1 Kings 18:1 kjv
And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
1 Kings 18:1 nkjv
And it came to pass after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, "Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth."
1 Kings 18:1 niv
After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land."
1 Kings 18:1 esv
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 upon the earth."
1 Kings 18:1 nlt
Later on, in the third year of the drought, the LORD said to Elijah, "Go and present yourself to King Ahab. Tell him that I will soon send rain!"
1 Kings 18 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 7:4 | For after seven more days I will send rain on the earth... | God controls rain for judgment. |
| Deut 11:14 | that I will give you the rain for your land in its season... | God promises rain for obedience. |
| Deut 28:23-24 | And your heavens which are over your head shall be brass, and the earth... | Drought is a consequence of disobedience. |
| 1 Sam 12:17-18 | Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, and He will... | God shows power over weather for testimony. |
| 2 Sam 21:10 | From the beginning of harvest until rain poured on them from the heavens. | Rain signals end of judgment. |
| Psa 147:8 | Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth... | God's absolute sovereignty over weather. |
| Prov 16:1 | The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue.. | God's timing is perfect. |
| Jer 5:24 | Nor do they say in their heart, "Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who... | God gives rain in its season. |
| Jer 14:4 | For the ground is parched, because there has been no rain on the land... | Severe impact of drought as judgment. |
| Hos 2:8 | For she did not know that I gave her grain, new wine, and oil... | God provides and withholds sustenance. |
| Joel 2:23 | Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God; For He... | God provides early and latter rain. |
| Amos 3:7 | Surely the Lord GOD does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel... | God reveals plans to His prophets. |
| Amos 4:7-8 | I also withheld rain from you, when there were still three months... | God uses drought as a means to call to repentance. |
| Jon 3:2 | Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it... | Direct divine command to a prophet. |
| Matt 5:45 | For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain... | God's common grace and provision. |
| Luke 4:25 | But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days... | Confirms the long duration of drought in Elijah's time. |
| Acts 14:17 | Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did... | God's continuous provision through rain. |
| Jas 5:17-18 | Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that... | Confirms the 3.5-year duration of the drought. |
| Rev 11:6 | These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of... | Prophetic power to withhold rain. |
1 Kings 18 verses
1 Kings 18 1 Meaning
This verse marks a pivotal moment in the drought in Israel, initiated by the word of the LORD through Elijah. After a prolonged period of suffering, the divine command comes to Elijah to reappear before King Ahab. This command carries with it a solemn promise: the LORD Himself will send rain, signifying the end of the devastating judgment and a direct confrontation demonstrating His sovereignty over nature and false gods like Baal.
1 Kings 18 1 Context
1 Kings 18:1 opens after a devastating period of drought in Israel, explicitly announced by Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1 as a divine judgment from Yahweh. This judgment was a direct response to the widespread idolatry and Baal worship aggressively promoted by King Ahab and Queen Jezebel throughout the land. The Canaanite deity Baal was believed to be the god of storm, rain, and fertility, and the prolonged drought was a profound polemic, proving Baal's impotence and Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over creation. During this period, Elijah himself was miraculously sustained by God, first by ravens at the Wadi Cherith, and then by a widow in Zarephath whose flour and oil did not run out. The "third year" marks the culmination of this intense trial and suffering for Israel, preparing the stage for the dramatic showdown on Mount Carmel that would undeniably declare Yahweh as the one true God.
1 Kings 18 1 Word analysis
- And it came to pass: A common transitional phrase in biblical Hebrew narratives (wayehi), indicating the initiation of a new event or phase in the story. It underscores God's orchestrating hand in historical events.
- after many days: This emphasizes the extended duration of the drought and the suffering of the people. It points to God's patient yet deliberate timing, allowing the full impact of the judgment to be felt, leading to a point of extreme desperation where His intervention would be undeniably evident. It sets a stage where only a divine hand can provide relief.
- that the word of the LORD came: This phrase, davar Yahweh, signifies a direct, authoritative, and specific communication from God Himself. It is not mere speech but an active, creative, and powerful divine decree (compare Psa 33:9, Isa 55:11). This active word stands in stark contrast to the silence and impotence of false gods like Baal. The source of true authority and action is Yahweh.
- to Elijah: Signifies a personal and direct revelation from God to His chosen prophet, highlighting Elijah's unique role as Yahweh's mouthpiece and instrument in challenging Israel's apostasy. Elijah, whose name Eliyahu means "My God is Yahweh," is fittingly commissioned for this task.
- in the third year: This refers to the third year since Elijah first prophesied the drought in 1 Kings 17:1. Scholars interpret this as either the third year of the drought itself or the third year of Elijah's stay in Zarephath. James 5:17-18, drawing on this event, explicitly states the drought lasted "three years and six months." This "third year" from 1 Kings 18:1 indicates the approaching end of this period, marking the turning point orchestrated by God. It implies a completed, designated period of judgment before restoration.
- saying, Go: A divine imperative, a direct command to immediate action. Elijah's calling involves active obedience to God's will, often in the face of great danger.
- shew thyself unto Ahab: This command for Elijah to physically reappear before King Ahab is laden with peril. Ahab, stirred by Jezebel, had intensely sought Elijah's life (1 Kings 18:10), making this a highly dangerous mission. It is a divine challenge to royal authority, false religion, and national apostasy. The appearance itself serves as a signal that the time for decisive action and confrontation has arrived.
- and I will send rain upon the earth: This is the core promise and the divine reversal of judgment. Yahweh, not Baal, is the true bringer of rain and controller of the cosmos. This promise underpins the entire drama on Mount Carmel, where Yahweh's power over elements will be irrefutably demonstrated. It is a direct polemic against Baal's purported domain. This statement assures Elijah that his dangerous mission is undergirded by divine power and ultimate victory.
1 Kings 18 1 Bonus section
The protracted suffering through "many days" and "the third year" serves not only as a judgment on idolatry but also as a period of testing and purification for the faithful, and an opportunity for repentance. This divine patience also sets the stage for a dramatic and undeniable display of Yahweh's power, leaving no doubt about His identity as the one true God, especially when compared to the utter failure of Baal on Mount Carmel. The silence from God to Elijah for such a long period (since the Cherith and Zarephath episodes) might have also tested Elijah's faith and endurance, preparing him for the monumental task ahead. It moves Elijah from a place of secluded dependence on God's provision to one of active, confrontational ministry.
1 Kings 18 1 Commentary
1 Kings 18:1 succinctly details a turning point in Israel's history of idolatry and judgment. After a three-and-a-half-year drought, the Word of Yahweh authoritatively reaches Elijah. This extended period served to expose the futility of Baal worship and test the endurance of God's people. The "third year" emphasizes God's precise timing for the reversal of His judgment, underscoring that the length of the drought was divinely determined. Elijah's perilous command to "shew thyself unto Ahab" necessitates a confrontation between the prophet of Yahweh and the apostate king, initiating the process by which God's glory will be revealed. The assurance "I will send rain" is the core promise that directly challenges Baal, the supposed god of fertility and rain, establishing Yahweh's exclusive sovereignty and paving the way for the dramatic Mount Carmel showdown, where true deity will be unmasked. This verse is a powerful declaration of God's ultimate control, His faithfulness to His word, and His use of challenging circumstances to bring about His purposes for redemption and truth.