahab.
Ahab was the king of Israel who opposed Elijah, a prophet of God. Their encounters were marked by conflict over the worship of Yahweh versus Baal.
Obadiah informed Ahab about Elijah to fulfill his role as a servant of the Lord, despite the risks involved in dealing with a king who worshipped Baal.
The name Elijah means 'my God is Jehovah,' reflecting his prophetic mission and dedication to the worship of Yahweh.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does Obadiah's loyalty to God teach us about faithfulness in difficult situations?
- How can we prepare ourselves to meet challenges like those faced by Elijah and Obadiah?
- In what ways can we be bold in declaring our faith, as Obadiah did?
- How do the actions of Ahab and Elijah reflect the choices we face in our own lives regarding faith and idolatry?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Kings 18:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleSo Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him,.... That Elijah was in such a place, and had desired him to inform him of it, and was ready to appear before him that day wherever he pleased; for upon the
Read John Gill on 1 Kings 18 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Kings 18 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments1 Kings 18:16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.Ver. 16. So Obadiah went.] Cured of his fear by the prophet’ s oath; and confident that Deo armatus, he would encounter the king.
Read John Trapp on 1 Kings 18 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16. And Ahab went] The LXX. has ‘And Ahab ran forth and went to meet Elijah.’
Read Cambridge on 1 Kings 18 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible16. Obadiah went to meet Ahab — It was doubtless better that the king’s mind be a little prepared for the meeting with Elijah, by having the prophet’s presence pre-announced.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 1 Kings 18 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
So Obadiah went to inform Ahab, who went to meet Elijah.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
So Obadiah went to inform Ahab, who went to meet Elijah.
When Obadiah went and informed Ahab, the king went to meet Elijah.
Tyndale line
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
So Obadiah went to meete Ahab, and tolde him: And Ahab went to meete Eliiah.
Strictly literal
Then Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.
And Obadiah goeth to meet Ahab, and declareth [it] to him, and Ahab goeth to meet Elijah,
Obadiah goes to meet Ahab, and declares [it] to him, and Ahab goes to meet Elijah.
So 'Ohadiah went to meet Achab, and he told it to him; and Achab went to meet Elijah.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him what Elijah said. Then the king went to meet Elijah.
From the Latin
Abdias therefore went to meet Achab, and told him: and Achab came to meet Elias.
Simplified
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and then Ahab went to meet Elijah.
So Obadiah went to Ahab and gave him the news; and Ahab went to see Elijah.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with a word-for-word correspondence in the translation. This consistency reinforces the reliability of the text across different traditions.
וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ עֹבַדְיָ֛הוּ לִקְרַ֥את אַחְאָ֖ב וַיַּגֶּד־ ל֑וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ אַחְאָ֖ב לִקְרַ֥את אֵלִיָּֽהוּ׃
10 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 1 Kings 18:16
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.
הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk
Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך
lit.
of persons
Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
in like manner of inanimate things
The inf. abs. is often used
as in other vbs., quite independently
to intensify meaning of finite form
most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.
with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance
twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
quite by itself
13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
In combination with other verbal forms
Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:
pass away, die
H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons
. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
. in like manner of inanimate things
. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently
. to intensify meaning of finite form
. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance
. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
. quite by itself
. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
. In combination with other verbal forms
1980 halak haw-lak'
akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety
of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,
apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,
depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,
forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,
out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,
march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),
be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,
still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,
on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,
(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.
see HEBREW for 03212
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.
: went/go[away]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.
: come[nearer]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.
: walk/move
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
Hc/Vqw3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
עֹבַדְיָ֫הוּ (Obadyah) means 'servant of Jehovah' and refers to various individuals in the Old Testament, including the fourth of the twelve minor prophets. The entries note that he was a chief in Ahab's household, a Levite overseer, and a descendant of David, among others. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding the identity and roles of Obadiah.
עֹבַדְיָ֫הוּ, עֹבַדְיָה n.pr.m. (servant of Yah)
:
chief of Ahab’s household
father of one of the chiefs of Zebulun
a Levite overseer in time of Josiah
:
the prophet
a descendant of David
chief of tribe of Issachar
a Benjamite
a Levite
a Gadite chief
a prince in time of Jehoshaphat
priestly companion of Ezra
a doorkeeper
base
H5662 עֹבַדְיָ֫הוּ, עֹבַדְיָה
5662 `Obadyah o-bad-yaw'
or mObadyahuw {o-bad-yaw'-hoo}; active participle of 5647 and
3050; serving Jah; Obadjah, the name of thirteen
Israelites:--Obadiah.
see HEBREW for 05647
see HEBREW for 03050
עֹבַדְיָ֫הוּ (o.vad.yah) — Obadiah.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.18.3
§ Obadiah = "servant of Jehovah"
1) the 4th of the 12 minor prophets; nothing personal is known of him but it is probable that he was contemporary with Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel
1a) the prophetic book by him; prophesies against Edom
2) father of Ishmaiah, one of the chiefs of Zebulun in the time of David
3) a Merarite Levite overseer of the work of restoring the temple in the time of king Josiah of Judah
4) chief of the household of king Ahab of Israel; an devout worshipper of Jehovah who at risk to his own life hid over 100 prophets during the persecution of Jezebel
5) a descendant of David
6) a chief of the tribe of Issachar
7) a Benjamite, one of the 6 sons of Azel and a descendant of king Saul
8) a Levite, son of Shemaiah and a descendant of Jeduthun
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
o-ba-di'-a (`obhadhyah, more fully `obhadhyahu, "servant of Yahweh"):
(1) The steward or prime minister of Ahab, who did his best to protect the prophets of Yahweh against Jezebel's persecution. He met Elijah on his return from Zarephath, and bore to Ahab the news of Elijah's reappearance (1Ki 18:3-16).
(2) The prophet (Ob 1:1).
See OBADIAH, BOOK OF.
Obadiah
Servant of the Lord. (1.) An Israelite who was chief in the household of King Ahab (1 Kings 18:3). Amid great spiritual degeneracy he maintained his fidelity to God, and interposed to protect The Lord’s prophets, an hundred of whom he hid at great personal risk in a cave (4, 13). Ahab seems to have held Obadiah in great honour, although he had no sympathy with his piety (5, 6, 7). The last notice of him is his bringing back tidings to Ahab that Elijah, whom he had so long sought for, was at hand (9-16). “Go,” said Elijah to him, when he met him in the way, “go tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.”
(2.) A chief of the tribe of Issachar (1 Chr. 7:3).
(3.) A descendant of Saul (1 Chr. 8:38).
(servant of the Lord), A man whose sons are enumerated in the genealogy of the tribe of Judah. (1 Chronicles 3:21) (B.C. 470.) A descendant of Issachar and a chief man of his tribe. (1 Chronicles 7:3) (B.C. 1014.) One of the six sons of Azel, a descendant of Saul. (1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:44) (B.C. 720.) A Levite, son of Shemaiah, and descended from Jeduthun. (1 Chronicles 9:16; Nehemiah 12:25) The second of the lion-faced Gadites who joined David at Ziklag. (1 Chronicles 12:9) (B.C. 1054.) One of the Princes of Judah in the reign of Jehoshaphat. (
1. The chief officer of king Ahab’s household, who preserved the lives of one hundred prophets from the persecuting Jezebel, by concealing them in two caves and furnishing them with food, 1Ki 18:4.
2. The fourth of the minor prophets, supposed to have prophesied about 587 B. C. It cannot indeed be decided with certainty when he lived, but it is probable that he was contemporary with Jeremiah and Ezekiel, who denounced the same dreadful judgments on the Edomites, as the punishment of their pride, violence, and cruel insulting over the Jews after the destruction of their city. The prophecy, according to usher, was fulfilled about five years after the destruction of Jerusalem.
3. Eight or ten others of this name are mentioned in 1Ch 3:21 7:3 8:38 9:16,44 12:9 27:19
The Hebrew word קָרָא (*qara'*) is a primitive root meaning to encounter or meet, often unexpectedly. It encompasses various nuances, including to befall or happen by chance. The verb appears in different forms: Qal (to meet), Niphal (to meet unexpectedly), and Hiphil (to cause to meet). Brown-Driver-Briggs notes its use in a figurative sense as well.
[קָרָא] 137 vb. encounter, befall
Qal 131
meet, encounter
fig. befall
Niph. meet unexpectedly
Hiph. thou didst cause all this evil to befall them
base
H7122 קָרָא encounter, befall
7122 qara' kaw-raw'
a primitive root: to encounter, whether accidentally or in a
hostile manner:--befall, (by) chance, (cause to) come (upon),
fall out, happen, meet.
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to encounter: meet.
: meet
1) to encounter, befall, meet
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to meet, encounter
1a2) to befall (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to encounter: toward.
: toward/(come)against
1) to encounter, befall, meet
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to meet, encounter
1a2) to befall (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to encounter: chanced.
: happen[unexpectedly]
1) to encounter, befall, meet
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to meet, encounter
1a2) to befall (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet
HR/Vqcc — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHR/Vqcc
met, adjective (yashar; axios): Various words are employed to express meetness, the sense of what is proper, worthy, or fit. We have yashar, "straight," "upright," "right" (2Ki 10:3, "meetest"; Jer 26:14, the Revised Version (British and American) "right"); yashar (Jer 27:5, the Revised Version (British and American) "right"); yosher (Pr 11:24, the Revised Version margin "what is justly due"); 'arikh, Aramaic "meet" (Ezr 4:14); bene, "sons of" (De 3:18, the King James Version "meet for the war," margin "Hebrew sons of power," the Revised Version (British and…
The Hebrew word אַחְאָב (*Ach'ab*) refers to Ahab, a name associated with a king of Israel and a false prophet during the time of Jeremiah. It is derived from the words for 'brother' and 'father,' meaning 'father's brother.' The entries highlight Ahab's lineage, including his marriage to Jezebel and his role in the Divided Monarchy.
אַחְאָב 91 n.pr.m. Ahab (father’s brother)
son of Omri, king of Isr.
false prophet, time of Jerem.
base
H256 אַחְאָב
256 'Ach'ab akh-awb'
once (by contraction) oEchab (Jer. 29:22) {ekh- awb'}; from
251 and 1; brother (i.e. friend) of (his) father; Achab, the
name of a king of Israel and of a prophet at Babylon:--Ahab.
see HEBREW for 0251
see HEBREW for 01
אַחְאָב (ach.av) — Ahab.
A king of the Kingdom of Israel, living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.16.28;
son of: Omri (H6018); married to Jezebel (H0348);
father of: Joash (H3101H), Ahaziah (H0274), Joram (H3141H), Athaliah (H6271)
§ Ahab = "father's brother"
1) king of Israel, son of Omri, husband of Jezebel
2) false prophet executed by Nebuchadrezzar, time of Jeremiah
אַחְאָב (ach.av) — Ahab.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.29.21;
son of: Kolaiah (H6964H)
§ Ahab = "father's brother"
1) king of Israel, son of Omri, husband of Jezebel
2) false prophet executed by Nebuchadrezzar, time of Jeremiah
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
a'-hab ('ach'abh, Assyrian a-cha-ab-bu; Septuagint Achaab, but Jer 29:21 f, Achiab, which, in analogy with '-h-y- m-l-k, (')-h-y-'-l, etc., indicates an original 'achi'abh, meaning "the father is my brother"): The compound probably signifies that "the father," referring to God, has been chosen as a brother.
1. Ahab's Reign:
Ahab, son of Omri, the seventh king of Israel, who reigned for twenty-two years, from 876 to 854 (1Ki 16:28 ff), was one of the strongest and at the same time one of the weakest kings of Israel. With his kingdom he inherited also the traditional enemies of the kingdom, who were no less ready to make trouble for him than for his predecessors. Occupying a critical position at the best, with foes ever ready to take advantage of any momentary weakness, the kingdom…
Ahab
Father’s brother. (1.) The son of Omri, whom he succeeded as the seventh king of Israel. His history is recorded in 1 Kings 16-22. His wife was Jezebel (q.v.), who exercised a very evil influence over him. To the calf-worship introduced by Jeroboam he added the worship of Baal. He was severely admonished by Elijah (q.v.) for his wickedness. His anger was on this account kindled against the prophet, and he sought to kill him. He undertook three campaigns against Ben-hadad II., king of Damascus. In the first two, which were defensive, he gained a complete victory over Ben-hadad, who fell into his hands, and was afterwards released on the condition of his restoring all the cities of Israel he then held, and granting certain other concessions to Ahab. After three years of peace, for some cause Ahab renewed war (1 Kings 22:3) with…
(uncle). Son of Omri, seventh king of Israel, reigned B.C. 919-896. He married Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal king of Tyre; and in obedience to her wishes, caused temple to be built to Baal in Samaria itself; and an oracular grove to be consecrated to Astarte. See (1 Kings 18:19) One of Ahab’s chief tastes was for splendid architecture which he showed by building an ivory house and several cities. Desiring to add to his pleasure-grounds at Jezreel the vineyard of his neighbor Naboth, he proposed to buy it or give land in exchange for it; and when this was refused by Naboth in accordance with the Levitical law, (Leviticus 25:23) a false accusation of blasphemy was brought against him, and he was murdered, and Ahab took possession of the coveted fields. (
1. The sixth king of Israel, succeeded his father Omri B. C. 918, and reigned twenty-two years. His wife was Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal king of Tyre; an ambitious and passionate idolatress, through whose influence the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth was introduced in Israel. Ahab erected in Samaria a house of Baal, and set up images of Baal and Ashtoreth; idolatry and wickedness became fearfully prevalent, and the king "did more to provoke the Lord to anger than all the kings that were before him." In the midst of this great apostasy, God visited the land with three years of drought and famine; and then, at Mount Carmel, reproved idolatry by fire from heaven, and by the destruction of four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. About six years later, Ben-hadad, king of Syria, invaded Israel with a great army, but was ignominiously defeated; and still more disastrously the year after, when…
נָגַד (nagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to declare or tell, with implications of being conspicuous or manifesting something. It covers a range of meanings including to announce, report, and make known, often through spoken word. The entries indicate that it can also mean to expose or predict, and in the Hophil form, it refers to something being told or reported.
[נָגַד] 363 vb. be conspicuous
Hiph. declare, tell
Hoph. be told, announced, reported
base
H5046 נָגַד be conspicuous . declare, tell
. be told, announced, reported
5046 nagad naw-gad'
a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out
opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest;
figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one
present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain,
praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing),
denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess,
rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.
נָגַד (na.gad) — to tell.
1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known
1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare
1a1) to tell, announce, report
1a2) to declare, make known, expound
1a3) to inform of
1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim
1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess
1a5a) messenger (participle)
1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vhw3ms
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3ms
הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.
הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk
Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך
lit.
of persons
Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
in like manner of inanimate things
The inf. abs. is often used
as in other vbs., quite independently
to intensify meaning of finite form
most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.
with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance
twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
quite by itself
13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
In combination with other verbal forms
Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:
pass away, die
H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons
. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
. in like manner of inanimate things
. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently
. to intensify meaning of finite form
. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance
. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
. quite by itself
. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
. In combination with other verbal forms
1980 halak haw-lak'
akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety
of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,
apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,
depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,
forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,
out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,
march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),
be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,
still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,
on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,
(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.
see HEBREW for 03212
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.
: went/go[away]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.
: come[nearer]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.
: walk/move
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
Hc/Vqw3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
The Hebrew word אַחְאָב (*Ach'ab*) refers to Ahab, a name associated with a king of Israel and a false prophet during the time of Jeremiah. It is derived from the words for 'brother' and 'father,' meaning 'father's brother.' The entries highlight Ahab's lineage, including his marriage to Jezebel and his role in the Divided Monarchy.
אַחְאָב 91 n.pr.m. Ahab (father’s brother)
son of Omri, king of Isr.
false prophet, time of Jerem.
base
H256 אַחְאָב
256 'Ach'ab akh-awb'
once (by contraction) oEchab (Jer. 29:22) {ekh- awb'}; from
251 and 1; brother (i.e. friend) of (his) father; Achab, the
name of a king of Israel and of a prophet at Babylon:--Ahab.
see HEBREW for 0251
see HEBREW for 01
אַחְאָב (ach.av) — Ahab.
A king of the Kingdom of Israel, living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.16.28;
son of: Omri (H6018); married to Jezebel (H0348);
father of: Joash (H3101H), Ahaziah (H0274), Joram (H3141H), Athaliah (H6271)
§ Ahab = "father's brother"
1) king of Israel, son of Omri, husband of Jezebel
2) false prophet executed by Nebuchadrezzar, time of Jeremiah
אַחְאָב (ach.av) — Ahab.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.29.21;
son of: Kolaiah (H6964H)
§ Ahab = "father's brother"
1) king of Israel, son of Omri, husband of Jezebel
2) false prophet executed by Nebuchadrezzar, time of Jeremiah
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
a'-hab ('ach'abh, Assyrian a-cha-ab-bu; Septuagint Achaab, but Jer 29:21 f, Achiab, which, in analogy with '-h-y- m-l-k, (')-h-y-'-l, etc., indicates an original 'achi'abh, meaning "the father is my brother"): The compound probably signifies that "the father," referring to God, has been chosen as a brother.
1. Ahab's Reign:
Ahab, son of Omri, the seventh king of Israel, who reigned for twenty-two years, from 876 to 854 (1Ki 16:28 ff), was one of the strongest and at the same time one of the weakest kings of Israel. With his kingdom he inherited also the traditional enemies of the kingdom, who were no less ready to make trouble for him than for his predecessors. Occupying a critical position at the best, with foes ever ready to take advantage of any momentary weakness, the kingdom…
Ahab
Father’s brother. (1.) The son of Omri, whom he succeeded as the seventh king of Israel. His history is recorded in 1 Kings 16-22. His wife was Jezebel (q.v.), who exercised a very evil influence over him. To the calf-worship introduced by Jeroboam he added the worship of Baal. He was severely admonished by Elijah (q.v.) for his wickedness. His anger was on this account kindled against the prophet, and he sought to kill him. He undertook three campaigns against Ben-hadad II., king of Damascus. In the first two, which were defensive, he gained a complete victory over Ben-hadad, who fell into his hands, and was afterwards released on the condition of his restoring all the cities of Israel he then held, and granting certain other concessions to Ahab. After three years of peace, for some cause Ahab renewed war (1 Kings 22:3) with…
(uncle). Son of Omri, seventh king of Israel, reigned B.C. 919-896. He married Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal king of Tyre; and in obedience to her wishes, caused temple to be built to Baal in Samaria itself; and an oracular grove to be consecrated to Astarte. See (1 Kings 18:19) One of Ahab’s chief tastes was for splendid architecture which he showed by building an ivory house and several cities. Desiring to add to his pleasure-grounds at Jezreel the vineyard of his neighbor Naboth, he proposed to buy it or give land in exchange for it; and when this was refused by Naboth in accordance with the Levitical law, (Leviticus 25:23) a false accusation of blasphemy was brought against him, and he was murdered, and Ahab took possession of the coveted fields. (
1. The sixth king of Israel, succeeded his father Omri B. C. 918, and reigned twenty-two years. His wife was Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal king of Tyre; an ambitious and passionate idolatress, through whose influence the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth was introduced in Israel. Ahab erected in Samaria a house of Baal, and set up images of Baal and Ashtoreth; idolatry and wickedness became fearfully prevalent, and the king "did more to provoke the Lord to anger than all the kings that were before him." In the midst of this great apostasy, God visited the land with three years of drought and famine; and then, at Mount Carmel, reproved idolatry by fire from heaven, and by the destruction of four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. About six years later, Ben-hadad, king of Syria, invaded Israel with a great army, but was ignominiously defeated; and still more disastrously the year after, when…
The Hebrew word קָרָא (*qara'*) is a primitive root meaning to encounter or meet, often unexpectedly. It encompasses various nuances, including to befall or happen by chance. The verb appears in different forms: Qal (to meet), Niphal (to meet unexpectedly), and Hiphil (to cause to meet). Brown-Driver-Briggs notes its use in a figurative sense as well.
[קָרָא] 137 vb. encounter, befall
Qal 131
meet, encounter
fig. befall
Niph. meet unexpectedly
Hiph. thou didst cause all this evil to befall them
base
H7122 קָרָא encounter, befall
7122 qara' kaw-raw'
a primitive root: to encounter, whether accidentally or in a
hostile manner:--befall, (by) chance, (cause to) come (upon),
fall out, happen, meet.
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to encounter: meet.
: meet
1) to encounter, befall, meet
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to meet, encounter
1a2) to befall (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to encounter: toward.
: toward/(come)against
1) to encounter, befall, meet
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to meet, encounter
1a2) to befall (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to encounter: chanced.
: happen[unexpectedly]
1) to encounter, befall, meet
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to meet, encounter
1a2) to befall (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet
HR/Vqcc — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHR/Vqcc
met, adjective (yashar; axios): Various words are employed to express meetness, the sense of what is proper, worthy, or fit. We have yashar, "straight," "upright," "right" (2Ki 10:3, "meetest"; Jer 26:14, the Revised Version (British and American) "right"); yashar (Jer 27:5, the Revised Version (British and American) "right"); yosher (Pr 11:24, the Revised Version margin "what is justly due"); 'arikh, Aramaic "meet" (Ezr 4:14); bene, "sons of" (De 3:18, the King James Version "meet for the war," margin "Hebrew sons of power," the Revised Version (British and…
אֵלִיָּה (Eliyah) means "Yah(u) is God" and refers primarily to the prophet Elijah, known for his role during the reign of Ahab. The name also applies to a Benjamite, a son of Elam, and a priest from Ezra's time. The entries consistently highlight Elijah's significance, with no notable disagreements among the lexicons.
אֵלִיָּה; אֵלִיָּ֫הוּ n.pr.m. (Yah(u) is God)
Elijah, the great prophet of the reign of Ahab
Benjamite
a priest of Ezra’s time
a son of Elam
base
H452 אֵלִיָּה; אֵלִיָּ֫הוּ (Yah(u) is God) . Elijah, the great prophet of the reign of Ahab
. Benjamite
. a priest of Ezra’s time
. a son of Elam
452 'Eliyah ay-lee-yaw'
or prolonged tEliyahuw {ay-lee-yaw'-hoo}; from 410 and 3050;
God of Jehovah; Elijah, the name of the famous prophet and of
two other Israelites:--Elijah, Eliah.
see HEBREW for 0410
see HEBREW for 03050
אֵלִיָּה (e.liy.yah) — Elijah.
A prophet living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.17.1
Also named: Hēlias (Ἡλίας "Elijah" G2243)
§ Elijah or Eliah = "my God is Jehovah" or "Yah(u) is God"
1) the great prophet of the reign of Ahab
2) Benjamite son of Jeroham
3) a son of Elam with foreign wife during exile
4) a son of Harim, and priest, with foreign wife during exile
אֵלִיָּה (e.liy.yah) — Elijah.
A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.8.27;
son of: Jeroham (H3395H);
brother of: Shamsherai (H8125), Shehariah (H7841), Athaliah (H6271H), Jaareshiah (H3298) and Zichri (H2147J)
§ Elijah or Eliah = "my God is Jehovah" or "Yah(u) is God"
1) the great prophet of the reign of Ahab
2) Benjamite son of Jeroham
3) a son of Elam with foreign wife during exile
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
e-li'-ja ('eliyahu or (4 times) 'eliyah, "Yah is God"; Septuagint Eleiou, New Testament Eleias or Elias, the King James Version of New Testament Elias):
Contents
I. THE WORKS OF ELIJAH
1. The Judgment of Drought 2. The Ordeal by Prayer 3. At Horeb 4. The Case of Naboth 5. Elijah and Ahaziah 6. Elijah Translated 7. The Letter to Jehoram
II. THE WORK OF ELIJAH
III. CHARACTER OF THE PROPHET
IV. MIRACLES IN THE ELIJAH NARRATIVES
V. ELIJAH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
VI. LITERATURE
(1) The great prophet of the times of Ahab, king of Israel. Elijah is identified at his first appearance (1Ki 17:1) as "Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the sojourners of Gilead." Thus his native place must have been called Tishbeh. A Tishbeh (Thisbe) in the territory of Naphtali is known from Tobit 1:2; but if (with most modern commentators) the reading of the Septuagint in…
Elijah
Whose God is Jehovah. (1.) “The Tishbite,” the “Elias” of the New Testament, is suddenly introduced to our notice in 1 Kings 17:1 as delivering a message from the Lord to Ahab. There is mention made of a town called Thisbe, south of Kadesh, but it is impossible to say whether this was the place referred to in the name given to the prophet.
Having delivered his message to Ahab, he retired at the command of God to a hiding-place by the brook Cherith, beyond Jordan, where he was fed by ravens. When the brook dried up God sent him to the widow of Zarephath, a city of Zidon, from whose scanty store he was supported for the space of two years. During this period the widow’s son died, and was restored to life by Elijah (1 Kings 17: 2-24).
(my God is Jehovah) has been well entitled "the grandest and the most romantic character that Israel ever produced." "Elijah the Tishbite,... of the inhabitants of Gilead" is literally all that is given us to know of his parentage and locality. Of his appearance as he "stood before" Ahab (B.C. 910) with the suddenness of motion to this day characteristic of the Bedouins from his native hills, we can perhaps realize something from the touches, few but strong, of the narrative. His chief characteristic was his hair, long and thick, and hanging down his back. His ordinary clothing consisted of a girdle of skin round his loins, which he tightened when about to move quickly. (1 Kings 18:46) But in addition to this he occasionally wore the "mantle" or cape of sheepskin which has supplied us with one of our most familiar figures of speech.…
The prophet, a native of Tishbeh in Gilead, 1Ki 17:1. His parentage and early history are unknown. His bold faithfulness provoked the wrath of Ahab and Jezebel, especially when he threatened several years of drought and famine as a punishment for the sins of Israel, B. C. 908. By the divine direction the prophet took refuge on the bank of the brook Cherith, where he was miraculously fed by ravens. Thence he resorted to Zarephath, in Phoenicia; where one miracle provided him with sustenance and another restored to life the child of his hostess. Returning to King Ahab, he procured the great assembling at mount Carmel, where God "answered by fire," and the prophets of Baal were destroyed. Now too the long and terrible drought was broken, and a plentiful rain descended at the prophet’s prayer. Finding that not even these mighty works of…