1 Kings 17:1 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

1 Kings 17:1 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.

1 Kings 17:1 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."

1 Kings 17:1 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."

1 Kings 17:1 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."

1 Kings 17:1 nlt

Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, "As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives ? the God I serve ? there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!"

1 Kings 17 1 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
Jas 5:17-18	Elijah was a man with a nature like ours... prayed earnestly that it would not rain... three years and six months. Then he prayed again...	Highlights Elijah's prayer for drought and rain, mirroring 1 Ki 17-18 narrative.
Deut 11:16-17	Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods... then the anger of the LORD will be kindled... and he will shut up the heavens...	Divine warning that idolatry leads to drought.
Deut 28:23-24	The sky above your head shall be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron. The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust...	Drought as a covenant curse for disobedience.
Lev 26:19-20	I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heavens as iron and your earth as bronze...	Divine judgment using drought as punishment.
Amos 4:7-8	I withheld the rain from you... two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water and were not satisfied; yet you did not return to me...	God's sovereignty over rain, using drought to call to repentance.
Zech 14:17	If any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them.	Universal application of rain as divine blessing linked to worship.
Jer 14:1-6	The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought... land mourns; her gates languish...	Historical example of drought in Judah, showing God's judgment.
Isa 5:6	I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.	Metaphorical and literal drought as divine abandonment and judgment.
1 Ki 8:35-36	When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned... if they pray toward this place and confess... then hear in heaven and forgive...	Solomon's prayer recognizes drought as a consequence of sin, and prayer as a remedy.
Rev 11:6	They have power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying...	Eschatological prophets mirroring Elijah's power over rain.
Lk 4:25-26	Truly, I say to you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when heaven was shut up for three years and six months...	Jesus references Elijah's drought, affirming its historical accuracy and severity.
Mal 4:5-6	Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes...	Prophecy of Elijah's return or an Elijah-like figure before the Messiah.
Exod 9:33	So Moses went out from Pharaoh into the city and spread his hands to the LORD, and the thunder and hail ceased...	God's prophet having authority to affect natural elements through prayer.
Ps 135:7	He it is who makes the clouds rise from the ends of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain...	God's absolute sovereignty and control over weather and rain.
Job 38:25-28	Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain, and a way for the thunderbolt... Has the rain a father...	Highlights God as the sole provider and controller of rain.
Acts 14:17	Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts...	God's providential care through giving rain, contrasts with withholding it.
Eze 34:26	I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing, and I will cause showers to come down in their season...	Promise of blessing, including abundant rain, for a faithful covenant people.
Pss 147:8	He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.	God as the Creator and sustainer of nature, controlling rain and growth.
1 Ki 18:1	After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain...	Direct continuation of the drought narrative, showing its specific duration and God's control.
1 Ki 16:30-33	Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him... served Baal and worshiped him.	Context for the judgment: Ahab's unprecedented wickedness and Baal worship.
Phil 4:19	And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.	Broader principle of God's provision, in contrast to the scarcity during the drought.
Hag 1:10-11	Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. I have called for a drought...	God withholds blessing and rain due to Israel's disobedience regarding rebuilding the temple.

1 Kings 17 verses

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1 Kings 17 1 Meaning

1 Kings 17:1 introduces Elijah the Tishbite, a prophet previously unmentioned, directly confronting King Ahab. It states Elijah's bold declaration, swearing by the Living God of Israel, that there would be no dew or rain in the land for an unspecified period, unless he, Elijah, willed it. This immediate pronouncement of a devastating drought is a direct divine judgment against Ahab's rampant Baal worship and idolatry, particularly due to the cult of Baal being falsely worshipped as the god of rain and fertility.

1 Kings 17 1 Context

1 Kings 17:1 marks a dramatic turning point in the biblical narrative, abruptly introducing the prophet Elijah. The preceding chapters chronicle the escalating spiritual decay in Israel under King Ahab and his Phoenician wife, Jezebel. Ahab "did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him" (1 Ki 16:30), notably through actively promoting the worship of Baal and Asherah, erecting temples and altars for them. This religious syncretism and outright idolatry was a direct affront to the covenant with Yahweh and a challenge to His exclusive worship. The announcement of the drought by Elijah, seemingly out of nowhere, is thus a direct divine response and judgment against Ahab's apostasy, demonstrating Yahweh's supremacy over Baal, who was worshipped as the god of weather, storms, and fertility. It sets the stage for a spiritual contest between the God of Israel and Baal.

1 Kings 17 1 Word analysis

Elijah: Hebrew: אֵלִיָּהוּ ( Eliyyahu), meaning "My God is Yahweh" or "The Lord is God." This name itself carries a powerful prophetic message, directly contrasting with the worship of Baal. His sudden appearance emphasizes his role as a messenger sent by God, rather than a man of recognized lineage or human authority.
the Tishbite: Hebrew: הַתִּשְׁבִּי (ha-Tishbi). While "Tishbe" might refer to a place in Gilead, its precise location is debated. The obscurity of his origin further highlights that his authority comes from God alone, not from noble birth or a prominent Israelite town. Being from Gilead, a frontier region known for its ruggedness and isolation, underscores his raw, unpolished character and directness.
of the settlers of Gilead: Or "from the sojourners of Gilead," possibly indicating he was not a permanent resident but someone living there. This emphasizes his non-traditional prophetic background, separate from established prophetic schools.
Ahab: King of Israel (874-853 BC), son of Omri, renowned for his wickedness, especially in promoting Baal worship at Jezebel's instigation. His confrontation with Elijah epitomizes the spiritual struggle of Israel.
As the LORD lives: Hebrew: חַי-יְהוָה (Chai-YHWH). This is a solemn oath, swearing by the living God, declaring God's absolute existence and truthfulness. It emphasizes the veracity and divine backing of Elijah's proclamation. This oath directly contrasts with the dead or powerless false gods.
the God of Israel: This specifies Yahweh as the unique covenant God of the Israelite people, distinguishing Him from the pagan deities like Baal worshipped in the surrounding nations and within Israel itself. It asserts His specific claim over Israel.
before whom I stand: This phrase indicates Elijah's position as a servant and minister in God's immediate presence. It signifies his divine commission, prophetic authority, and intimate access to the Almighty. It parallels standing before a king or master, showing readiness to receive commands.
There shall not be dew or rain: Hebrew: טַל וּמָטָר (tal u-matar). This refers to both forms of moisture essential for agricultural life in the semi-arid region of Israel: dew provides crucial moisture during the long, dry summer months, and rain is necessary for crops in the rainy season. Denying both ensures total barrenness.
these years: This indicates an indefinite, extended period, emphasizing the severity and duration of the judgment, designed to break the land and its people.
except by my word: Hebrew: אִם־לֹא־בִדְבָרִי (im-lo-vi'd'vari). This does not mean Elijah controls God, but rather that he is God's divinely appointed mouthpiece. Rain will return only when God, through His prophet Elijah, declares it. This underscores the prophet's unique role as God's instrument and validates God's direct message to Israel through him. It is a direct polemic against Baal's claimed authority over rain and fertility, showing Yahweh alone commands the heavens.

1 Kings 17 1 Bonus section

Polemics against Baal: The timing and nature of Elijah's proclamation are a direct theological war against Baal. Baal, or Hadad, was venerated throughout Canaan as the storm god who brought the rains and thus ensured fertility and crops. By withholding both dew and rain, Yahweh emphatically demonstrates that He, not Baal, holds ultimate control over the very elements crucial for life, exposing Baal as a false and powerless deity.
Prophetic Introduction: Elijah bursts onto the scene without prior lineage or background, unlike other prophets. This immediate, almost mysterious, arrival heightens the sense of divine urgency and authority inherent in his message, emphasizing that his power comes directly from God.
Significance of "Standing Before the LORD": This phrase implies not just physical presence but a position of service, access, and privilege. It distinguishes Elijah as one directly privy to God's counsel and an authorized agent of His will, not simply a visionary or dreamer.
The Power of the Spoken Word: The emphasis on "my word" (which is God's word through him) highlights the authority inherent in the prophetic office. God works through His chosen spokespersons, and their declarations carry divine weight and efficacy. This echoes creation itself, where God's spoken word brought things into being.
Prophet-King Conflict: This verse immediately establishes the tension between divine authority (represented by Elijah) and corrupt earthly power (represented by Ahab). This recurring biblical theme illustrates God's sovereignty over earthly rulers, especially those who defy Him.

1 Kings 17 1 Commentary

The abrupt appearance of Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1 signifies a pivotal moment in Israel's history, representing God's direct intervention against rampant apostasy. Elijah, whose very name is a theological statement, acts as Yahweh's zealous champion against Baal, the supposed god of storm and fertility. His declaration of drought, initiated by a solemn oath by the living God, is a precise theological counter-strike. It targets the very essence of Baal worship by stripping the land of the elements Baal was believed to control—rain and dew. This direct challenge immediately establishes God's absolute sovereignty over creation, mocking Baal's impotence and compelling Israel to recognize the true source of life and sustenance. The drought is not merely a natural phenomenon but a profound prophetic act, forcing a confrontation between exclusive worship of Yahweh and idolatrous syncretism. It sets the stage for a period of divine testing and display of power, ultimately culminating in the contest on Mount Carmel where God's unique authority would be undeniably demonstrated. This confrontation serves as a harsh but necessary lesson, aiming to bring a wayward nation back to its covenant Lord.