1 Kings 18 34

1 Kings 18:34 kjv

And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

1 Kings 18:34 nkjv

Then he said, "Do it a second time," and they did it a second time; and he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time.

1 Kings 18:34 niv

"Do it again," he said, and they did it again. "Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time.

1 Kings 18:34 esv

And he said, "Do it a second time." And they did it a second time. And he said, "Do it a third time." And they did it a third time.

1 Kings 18:34 nlt

After they had done this, he said, "Do the same thing again!" And when they were finished, he said, "Now do it a third time!" So they did as he said,

1 Kings 18 verses

1 Kings 18 34 Meaning

This verse details Elijah's command to the attendants to douse the altar and sacrifice with an overwhelming amount of water, not once, but repeatedly for a total of three times. This extreme measure was taken immediately prior to his prayer for God to send fire, serving to eliminate any potential for human trickery, natural explanation, or suspicion of a pre-existing fire. It was a dramatic act designed to ensure that when God's fire consumed the water-soaked offering, wood, and even the stones, the miracle would be undeniably divine and a profound demonstration of YHWH's absolute power over all elements.

1 Kings 18 34 Context

This verse is set during the climactic challenge on Mount Carmel, a pivotal moment in Israel's history under the reign of King Ahab, who, influenced by his Phoenician wife Jezebel, had severely promoted the worship of Baal throughout the land. Following three and a half years of a devastating drought, initiated by Elijah's prophetic word (1 Kgs 17:1), this showdown was designed by YHWH, through Elijah, to decisively demonstrate who the true God of Israel was – YHWH or Baal. The drought itself challenged Baal, the Canaanite god of rain, storms, and fertility. After the prophets of Baal failed throughout the day to evoke fire from their deity, Elijah repaired YHWH's dilapidated altar and set the stage for a grand, undeniable miracle. By commanding copious amounts of water, especially in a time of severe drought, Elijah created an unprecedented obstacle for his sacrifice to be consumed by fire, making any subsequent act of consumption undeniably supernatural and utterly divine.

1 Kings 18 34 Word analysis

• And he said (וַיֹּאמֶר - va-yomer): This phrase consistently denotes Elijah's authority and direction throughout this event. As God's prophet, he acts on divine instruction, controlling every detail of the demonstration.
• 'Do it a second time!' (עוֹד עֲשׂוּ פַּעַם שֵׁנִית - 'od asu pa'am shenit): This command emphasizes the need for redundancy and eliminates doubt. It highlights that the previous pouring (mentioned in v. 33, implying the initial soaking of the wood and offering) was merely a precursor. The command to do it "a second time" increases the visible obstacle for any natural fire.
• So they did it a second time. (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ פַּעַם שֵׁנִית - va-ya'asu pa'am shenit): This shows immediate and full obedience to Elijah's extraordinary request. The "they" likely refers to the young men or attendants Elijah would have had, or perhaps some of the people observing who were moved to help.
• Then he said, 'Do it a third time!' (וַיֹּאמֶר עוֹד עֲשׂוּ שְׁלִישִׁית - va-yomer 'od asu shlishit): This escalates the challenge to an extreme, going beyond merely soaking the wood and sacrifice. The number "three" in biblical narratives frequently signifies completeness, divine authentication, finality, or intense emphasis. Here, it underlines the absolute, unquestionable nature of the forthcoming miracle, ensuring no rationalization or doubt remains for those witnessing it.
• So they did it a third time. (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ שְׁלִישִׁית - va-ya'asu shlishit): This final act of obedience seals the preparation. The full commitment to such a counter-intuitive action (dousing a sacrifice in dry times) magnifies the eventual display of YHWH's power.

• "Do it a second time!... Do it a third time!" This repeated command and action serves several critical purposes: It enhances the dramatic effect of the miracle by setting an extreme challenge, visually demonstrates the immense effort and quantity of water poured, thus eliminating any room for natural explanations or hidden devices. It directly challenges the domain of Baal, the rain-god, showing YHWH's control even over the very element that Baal supposedly provides.

1 Kings 18 34 Bonus section

The amount of water required to fill four large jars (as per 1 Kgs 18:33, implied per pour) and repeat it three times, suggests the use of 12 jars of water in total (4 jars x 3 times). These 12 jars likely symbolized the 12 tribes of Israel, uniting them under YHWH. This large quantity of water would have created not only soaked wood and sacrifice, but also filled the surrounding trench. The act showcased the radical nature of faith Elijah demonstrated, requiring incredible trust that YHWH would indeed send fire against such odds. It built maximum tension and left the audience with no choice but to acknowledge the supernatural power of God when the fire ultimately descended.

1 Kings 18 34 Commentary

This verse encapsulates Elijah's calculated and daring faith, which prepares the stage for an unparalleled demonstration of YHWH's omnipotence. By ordering repeated and extravagant drenching of the sacrifice and altar, Elijah effectively neutralized any possibility of the onlookers or future generations attributing the coming fire to natural causes or human deceit. The command "Do it a third time!" highlights the meticulousness of God's preparation and His desire for an unequivocal display of power. It not only proved YHWH's power over fire, but also His supremacy over water, the very element Baal claimed as his domain, ironically in a time of drought that Baal failed to end. The profound paradox of fire consuming water set the standard for an unassailable truth: YHWH alone is God in Israel.