1 Kings 18:12 kjv
And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.
1 Kings 18:12 nkjv
And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from you, that the Spirit of the LORD will carry you to a place I do not know; so when I go and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he will kill me. But I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth.
1 Kings 18:12 niv
I don't know where the Spirit of the LORD may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn't find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the LORD since my youth.
1 Kings 18:12 esv
And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth.
1 Kings 18:12 nlt
But as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you away to who knows where. When Ahab comes and cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I have been a true servant of the LORD all my life.
1 Kings 18 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 3:12 | "...Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing..." | Spirit carrying/guiding Prophets |
| Ezek 8:3 | "...and the Spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven..." | Spirit transporting Individuals |
| Acts 8:39 | "And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip..." | Holy Spirit's supernatural movement |
| Prov 29:25 | "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." | Fear of Man vs. Trusting God |
| Mt 10:28 | "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him..." | Prioritizing Fear of God |
| Lk 12:4-5 | "And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body...fear him, which after..." | God over Earthly Power |
| Heb 11:27 | "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible." | Courage against King's Wrath |
| Ps 71:5 | "For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth." | Faithfulness from Youth |
| Ps 71:17 | "O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works." | Lifelong Devotion |
| 2 Tim 3:15 | "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise..." | Early Knowledge of Scripture |
| 1 Kgs 19:10 | "And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel...slain thy prophets..." | Persecution of Prophets |
| Mt 5:12 | "...for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." | Prophets Face Persecution |
| Jer 26:20-23 | Recounts Urijah, a prophet, slain by King Jehoiakim. | Danger of Royal Disfavor |
| Dan 1:8 | "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself..." | Faithfulness in Adversity |
| Neh 1:11 | "...O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant...I was the king's cupbearer." | Serving God in a Corrupt Court |
| Phil 4:22 | "All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household." | Believers in Unlikely Places |
| Ps 119:46 | "I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed." | Boldness before Kings |
| Isa 55:8-9 | "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD..." | God's Unsearchable Ways |
| Ps 115:3 | "But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased." | God's Sovereignty |
| Dan 4:35 | "...he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth..." | Divine Control over All |
| Rom 11:33-34 | "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments..." | Mystery of God's Counsel |
| Ps 19:9 | "...The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether." | True Fear of God is Righteous |
| Eccl 12:13 | "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." | Obedience through Reverence |
1 Kings 18 verses
1 Kings 18 12 Meaning
1 Kings 18:12 expresses Obadiah's immediate apprehension regarding Elijah's directive to inform King Ahab of Elijah's presence. Obadiah fears that the Spirit of the LORD, known for moving prophets supernaturally and unpredictably, will carry Elijah away before Ahab arrives. This would leave Obadiah in a perilous position, facing Ahab's deadly wrath for what would appear to be a false report or failure to produce Elijah. Obadiah then pleads his case, emphasizing his consistent faithfulness and reverence for the LORD "from my youth," contrasting his devotion with the pervasive apostasy of Ahab's reign.
1 Kings 18 12 Context
This verse occurs amidst a severe three-year drought in Israel, sent by God as judgment for Ahab and Jezebel's pervasive promotion of Baal worship and persecution of Yahweh's prophets. Elijah, after being miraculously sustained by God, is commanded to present himself to Ahab. Meanwhile, Obadiah, Ahab's devoted palace administrator, a man who secretly reveres and protects the prophets of the LORD, is also dispatched by Ahab to search for water. It is during this search that Obadiah encounters Elijah. Elijah instructs Obadiah to tell Ahab of his return, which immediately prompts Obadiah's fearful plea, highlighting his dangerous position as a faithful servant in an idolatrous royal court and his profound awareness of Elijah's unique prophetic movements under the divine Spirit.
1 Kings 18 12 Word analysis
- And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that: Obadiah’s language reflects his anxiety over immediate sequence. He foresees the risk the moment Elijah is out of his sight. This shows his perception of his vulnerable situation between Elijah’s divine movement and Ahab’s human wrath.
- the Spirit of the LORD: Hebrew: Ruach YHWH (רוּחַ יְהוָה). This term signifies the active presence and dynamic power of God. It's not a mere metaphor but implies God’s personal, enabling agency, guiding or impelling individuals. In prophetic contexts, it often denotes supernatural intervention.
- shall carry thee: Hebrew: yisā’ăḵā (יִשָּׂאֲךָ). Meaning "to lift, bear, or carry away." The word suggests a physical transport or removal that is instantaneous and divinely orchestrated, beyond human will or tracking. Obadiah acknowledges the frequent, sometimes sudden, supernatural movements of prophets by God's Spirit (e.g., Philip in Acts).
- whither I know not: Hebrew: lo eḏa’ (לֹא אֵדַע). Expresses the unpredictable and inscrutable nature of God's ways and the Spirit's operations. This unknowability intensifies Obadiah's dilemma; he cannot guarantee Elijah's presence because he knows God moves sovereignly and without prior human notification.
- and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: Obadiah's pragmatic fear is evident. He understands Ahab's short temper, arbitrary justice, and his desperate search for Elijah. A failed report or inability to produce Elijah would undoubtedly be met with execution. This underlines the life-threatening political climate for anyone associated with Yahweh's prophets.
- but I thy servant fear the LORD: Hebrew: yārē’ et-YHWH (יָרֵא אֶת־יְהוָה). This "fear" is not terror, but profound reverence, awe, and obedient devotion to God. It encompasses worship, moral obedience, and loyal allegiance. Obadiah appeals to this deep, principled devotion as proof of his trustworthiness and loyalty to divine things, distinguishing him from Ahab’s idol-worshipping court.
- from my youth: Hebrew: minnə‘ūray (מִנְּעֻרָֽי). This phrase highlights Obadiah's lifelong, unwavering commitment and piety. It means he was faithful even before the widespread apostasy intensified under Ahab, possibly from childhood. This sets him apart as a man of deep spiritual roots and consistent character, providing a powerful contrast to the rampant idolatry of his time.
- Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not": This cluster reveals Obadiah's understanding of divine action's spontaneity and mystery. He knows that Elijah's presence is not guaranteed by human appointment but by the unpredictable movement of God's Spirit, which operates beyond human perception or control. This creates his logical fear regarding Ahab's wrath.
- "when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.": This section encapsulates Obadiah's plea: his dire personal risk versus his long-standing, sincere devotion to the very God Elijah serves. His statement highlights the deep conflict between his outward dangerous duties to Ahab and his internal, life-long allegiance to Yahweh. He uses his faithfulness as a credential to appeal for Elijah's understanding and a reconsideration of the potentially fatal command.
1 Kings 18 12 Bonus section
Obadiah’s confession of "fearing the LORD from his youth" is not merely a statement of personal piety; it serves as a subtle, yet profound, theological and moral distinction within a narrative dominated by national apostasy. It implies that true fear of the LORD is a cultivated, lifelong relationship, deeply embedded in character. This contrasts sharply with the ephemeral, self-serving "fear" people might have for a volatile king like Ahab or the performative devotion shown to Baal. Obadiah's deep-rooted reverence for God enabled him to carry out acts of radical compassion, such as hiding prophets (1 Kgs 18:4), illustrating that genuine "fear of the LORD" empowers courageous obedience and not paralyzing terror, even when it exposes one to extreme danger from human authorities.
1 Kings 18 12 Commentary
1 Kings 18:12 is a powerful expression of faith in the face of human fear. Obadiah, despite his privileged position in Ahab's court, lived under constant threat due to his secret, fervent loyalty to the LORD. His anxiety isn't a sign of lack of faith, but of his clear understanding of the volatile reality: God's Spirit moves unpredictably, and Ahab's wrath is lethal. His appeal, "but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth," is both a declaration of his genuine faith and a plea for his life. It showcases his moral integrity amidst profound corruption, acting as a crucial witness to God's continued work even in the most hostile environments. The verse demonstrates that genuine faith can exist alongside legitimate human apprehension, underscoring the daily courage required to serve God when surrounded by active evil.