1 Kings 18 23

1 Kings 18:23 kjv

Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

1 Kings 18:23 nkjv

Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it.

1 Kings 18:23 niv

Get two bulls for us. Let Baal's prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it.

1 Kings 18:23 esv

Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it.

1 Kings 18:23 nlt

Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it.

1 Kings 18 verses

1 Kings 18 23 Meaning

This verse outlines the terms set forth by the prophet Elijah for the decisive contest between Yahweh and Baal on Mount Carmel. It specifies that two bulls are to be prepared as sacrifices, one by the 450 prophets of Baal and one by Elijah. The critical condition for both offerings is that no fire is to be lit beneath them by human hands, establishing that the true God would demonstrate His authenticity by sending fire miraculously from heaven to consume the sacrifice. This meticulously fair challenge aimed to reveal which deity possessed true power and deserved the worship of Israel.

1 Kings 18 23 Context

First Kings chapter 18 records the climatic confrontation between Elijah, the prophet of the LORD, and the 450 prophets of Baal, championed by King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. Israel, led by their monarchy, had plunged into idolatry, worshiping Baal, the Canaanite storm and fertility god, largely neglecting Yahweh, the God of their fathers. As a divine judgment for this apostasy, God had withheld rain from the land for three and a half years at Elijah's word. This specific verse (1 Kgs 18:23) is part of Elijah's proposition to the people of Israel and the prophets of Baal to determine, once and for all, who is the true God—the one who answers by fire. The context emphasizes the dire spiritual state of Israel, the desperation of the drought, and God's dramatic intervention to vindicate His name and reclaim His people. It's a critical moment for the people to make a clear choice between serving Yahweh or serving Baal.

1 Kings 18 23 Word analysis

• "Let them therefore give us two bulls":

  • This initiates the contest, ensuring fair provision for both sides. The animal choice, parim (bulls), implies substantial sacrificial value, usually reserved for important offerings (e.g., peace offerings, burnt offerings).
  • "Give us": Elijah asserts control and parity.

• "and let them choose one bull for themselves":

  • Yivcheru lahem (Hebrew): "they shall choose for themselves." This is crucial for authenticity. It prevents any accusation from the Baal prophets that Elijah pre-selected a deficient or tainted animal for them. Their own choice reinforces fairness.

• "and cut it in pieces":

  • Nattahu (Hebrew): "to cut up, disjoint." This describes the standard preparatory ritual for a burnt offering (cf. Lev 1:6, 12). The sacrifice must be properly prepared according to established practice before being laid on the altar.

• "and lay it on wood":

  • Simu al ha'etzim (Hebrew): "place upon the wood." The wood acts as the fuel for the eventual fire, the standard base for burnt sacrifices. This indicates readiness for ignition.

• "but put no fire under":

  • Lo tasimu esh (Hebrew): "do not place fire." This is the core, non-negotiable condition of the challenge. This single instruction defines the entire contest. It removes human agency for ignition and necessitates divine intervention, establishing an undeniable miracle as the test for truth. It directly challenges the "gods" to respond without human help.

• "and I will dress the other bull":

  • Wa'ani e'esim et hapAr ha'acher (Hebrew): "And I will prepare the other bull." "Dress" here means to prepare it according to sacrificial customs, as described for the Baal prophets. This mirrors the previous instruction for fairness and equivalence.

• "and lay it on wood":

  • Parallel instruction to the first sacrifice, maintaining identical conditions.

• "and put no fire under":

  • This repetition of the absolute prohibition on human fire highlights the equal terms of the contest. Both sides are under the same impossible-to-humanly-meet condition, demonstrating that only a supernatural display of power would authenticate the true deity. This emphasizes that Yahweh, not Elijah's own power or trickery, is the source of any forthcoming miracle.

• Words-group analysis ("but put no fire under"):

  • This phrase acts as the fulcrum of the entire challenge. It isolates the crucial factor: divine response through fire. It underscores the profound theological point that the true God does not need human assistance or manipulation; His power is inherent and self-sufficient. This condition directly sets up a confrontation between the silent, powerless idols of Baal and the living, responsive God of Israel.

1 Kings 18 23 Bonus section

The symmetrical preparation required for both sacrifices (choosing, cutting, laying on wood, no fire) underscores the impartiality of the contest, eliminating any pretense of favoritism or rigging the outcome. This ensures that the eventual display of fire would be unmistakably from the divine. This event is not merely a contest of gods but a desperate attempt to bring the entire nation of Israel to a point of decision, as encapsulated in Elijah's earlier question: "How long will you waver between two opinions?" (1 Kgs 18:21). The explicit instruction "no fire under" transforms a standard sacrificial offering into an ultimate test of divine supremacy, placing all authority squarely on the answering God.

1 Kings 18 23 Commentary

Verse 23 sets the stage for one of the most dramatic demonstrations of divine power in the Old Testament. Elijah's terms for the contest on Mount Carmel are meticulously fair and remarkably simple, yet profoundly challenging. By insisting that no fire be put under the sacrifices by human hand, Elijah forces the prophets of Baal, and the Israelites witnessing, to acknowledge that the only acceptable proof of a god's existence and power would be a miraculous act of divine ignition. This stipulation cuts through any possibility of deception or ritualistic artifice, compelling both sides to rely solely on their respective deities. It strips away the external fanfare often associated with pagan worship and demands a clear, unambiguous, supernatural sign. This command also highlights Elijah's immense faith in Yahweh's unique power and ability to intervene in the natural order, contrasting starkly with the anticipated powerlessness of Baal, a false god associated with human manipulation and mere superstition. The whole challenge serves as a public exposure of idolatry's futility and a grand invitation for Israel to return to the exclusive worship of their covenant God.