1 Kings 18 10

1 Kings 18:10 kjv

As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

1 Kings 18:10 nkjv

As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to hunt for you; and when they said, 'He is not here,' he took an oath from the kingdom or nation that they could not find you.

1 Kings 18:10 niv

As surely as the LORD your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.

1 Kings 18:10 esv

As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they would say, 'He is not here,' he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you.

1 Kings 18:10 nlt

For I swear by the LORD your God that the king has searched every nation and kingdom on earth from end to end to find you. And each time he was told, 'Elijah isn't here,' King Ahab forced the king of that nation to swear to the truth of his claim.

1 Kings 18 verses

1 Kings 18 10 Meaning

First Kings chapter 18, verse 10 reveals Obadiah's solemn oath to Elijah, testifying to King Ahab's relentless and far-reaching search for the prophet throughout numerous nations and kingdoms. This demonstrates the extreme measures Ahab took to locate Elijah, whom he blamed for the severe three-year drought in Israel. It underscores the king's desperation, the global scale of the famine, and Obadiah's direct knowledge of these intensive, yet fruitless, efforts.

1 Kings 18 10 Context

This verse is situated during a severe, divinely ordained drought upon Israel, instigated by Elijah's prophecy (1 Kgs 17:1) as judgment for King Ahab and Queen Jezebel's promotion of Baal worship. Ahab, furious and desperate, attributes the famine to Elijah. Before this verse, Obadiah, a God-fearing official in Ahab's palace, has hidden one hundred prophets of the Lord (1 Kgs 18:3-4). As the famine intensifies, Ahab and Obadiah divide the land to search for springs to save their animals (1 Kgs 18:5-6). It is in this context that Elijah, by divine command, reappears to Obadiah, who is initially terrified, fearing Ahab's reaction if Elijah were to disappear again after he tells Ahab. Obadiah's statement in 1 Kings 18:10 serves as an assurance to Elijah that Ahab's pursuit has been exhaustive, justifying Obadiah's apprehension. The narrative builds to the epic confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.

1 Kings 18 10 Word analysis

• As the LORD your God lives, (Hebrew: חַי־ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ֙ כִּֽי־ , chay YHWH Eloheykha ki-):
  • חַי־ (chay): "Lives" or "living." This is part of a common oath formula, meaning "by the life of..." or "surely as... lives." It underscores the solemnity and certainty of the statement being made. It invokes the very existence of God as guarantor.
  • יְהוָה (YHWH): The covenant name of God, revealing His personal, active presence. Obadiah, despite serving an idolatrous king, pledges by the one true God, highlighting his faithfulness.
  • אֱלֹהֶיךָ֙ (Eloheykha): "Your God." Obadiah acknowledges Elijah's special relationship with YHWH, reinforcing his reverence for both God and Elijah.
  • כִּֽי־ (ki-): A particle that can mean "surely," "truly," "for," often introducing a solemn assertion or oath.
  Significance: This is not just a casual statement; it's a sacred vow by Obadiah. It immediately tells Elijah, and the reader, of Obadiah's personal faith in YHWH, contrasting with Ahab's Baal worship, and the gravity of the situation regarding Ahab's search. It indicates that Obadiah holds Elijah's God as supreme, unlike the royal court.
• there is no nation or kingdom (Hebrew: גּוֹי וּמַמְלָכָה֙ אֵ֣ין, ein goy umamlakhah):
  • אֵ֣ין (ein): "There is not" or "no."
  • גּוֹי (goy): "Nation" or "people group." Can refer to both Gentile nations or tribes/peoples within a larger kingdom.
  • וּמַמְלָכָה֙ (umamlakhah): "And kingdom" or "realm." Denotes a wider, more organized political entity.
  Significance: The use of both "nation" and "kingdom" emphasizes the exhaustive and comprehensive nature of Ahab's search, extending beyond Israel's immediate borders to far-reaching territories. This signifies Ahab's considerable power and desperation, as well as the pervasive nature of the drought's impact.
• where my master has not sent to seek you, (Hebrew: אֲדֹנִ֛י שָֽׁלַח לְבַקֶּשְׁךָ אֶת־ בִּקְשְׁךָ אֶת־ בִּקְּשִׁי, asher lo shalach adoni levakshekha):
  • אֲדֹנִ֛י (adoni): "My master," referring to King Ahab. Obadiah's position as a palace official is confirmed by this respectful address, yet it's ironically juxtaposed with his loyalty to YHWH.
  • שָֽׁלַח (shalach): "Sent" or "dispatched." Indicates Ahab's active initiative and considerable resources expended in the search.
  • לְבַקֶּשְׁךָ (levakshekha): "To seek you" or "to look for you." The infinitive verb expresses the purpose of sending messengers.
  Significance: Ahab's obsessive pursuit is evident. He views Elijah as the direct cause of the calamity, reflecting a typical ancient Near Eastern monarch's view of absolute power and the belief that he could control spiritual forces by apprehending a prophet.
• And when they said, ‘He is not there,’ (Hebrew: וְאָמְר֧וּ אֵינֶ֛נּוּ, ve'ameru einennu):
  • וְאָמְר֧וּ (ve'ameru): "And they said." Refers to the reports given back by Ahab's search parties.
  • אֵינֶ֛נּוּ (einennu): "He is not there" or "he is not present." A clear, direct denial, confirming Elijah's successful hiding and God's protective hand.
  Significance: This phrase highlights the futility of Ahab's human efforts against God's protective will. No matter how widespread or diligent the search, Elijah remained hidden because God had commanded him to stay concealed until His appointed time.
• he made that kingdom and nation swear (Hebrew: מַמְלָכָ֤ה וָג֨וֹי מַשְׁבִּ֣יעַ, mashbia mamlakhah va'goy):
  • מַשְׁבִּ֣יעַ (mashbia): "He made swear," or "he took an oath from." The hiphil conjugation indicates a causative action. Ahab forced them to take an oath, demonstrating his power and coercion.
  • מַמְלָכָ֤ה וָג֨וֹי (mamlakhah va'goy): "Kingdom and nation." Again, emphasizes the scope, implying diplomatic pressure or military threats were used to enforce these oaths.
  Significance: This demonstrates Ahab's tyrannical authority and desperation. To force an oath was a significant act, often taken on deities or by invoking divine judgment for falsehood. This indicates Ahab not only searched but demanded official guarantees that Elijah was not within their borders, and that they had not concealed him.
• that they could not find you. (Hebrew: אֶֽת־ כִּֽי לֹ֥א אֹתְךָ וְלֹ֥א יִמְצָאֽוּךָ, ki lo yimtza'ukha otkha):
  • לֹ֥א (lo): "Not."
  • יִמְצָאֽוּךָ (yimtza'ukha): "They could find you" (from root matza, to find). The combination with lo forms "they could not find you."
  Significance: This reiterates the ultimate failure of Ahab's human endeavors against God's providence. It highlights God's protective power over His prophet. Even under duress, no one could betray Elijah because God had a specific timing and purpose for Elijah's reappearance.

• "As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom...": This powerful opening emphasizes Obadiah's deep personal piety and the vastness of Ahab's search. It sets the stage for a dramatic recounting of futility.
• "...where my master has not sent to seek you...": This phrase highlights Ahab's direct initiative and obsessive pursuit of Elijah, holding him solely responsible for the land's desolation.
• "...And when they said, 'He is not there,' he made that kingdom and nation swear...": This reveals the tyrannical extent of Ahab's power, compelling foreign entities to swear oaths—a coercive act showcasing his desperation and inability to find Elijah through ordinary means.
• "...that they could not find you.": The concluding phrase reiterates the ultimate failure of all human efforts against the divine will, demonstrating God's impenetrable protection of His prophet.

1 Kings 18 10 Bonus section

This verse subtly showcases the paradoxical nature of power in God's economy: a mighty king like Ahab, despite his vast reach and authority, is utterly helpless in finding one man whom God has chosen to hide. It serves as a stark contrast between earthly power and divine omnipotence. The fact that Ahab demanded oaths from foreign kingdoms not only speaks to his desperation but also suggests that the drought had global, or at least widespread regional, effects, indicating the significant reach of God's judgment beyond Israel's immediate borders. Furthermore, Obadiah's detailed knowledge of Ahab's covert operations reinforces his close, albeit ethically conflicted, position within the palace, underscoring his risk in assisting Elijah.

1 Kings 18 10 Commentary

1 Kings 18:10 is a pivotal verse confirming the extraordinary severity of the drought and the extent of Ahab's obsession with Elijah. Obadiah's sworn statement, invoking the living God (a testimony to his own faith), assures Elijah that his disappearance was widely known and rigorously investigated across entire nations and kingdoms. This verse illustrates the complete failure of human authority and resources (King Ahab's formidable power and international network) when pitted against God's divine providence and protective hand. Elijah was effectively hidden by God's decree, rendering Ahab's diligent pursuit utterly fruitless. The verse also underscores Obadiah's understanding of the dire consequences if Elijah were to vanish again, reinforcing his genuine fear and moral integrity amidst a wicked court. This dramatic tension prepares the reader for Elijah's triumphant return and the inevitable confrontation on Mount Carmel.