1 Kings 18 41

1 Kings 18:41 kjv

And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

1 Kings 18:41 nkjv

Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain."

1 Kings 18:41 niv

And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain."

1 Kings 18:41 esv

And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain."

1 Kings 18:41 nlt

Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!"

1 Kings 18 verses

1 Kings 18 41 Meaning

1 Kings 18:41 describes Elijah's prophetic declaration to King Ahab after the Mount Carmel confrontation, stating that an abundance of rain is coming. This declaration precedes any visual sign of rain, highlighting Elijah's faith and the immediate restoration of God's blessing after a period of severe drought and judgment for idolatry. It signifies the definitive end of the drought God had initiated and maintained.

1 Kings 18 41 Context

1 Kings chapter 18 records the epic confrontation on Mount Carmel between Elijah, representing Yahweh, and the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah, sponsored by Queen Jezebel. After the false prophets fail to elicit a response from their deity, Elijah rebuilds the altar of the LORD, prepares a sacrifice drenched with water, and prays. Fire descends from heaven, consuming the sacrifice, stones, dust, and even licking up the water in the trench, proving Yahweh's supreme power. The people acknowledge "The LORD, He is God!" and Elijah then orders the killing of Baal's prophets. Immediately following this decisive victory and judgment against idolatry, Elijah announces the coming of rain, marking the end of a three-and-a-half-year drought (1 Kgs 17:1; Jas 5:17-18). The return of rain symbolizes the restoration of God's blessing to His land and His people after their turning from idolatry. This verse directly precedes the dramatic events of Elijah sending Ahab back and Elijah running ahead of Ahab's chariot to Jezreel as the rain breaks forth.

1 Kings 18 41 Word analysis

• Then: Connects the verse directly to the immediate preceding events, indicating the next crucial action after the Mount Carmel demonstration and the killing of Baal's prophets.
• Elijah (Heb. אֵלִיָּהוּ, ’Eliyyahu): The name means "My God is Yahweh." He is God's chosen prophet, displaying profound faith and operating under divine authority. His character directly opposes the idolatry of his time.
• said to Ahab: Emphasizes Elijah's continued prophetic authority and bold communication with the king, even after such a dramatic day. This shows a direct challenge to the king's prior patronage of Baal worship.
• Go up: Implies going higher, perhaps to a place on Mount Carmel suitable for sustenance, or simply urging him to take action.
• eat and drink: This command signals an end to the severe famine and scarcity brought on by the drought. It anticipates the return of agricultural bounty and normal life, allowing for sustenance and rejoicing.
• for: Introduces the reason or justification for Elijah's instruction to Ahab, linking the present command to the prophetic revelation of future rain.
• there is a sound: (Heb. הֲמוֹן, hamon) The primary meaning here is "roar," "rumble," or "multitude of sound." It is not yet an audibly present sound of rain to others, but a divine revelation, a "knowing" or "hearing" by faith. This highlights the nature of prophecy as receiving a divine message rather than perceiving a natural event. It suggests the approaching, overwhelming force of the coming rain.
• of a mighty rain: (Heb. גֶּשֶׁם גָּדוֹל, geshem gadol) Literally "great rain" or "heavy rain." This specifies the type of rain—not just a shower, but a substantial, life-restoring deluge necessary to end such a prolonged and severe drought. This "great rain" also served as a conclusive sign of Yahweh's victory over Baal, the supposed storm god.

Words-group analysis:

• "Then Elijah said to Ahab, 'Go up, eat and drink,' " This sequence underscores Elijah's assertive, directive role. He commands the king, who has been in power and responsible for the drought, to resume normal life. This directive carries an implied urgency and certainty in Elijah's words. It suggests a restoration of covenantal blessing now that idolatry has been publicly dealt with.
• "for there is a sound of a mighty rain." This phrase reveals Elijah's prophetic perception. He is "hearing" the coming rain not with his ears but through spiritual insight granted by God. The phrase "sound of a mighty rain" – even without visual or immediate auditory confirmation for Ahab – is a statement of absolute prophetic certainty. It proclaims that Yahweh, not Baal, controls the heavens and that His word is being fulfilled.

1 Kings 18 41 Bonus section

• The prophetic "hearing" of the rain highlights that true faith does not require visible signs but rather rests on the certainty of God's Word. Elijah's experience mirrors this, demonstrating that conviction often precedes confirmation.
• The immediate turn from the severity of judgment (drought, fire, execution) to the promise of blessing (rain, restoration) vividly portrays God's dual nature as both a just judge against sin and a merciful provider for His repentant people.
• Elijah’s statement is a test for Ahab. Despite the preceding display of divine power, Ahab must still respond in obedience and trust, preparing for the coming blessing as instructed by the prophet of the true God.

1 Kings 18 41 Commentary

1 Kings 18:41 encapsulates the culmination of the divine confrontation on Mount Carmel. Elijah, a prophet driven by unwavering faith in Yahweh, acts as the messenger of restoration following the decisive triumph over Baal worship. His instruction to King Ahab to "eat and drink" implies an immediate reversal of the severe conditions of drought and famine that Yahweh had imposed. This command comes before any visible cloud or felt drop of rain, revealing Elijah's absolute confidence in God's promise. The phrase "there is a sound of a mighty rain" speaks to Elijah's heightened spiritual sensitivity. It's a divine knowing, a prophetic certainty, where the absence of natural evidence only serves to magnify the depth of his faith and the reality of God's direct revelation. This "sound" represents the abundant blessing that would follow obedience and the end of idolatry, underscoring God's ultimate control over nature. It directly refutes Baal's claim as the rain god, cementing Yahweh's exclusive sovereignty over creation and His covenant faithfulness to His people, restoring both physical well-being and spiritual truth to the land of Israel.