1 Kings 19:18 kjv
Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
1 Kings 19:18 nkjv
Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."
1 Kings 19:18 niv
Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel?all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him."
1 Kings 19:18 esv
Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."
1 Kings 19:18 nlt
Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!"
1 Kings 19 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 11:4 | But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men... | Direct quote and NT application of 1 Ki 19:18 |
| Rom 11:5 | Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. | Application of remnant theology to NT church |
| Isa 1:9 | Had not the LORD of hosts left unto us a very small remnant, we should... | God's preservation of a remnant |
| Joel 2:32 | And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion... a remnant whom the LORD shall call. | Preservation for salvation and deliverance |
| Zeph 3:12-13 | I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD... | Remnant of the humble and faithful |
| Mic 5:7-8 | And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people... as a lion among the beasts... | Remnant as an instrument of God's will |
| Ezra 9:14-15 | should we again break thy commandments... wilt not thou be angry... till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? | Concern for a faithful remnant |
| Gen 7:23 | ...and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. | Divine preservation of the righteous |
| 2 Ki 10:20-27 | Jehu gathered all the people... destroy Baal... | Baal worship's opposition and destruction |
| Hos 13:2 | ...men that sacrifice kiss the calves. | Explicit mention of kissing as an idolatrous act |
| Job 31:26-27 | If I beheld the sun... or the moon walking... And my heart has been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand... | Condemnation of idolatrous veneration |
| Deut 4:19 | And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun... shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them... | Warning against worshipping celestial bodies/idols |
| Isa 45:23 | ...that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. | All will ultimately acknowledge God |
| Phil 2:10 | That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven... | Christ's ultimate universal lordship |
| Rev 3:4 | Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white... | God knows His own, even a small group |
| Jer 23:3 | And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries... | God's restoration of a scattered remnant |
| Ez 14:22 | Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth... they shall comfort you... | God leaves a remnant for His purposes |
| Hag 2:2 | Speak now to Zerubbabel... and to Joshua... and to the remnant of the people, saying, | Encouraging the returning remnant |
| Isa 37:31-32 | And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward... The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this. | God's active preservation of a remnant |
| Matt 7:13-14 | Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way... because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. | Fewness of the truly faithful |
| John 6:37 | All that the Father giveth me shall come to me... | God's election and drawing of His people |
| Psa 73:15-18 | If I had said, I will speak thus; behold, I should have offended against the generation of thy children... until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. | Human perspective vs. God's truth |
1 Kings 19 verses
1 Kings 19 18 Meaning
1 Kings 19:18 reveals God's comforting assurance to Elijah, who felt he was the sole faithful one left. It declares that God has preserved a substantial remnant of 7,000 individuals in Israel who have not participated in the idolatrous worship of Baal, neither by kneeling before him nor by showing him reverence with a kiss. This highlights God's sovereignty, His hidden work of preservation, and the truth that faithfulness is often sustained even when unseen by human eyes.
1 Kings 19 18 Context
This verse appears after Elijah's profound spiritual crisis. Fleeing Jezebel's death threat, despite his powerful victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Ki 18), Elijah is overwhelmed with fear and despair. He retreats to Mount Horeb (Sinai), feeling utterly alone and proclaiming himself to be the only remaining servant of God, while the people of Israel had forsaken the covenant. God, in response to Elijah's complaint, demonstrates His power not in the dramatic wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a "still small voice," reassuring Elijah that His purposes are still at work. Following this, God issues new commands, including this vital correction to Elijah's perception of utter desolation, revealing a hidden faithful remnant. Historically, this period in Israel's Northern Kingdom under the Omrid dynasty was marked by widespread apostasy and state-sponsored Baal worship, actively promoted by Queen Jezebel. God's existence of 7,000 hidden worshippers serves as a stark counter-narrative to the prevailing cultural narrative that Baal had triumphed, challenging the perceived totality of Baal's victory.
1 Kings 19 18 Word analysis
- Yet I will leave: The Hebrew verb for "leave" is sha'ar (שָׁאַר), meaning "to remain, to be left over." This emphasizes God's deliberate, active preservation. It’s not accidental but a divine act, signifying God’s sovereign control even in seemingly desperate times.
- seven thousand: While 'seven' often denotes perfection or completeness in Hebrew numerology, and large numbers can be symbolic for a vast multitude, here it seems to represent a precise, divinely known number. It contrasts sharply with Elijah's feeling of being "left alone" (1 Ki 19:10, 14), indicating God's detailed knowledge extends far beyond human perception. This number reassures Elijah of a significant, albeit unseen, group of faithful adherents.
- in Israel: Specifies the geographical and political entity, the Northern Kingdom, which was largely given over to Baal worship. This highlights that despite the prevalent apostasy, God still maintained His people within this nation.
- all whose knees have not bowed to Baal: This refers to a literal act of worship and submission, where bowing the knee signified veneration and loyalty. Baal (בַּעַל) was the Canaanite god of fertility, rain, and storms, actively promoted by Ahab and Jezebel in defiance of Yahweh. The act of not bowing signifies direct and deliberate refusal of idolatrous worship, demonstrating unwavering loyalty to Yahweh alone. It's a polemic against Baal's false claims to dominion over natural elements.
- and every mouth that has not kissed him: Kissing an idol or one's hand toward an idol was a common ancient Near Eastern gesture of reverence and adoration (cf. Hos 13:2; Job 31:27). It's another specific and explicit act of worship. Not kissing Baal further confirms the faithful's pure devotion, rejecting even the slightest physical or symbolic homage to false gods. This directly counters the pervasive idolatry of the time.
1 Kings 19 18 Bonus section
The concept of "the remnant" revealed in 1 Kings 19:18 is a pivotal theological theme throughout the Bible. It speaks to God's faithfulness in sustaining a covenant people, even when the majority turn away. This idea later finds significant exposition in the New Testament, notably by the Apostle Paul in Romans 11, where he uses this very verse to explain that God has not rejected Israel but has always maintained an "election of grace," even when the visible church seems small or persecuted. The "7,000" might also carry the significance of a complete, though not exhaustive, number of true worshipers, demonstrating God's meticulous awareness and preservation of those faithful to Him. It's a powerful affirmation of God's perfect knowledge contrasting sharply with Elijah's (and often our own) limited perspective.
1 Kings 19 18 Commentary
1 Kings 19:18 serves as a profound corrective to human despair and limited perception. Elijah, seeing only the pervasive apostasy and his personal persecution, believed himself to be God's last faithful servant. Yet, God reveals a hidden reality: He always preserves a remnant. This divine preservation isn't based on human merit but on God's elective grace and steadfast commitment to His covenant. The 7,000 symbolize not just a large number, but a group divinely known and set apart by God Himself. This verse underscores God's sovereignty over the spiritual state of His people and His ability to work quietly, often unnoticed by human agents. It offers a timeless reassurance that even when faith seems to wane in the public square, God invariably maintains a core of true worshipers who have not compromised their devotion. It reminds believers not to lose heart, for God is continually at work, keeping His elect. For instance, in times of widespread secularism or opposition to faith, this verse comforts believers that God still has a people, even if unseen, who uphold His truth.