1 Kings 18 4

1 Kings 18:4 kjv

For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

1 Kings 18:4 nkjv

For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.)

1 Kings 18:4 niv

While Jezebel was killing off the LORD's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)

1 Kings 18:4 esv

and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.)

1 Kings 18:4 nlt

Once when Jezebel had tried to kill all the LORD's prophets, Obadiah had hidden 100 of them in two caves. He put fifty prophets in each cave and supplied them with food and water.)

1 Kings 18 verses

1 Kings 18 4 Meaning

This verse details the intense persecution orchestrated by Queen Jezebel against the prophets of the Lord in Israel, emphasizing her active role in attempting to eradicate the worship of Yahweh. It highlights the faithful and courageous intervention of Obadiah, the palace steward, who, at great personal risk, preserved one hundred of these prophets by hiding them in caves and providing them with essential sustenance. This act underscores divine providence and the steadfastness of God's remnant even amidst widespread apostasy and spiritual darkness.

1 Kings 18 4 Context

1 Kings chapter 18 opens with a severe three-year drought in Israel, a divine judgment for the nation's idolatry under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Elijah, having been sustained by God through miraculous provision, is sent to confront Ahab. Verse 4 clarifies the dire situation and explains why prophets of the Lord were in hiding. Jezebel, a fervent worshipper of Baal, actively persecuted and systematically sought to eradicate the Yahwistic prophetic voice, ensuring that her foreign deity was the sole object of worship in the kingdom. In this perilous environment, Obadiah, a seemingly ordinary court official in King Ahab's household, emerges as a clandestine rescuer. This verse sets the stage by revealing the spiritual darkness and danger that Elijah steps into, emphasizing the deep-seated idolatry and persecution prevailing in Israel at the time.

1 Kings 18 4 Word analysis

• For it was so, when Jezebel destroyed (כִּי־הָיָה בְּהַכְרִית - ki-hayah behakhrit):
  • `ki-hayah` ("for it was so," "indeed it happened"): An emphatic connector, confirming the reality and prior occurrence of the event. It sets the background narrative.
  • `behakhrit` (from the root karat): To cut off, destroy, annihilate, make an end of. This strong verb indicates not merely killing but a systematic, comprehensive extermination. Jezebel's action was intentional and aimed at total eradication of Yahweh's prophets, making her a formidable enemy of God's truth. This word highlights the depth of her hostility.
• Jezebel (אִיזֶבֶל - Izevel): The Tyrian princess and wife of King Ahab. Her name might mean "Where is the prince?" (referring to Baal) or "Exalted Baal." She was a zealous devotee of Baal and Asherah, fiercely promoting their worship in Israel. Her character represents extreme idolatry, wickedness, and a persecuting spirit against the Lord and His faithful. She is depicted as the primary orchestrator of spiritual rebellion in Israel.
• destroyed the prophets of the Lord (אֵת נְבִיאֵי יְהוָה - et nevi'ei YHWH):
  • `nevi'ei YHWH` (prophets of Yahweh): These were God's spokespersons, messengers of divine truth, holding a crucial role in maintaining covenant faithfulness. The specific mention "of the Lord" distinguishes them sharply from the hundreds of Baal's prophets later seen in this chapter (1 Kgs 18:19). Jezebel's persecution targeted divine revelation and genuine worship.
• that Obadiah (עֹבַדְיָהוּ - Ovadyahu): "Servant of Yahweh" or "Worshiper of Yahweh." His name ironically contrasts with his service in Ahab's pagan household. He held a high position, being "the governor of his [Ahab's] house" (1 Kgs 18:3), indicating significant responsibility and influence, making his fidelity to Yahweh all the more remarkable and perilous. His fear of the Lord is explicitly mentioned (1 Kgs 18:3).
• took an hundred prophets (מֵאָה נְבִיאִים - me'ah nevi'im): One hundred is a significant number, implying a substantial operation requiring considerable planning, resources, and courage. This was a large-scale rescue, demonstrating the extent of Obadiah's commitment and the scope of Jezebel's persecution. It also implies that there were even more prophets persecuted, with Obadiah saving a specific group.
• and hid them (וַיַּחְבִּיאֵם - vayyachbi'em): (From the root khaba) To hide, conceal, secrete. This verb implies intentional, careful, and secretive action. It speaks of divine protection working through a human agent. The act of hiding signifies immediate danger and a clandestine operation, relying on God's protection and Obadiah's shrewdness.
• by fifty in a cave (חֲמִשִּׁים חֲמִשִּׁים בַּמְּעָרָה - chamishshim chamishshim bamme'arah):
  • `chamishshim chamishshim` (fifty by fifty): This specific detail highlights an organized, methodical, and careful strategy. Dividing them ensured better manageability, security, and perhaps diversity in their hiding locations to avoid detection. It reveals Obadiah's practical wisdom and administrative skill even under extreme duress.
  • `bamme'arah` (in the cave): Caves were common and often large geological formations in Israel, naturally offering shelter and concealment. Their use here highlights the desperate nature of the hiding and the primitive conditions under which the prophets had to live.
• and fed them with bread and water (וְכִלְכְּלָם לֶחֶם וָמָיִם - vekhilkelam lechem vamayim):
  • `vekhilkelam` (from the root kul): To sustain, provide for, maintain life. This verb points to Obadiah's ongoing commitment to their survival, beyond just hiding them. It implies continuous effort and expense.
  • `lechem vamayim` (bread and water): These are the most basic necessities for survival. The detail underscores the austerity of their living conditions during a severe famine (1 Kgs 18:5) and the minimal, yet life-sustaining, provision. It reflects God's faithfulness to provide for His own, even through human instrumentality, under the most trying circumstances.

1 Kings 18 4 Bonus section

Obadiah's act of defiance against Queen Jezebel and King Ahab reveals the profound spiritual integrity of a man who feared God more than men. This "fear of the Lord" (1 Kgs 18:3) transcended his immediate earthly allegiances and high office, illustrating that true faithfulness can operate effectively and clandestinely within hostile environments. His administrative prowess, evident in organizing and sustaining such a large group, further highlights how God can use varied gifts, even within seemingly compromised positions, to achieve His purposes. This account serves as an example of quiet courage and resourceful stewardship in the face of widespread spiritual rebellion, embodying the principle that God always preserves a witness for Himself, often in unexpected ways and places.

1 Kings 18 4 Commentary

1 Kings 18:4 offers a stark portrayal of spiritual warfare in ancient Israel. Jezebel's zealous persecution against the "prophets of the Lord" demonstrates the pagan attempt to systematically eliminate divine truth and establish idolatry. This was not a random act but a targeted campaign of religious suppression. Countering this darkness, Obadiah's selfless act reveals an unexpected source of faithfulness within the apostate royal court. His "hiding" and "feeding" a significant number of prophets (one hundred) at great personal peril and cost illustrates the divine preservation of a remnant, emphasizing that even in the bleakest times, God maintains His presence and plan through hidden acts of courageous obedience. The simplicity of "bread and water" highlights God's ability to provide essentials in a severe famine, demonstrating His faithfulness even through human courage. This verse establishes the perilous backdrop for Elijah's subsequent confrontational ministry.