1 Kings 18 29

1 Kings 18:29 kjv

And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

1 Kings 18:29 nkjv

And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.

1 Kings 18:29 niv

Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

1 Kings 18:29 esv

And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.

1 Kings 18:29 nlt

They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response.

1 Kings 18 verses

1 Kings 18 29 Meaning

This verse dramatically concludes the efforts of Baal's prophets to invoke their god. Despite hours of frenzied and desperate ritualistic performance, lasting from morning until the specific time of Israel's evening sacrifice, Baal utterly failed to respond. The absence of any sound, answer, or acknowledgement powerfully declares the non-existence and impotence of the idol they worshipped, setting a profound stage for the demonstration of the Living God's power.

1 Kings 18 29 Context

This verse is situated in the pivotal encounter on Mount Carmel, where Elijah confronts the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah. Israel, under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, had largely abandoned YHWH for Baal worship, leading to a severe drought proclaimed by Elijah. The contest's challenge was to determine which deity—YHWH or Baal—was the true God who could send fire from heaven to consume a sacrifice. Verses 26-29 recount the protracted, desperate efforts of Baal's prophets. From morning until past midday, they called on Baal, danced, slashed themselves, and uttered ecstatic cries, all in an effort to compel their god. Verse 29 marks the end of their futile performance. Historically, Baal was the Canaanite storm god, associated with fertility and rain. His worship often involved ecstatic rituals, self-mutilation, and cultic acts meant to provoke the god. This scene is a profound polemic against the efficacy and reality of such deities and the practices associated with them, sharply contrasting their impotence with the demonstrable power of YHWH.

1 Kings 18 29 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (וַיְהִי - vayhi): A common Hebrew narrative connector, indicating sequence or the commencement of an event. Here, it marks the progression of time and the continuation of the Baal prophets' efforts towards their decisive failure.
• when midday was past (וַיַּעֲבֹר הַצָּהֳרַיִם - vayya'avor hatztzahorayim): Literally, "and the noon passed." This emphasizes the extensive duration of the prophets' labor, having started in the morning (v. 26). The passing of the day, with no response, builds the dramatic tension and highlights the utter fruitlessness of their devotion to Baal.
• and they prophesied (וַיִּתְנַבְּאוּ - vayyitnabbe'u): Hithpael imperfect. This reflexive-intensive form means "they made themselves prophets," or "they acted as prophets." Unlike genuine prophecy inspired by YHWH, which involved receiving and declaring His Word, this term suggests a self-induced or simulated spiritual frenzy, an ecstatic performance aiming to evoke their god, likely involving chants, contorted movements, and perhaps glossolalia. It denotes a human effort to manipulate the divine rather than divine initiative.
• until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice (עַד לַעֲלוֹת הַמִּנְחָה - ad la'alot hamminkhah): Literally, "until the going up of the minchah (grain offering)." This refers to the afternoon daily burnt offering, which traditionally occurred around the ninth hour of the day (approximately 3 PM). This fixed point in Israel's liturgical calendar is significant. It represents an established time for approaching YHWH in an orderly and covenantal manner, a stark contrast to the chaotic, self-directed rites of the Baal prophets. This specific timing also prepares for Elijah's subsequent prayer and successful intervention at this exact moment (1 Kgs 18:36).
• that there was neither voice (וְאֵין קוֹל - v'ein qol): Literally, "and no voice/sound." This is the first and most direct confirmation of Baal's silence. Despite the fervent cries directed at him, Baal made no audible response, no thunder (his domain), no divine utterance. It is a direct refutation of his claimed power.
• nor any to answer (וְאֵין עֹנֶה - v'ein 'oneh): Literally, "and no answerer." This expands on "no voice," emphasizing the absence of a respondent, a divine entity capable of reacting to their pleas. It signifies the complete lack of engagement or presence from Baal.
• nor any that regarded (וְאֵין קֶשֶׁב - v'ein qeshev): Literally, "and no attention/heeding." This final negation culminates the futility, indicating not even the slightest hint of attention, acknowledgment, or active hearing from the supposed deity. It is the ultimate condemnation of Baal as a deaf and non-existent entity, incapable of even acknowledging the presence or suffering of his devotees. The progression of these three negations builds a powerful and absolute picture of Baal's impotence.

Word Groups / Phrases Analysis:

• "midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice": This phrase meticulously charts the time spent by Baal's prophets. Their ritual spanned from dawn (v. 26) through the hottest part of the day, continuing late into the afternoon, roughly until 3 PM. This prolonged, intense duration highlights the depth of their desperation and devotion, while simultaneously amplifying the emptiness of their efforts. It emphasizes that Baal's non-response was not due to lack of time or effort on their part.
• "neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded": This triplet of negations powerfully and poetically conveys the complete silence and absence of Baal. Each phrase builds on the last, from a general lack of sound to the more specific absence of a responder, and finally to a profound lack of any attention or heed. This literary device reinforces the absolute and undeniable reality that Baal was not there, he did not hear, and he could not respond. It is a divine judgment against the false god.

1 Kings 18 29 Bonus section

• The dramatic pause enforced by Baal's failure, ending at the time of the evening sacrifice, is divinely orchestrated. It magnifies YHWH's glory, as His intervention through Elijah at this exact, solemn liturgical moment underscored the orderliness and faithfulness of His covenantal relationship with Israel, contrasting starkly with the chaotic nature of Baal worship.
• The word "prophesied" (vayyitnabbe'u) for Baal's followers, especially in its intensive Hithpael form, subtly distinguishes it from the true divine revelation delivered by God's genuine prophets. Their "prophesying" was self-generated fervor, driven by human effort to manipulate their deity, as opposed to receiving and faithfully declaring the word from YHWH.
• The profound silence of Baal is also a theological statement against all forms of idolatry, emphasizing that false gods lack true being and power, having no more reality than the materials from which they are fashioned or the human imagination that invents them.

1 Kings 18 29 Commentary

This verse serves as the definitive end to the theatrical display of Baal worship on Mount Carmel. It captures the climax of desperation from his prophets and the utter silence from their deity. After exhaustive and self-mutilating efforts spanning nearly the entire day, from morning to late afternoon, Baal proved himself inert and non-existent. The precisely mentioned "time of the evening sacrifice" is not merely a temporal marker but a liturgical contrast: it sets the stage for YHWH's decisive intervention at the very hour of Israel's covenantal worship, juxtaposing Baal's chaotic nothingness with YHWH's ordered, living reality. The threefold negation—no voice, no answer, no regard—is a polemic par excellence, confirming the biblical assertion that idols are deaf, dumb, and lifeless constructs, unable to help or hear. This pivotal failure paves the way for Elijah's triumphant demonstration of the unique power and truth of YHWH, the living God who hears, responds, and delivers.