Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” New Living Translation Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” English Standard Version And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” Berean Standard Bible On the seventh time the servant reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” And Elijah replied, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” King James Bible And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. New King James Version Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ” New American Standard Bible And when he returned the seventh time, he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a person’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And Elijah said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Harness your chariot horses and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’” NASB 1995 It came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’” NASB 1977 And it came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’” Legacy Standard Bible Now it happened at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the rain does not stop you.’” Amplified Bible And at the seventh time the servant said, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And Elijah said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the rain shower does not stop you.’” Christian Standard Bible On the seventh time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming up from the sea.” Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’ ” Holman Christian Standard Bible On the seventh time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming from the sea.” Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’” American Standard Version And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a cloud out of the sea, as small as a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Make ready thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. Contemporary English Version After the seventh time the servant replied, "I see a small cloud coming this way. But it's no bigger than a fist." Elijah told him, "Tell Ahab to get his chariot ready and start home now. Otherwise, the rain will stop him." English Revised Version And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a cloud out of the sea, as small as a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Make ready thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. GOD'S WORD® Translation After the seventh time the servant said, "A little cloud like a man's hand is coming from the sea." Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Prepare [ your chariot], and leave before the rain delays you.'" Good News Translation The seventh time he returned and said, "I saw a little cloud no bigger than a man's hand, coming up from the sea." Elijah ordered his servant, "Go to King Ahab and tell him to get in his chariot and go back home before the rain stops him." International Standard Version On the seventh look, he said, "Look! There's a cloud, a small one, about the size of a man's hand. It's coming up out of the sea!" "Get up and find Ahab!" Elijah said. "Tell him, 'Mount your chariot and ride down the mountain so the storm doesn't stop you.'" NET Bible The seventh time the servant said, "Look, a small cloud, the size of the palm of a man's hand, is rising up from the sea." Elijah then said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up the chariots and go down, so that the rain won't overtake you.'" New Heart English Bible It happened at the seventh time, that he said, "Look, a small cloud, like a man's hand, is rising out of the sea." He said, "Go up, tell Ahab, 'Get ready and go down, so that the rain doesn't stop you.'" Webster's Bible Translation And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say to Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and go down, that the rain may not hinder thee. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleOn the seventh time the servant reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” And Elijah replied, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” World English Bible On the seventh time, he said, “Behold, a small cloud, like a man’s hand, is rising out of the sea.” He said, “Go up, tell Ahab, ‘Get ready and go down, so that the rain doesn’t stop you.’” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd it comes to pass, at the seventh, that he says, “Behold, a little thickness as the palm of a man is coming up out of the sea.” And he says, “Go up, say to Ahab, Bind and go down, and the shower does not restrain you.” Young's Literal Translation And it cometh to pass, at the seventh, that he saith, 'Lo, a little thickness as the palm of a man is coming up out of the sea.' And he saith, 'Go up, say unto Ahab, 'Bind -- and go down, and the shower doth not restrain thee.' Smith's Literal Translation And it will be in the seventh, and he will say, Behold, a little cloud as the hand of a man, coming up from the sea. And he will say, Go up; say to Ahab, Harness; go down, and the rain shall not hinder thee. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd at the seventh time, behold, a little cloud arose out of the sea like a man's foot. And he said: Go up and say to Achab: Prepare thy chariot and go down, lest the rain prevent thee. Catholic Public Domain Version And at the seventh time, behold, a little cloud ascended from the sea like the footstep of a man. And he said: “Ascend, and say to Ahab, ‘Yoke your chariot, and descend; otherwise, the rain may prevent you.’ ” New American Bible And the seventh time the youth reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Elijah said, “Go and say to Ahab, ‘Harness up and go down the mountain before the rain stops you.’ ” New Revised Standard Version At the seventh time he said, “Look, a little cloud no bigger than a person’s hand is rising out of the sea.” Then he said, “Go say to Ahab, ‘Harness your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd at the seventh time, he said, Behold, there is a little cloud like a man's hand rising out of the sea. And he said to him, Go up, say to Ahab, Mount your horse, and get down before the rain stops you. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And at the seventh time, he said: “I saw and behold, a small cloud like the palm of a hand coming up from the sea!” And he said to him: “Go up, say to Akhab: ‘Ride and come down before the rain will stop you!’” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said: 'Behold, there ariseth a cloud out of the sea, as small as a man's hand.' And he said: 'Go up, say unto Ahab: Make ready thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And the servant went again seven times: and it came to pass at the seventh time, that, behold, a little cloud like the sole of a man's foot brought water; and he said, Go up, and say to Achaab, make ready thy chariot, and go down, lest the rain overtake thee. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The LORD Sends Rain…43“Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant. So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” 44 On the seventh time the servant reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” And Elijah replied, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” 45Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.… Cross References James 5:17-18 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. / Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops. Luke 4:25 But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land. Matthew 17:20 “Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Mark 11:22-24 “Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them. / “Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him. / Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. Matthew 21:21-22 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. / If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” 2 Kings 3:16-17 and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’ / For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ Job 36:27-28 For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist, / which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind. Zechariah 10:1 Ask the LORD for rain in springtime; the LORD makes the storm clouds, and He will give everyone showers of rain and crops in the field. Psalm 135:7 He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses. Jeremiah 14:22 Can the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies alone send showers? Is this not by You, O LORD our God? So we put our hope in You, for You have done all these things. Isaiah 55:10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, Deuteronomy 11:14 then I will provide rain for your land in season, the autumn and spring rains, that you may gather your grain, new wine, and oil. Joel 2:23 Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. Hosea 6:3 So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth. Treasury of Scripture And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there rises a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say to Ahab, Prepare your chariot, and get you down that the rain stop you not. a little cloud. Job 8:7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. Zechariah 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. Prepare [heb] Tie, or Bind 1 Samuel 6:7,10 Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them: … Micah 1:13 O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee. Jump to Previous Ahab Ariseth Chariot Cloud Hand Hinder Little Prepare Rain Ready Rising Sea Seventh Small Stop TimeJump to Next Ahab Ariseth Chariot Cloud Hand Hinder Little Prepare Rain Ready Rising Sea Seventh Small Stop Time1 Kings 18 1. In the extremity of famine Elijah, sent to Ahab, meets good Obadiah9. Obadiah brings Ahab to Elijah 17. Elijah, reproving Ahab, by fire from heaven convinces Baal's prophets 41. Elijah, by prayer obtaining rain, follows Ahab to Jezreel On the seventh time the servant reported The number seven often signifies completion or perfection in the Bible, seen in the creation week (Genesis 2:2) and the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:15-16). Elijah's persistence in prayer and sending his servant seven times reflects a complete faith in God's promise to send rain after a long drought (1 Kings 18:1). “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” And Elijah replied, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” Persons / Places / Events 1. ElijahA prophet of God who played a pivotal role in demonstrating God's power over the false god Baal. He is central to the events of 1 Kings 18, where he challenges the prophets of Baal and prays for rain after a long drought. 2. Ahab The king of Israel at the time, known for his idolatry and marriage to Jezebel, who promoted the worship of Baal. Ahab is a key figure in the account as Elijah instructs him to prepare for the coming rain. 3. The Servant Elijah's servant, who is tasked with looking for signs of rain. His repeated trips to check for clouds demonstrate persistence and obedience. 4. Mount Carmel The location where Elijah confronts the prophets of Baal and later prays for rain. It is a significant site of God's demonstration of power. 5. The Cloud A small cloud that signifies the beginning of the end of the drought. It represents God's faithfulness and the power of prayer. Teaching Points The Power of Persistent PrayerElijah's repeated sending of his servant to look for rain teaches us the importance of persistence in prayer. We should not lose heart if answers are not immediate. Faith in Small Beginnings The small cloud is a reminder that God often begins His work in seemingly insignificant ways. We should not despise small beginnings but trust in God's unfolding plan. God's Faithfulness The fulfillment of Elijah's prayer for rain after a long drought demonstrates God's faithfulness to His promises. We can trust that God hears and answers prayers according to His will. Preparation for God's Blessings Elijah's instruction to Ahab to prepare for rain teaches us to be ready for God's blessings. When we pray, we should also prepare to receive what we have asked for. Obedience and Trust The servant's obedience in checking for the cloud, despite seeing nothing initially, is a lesson in trust and obedience to God's instructions, even when the outcome is not immediately visible. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 18How does God comfort the lonely? Job 37:6–7 suggests God commands the weather to teach humans their frailty; is there historical or scientific proof of this divine lesson? Numbers 10:33–34: How would a physical cloud guide the Israelites’ journey in a scientifically plausible way? In 1 Kings 18:45, did rain immediately follow the contest in a way consistent with known weather patterns, or does this contradict natural observations?Verse 44. - And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. [כַּפ lit., palm, hollow of hand. Cf. Luke 12:54, "When ye see the cloud (Gr. τὴν νεφέλην) arise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is." "Still in autumn the little cloud comes up like a man's hand and swells till huge thunder pillars are piled black and high above the mountains" (Condor). But it is not in Palestine alone that a little cloud on the horizon is frequently the harbinger of rain]. And he said, Go up [see note on ver. 42], say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot [Heb. bind], and get thee down [Keil, Stanley, and others assume that Ahab's chariot was waiting at the foot of the mountain. But it is to be noticed that the command to harness the horses precedes that to "go down." The writer rode down from El Murahkah to the plain, and it is quite conceivable that the royal chariot may have conveyed Ahab to the plateau of sacrifice and have waited for him there], that the rain stop thee not, [After heavy rain (גֶּשֶׁם) the Kishon, which "collects the whole drainage of this large basin" (Conder), the Great Plain, soon becomes an impassable swamp.(Judges 5:21), "I can tell you from experience that in wet seasons it (the Wady) is extremely muddy, and then the Kishon causes great tribulation to the muleteers. Rarely indeed do they get over it without some of their animals sticking fast in its oozy bottom" (Thomson, L. and B. 2. p. 218).] Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew On the seventh timeבַּשְּׁבִעִ֔ית (baš·šə·ḇi·‘îṯ) Preposition-b, Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular Strong's 7637: Seventh (an ordinal number) [the servant] reported, וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “There is הִנֵּה־ (hin·nêh-) Interjection Strong's 2009: Lo! behold! a cloud עָ֛ב (‘āḇ) Noun - common singular Strong's 5645: An envelope, darkness, a, cloud, a copse as small קְטַנָּ֥ה (qə·ṭan·nāh) Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 6996: Small, young, unimportant as a man’s אִ֖ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person hand כְּכַף־ (kə·ḵap̄-) Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 3709: Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan rising עֹלָ֣ה (‘ō·lāh) Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively from the sea.” מִיָּ֑ם (mî·yām) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin And Elijah replied, וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “Go עֲלֵ֨ה (‘ă·lêh) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively and tell אֱמֹ֤ר (’ĕ·mōr) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say Ahab, אַחְאָב֙ (’aḥ·’āḇ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 256: Ahab -- 'father's brother', a king of Israel, also a false prophet ‘Prepare [your chariot] אֱסֹ֣ר (’ĕ·sōr) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 631: To yoke, hitch, to fasten, to join battle and go down וָרֵ֔ד (wā·rêḏ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend before the rain הַגָּֽשֶׁם׃ (hag·gā·šem) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1653: Rain, shower stops you.’” יַעַצָרְכָ֖ה (ya·‘a·ṣā·rə·ḵāh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular Strong's 6113: To inclose, to hold back, to maintain, rule, assemble Links 1 Kings 18:44 NIV1 Kings 18:44 NLT 1 Kings 18:44 ESV 1 Kings 18:44 NASB 1 Kings 18:44 KJV 1 Kings 18:44 BibleApps.com 1 Kings 18:44 Biblia Paralela 1 Kings 18:44 Chinese Bible 1 Kings 18:44 French Bible 1 Kings 18:44 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Kings 18:44 It happened at the seventh time that (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) |
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