The Meaning of 1 Kings 18:2 Explained

1 Kings 18:2

KJV: And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

YLT: and Elijah goeth to appear unto Ahab. And the famine is severe in Samaria,

Darby: And Elijah went to shew himself to Ahab. And the famine was severe in Samaria.

ASV: And Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab. And the famine was sore in Samaria.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Elijah  went  to shew  himself unto Ahab.  And [there was] a sore  famine  in Samaria. 

What does 1 Kings 18:2 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 18:1-15 - Behold, Elijah!
"The word of the Lord came" to Elijah on four successive occasions- 1 Kings 17:2; 1 Kings 17:8; 1 Kings 18:1; 1 Kings 19:9. God has many things to say to us, if we will only listen. His word may find us in very different places, and direct us to varied duties; but to live by it is to execute the perfect plan of life.
Obadiah was a good man, but weak. He did his best to shield the prophets and to keep the true light from becoming extinguished- 1 Kings 18:13. But court favor had corrupted him. He stood before Ahab, while Elijah stood before God. Our Lord said that soft raiment and the king's court go together, Luke 7:25; and in the enervating atmosphere of a palace, it is granted to very few to retain the spirit and power of Elijah or of the Baptist. Who would not rather be Elijah than Obadiah! Elijah dared confront Ahab as the troubler of Israel, while Obadiah daily feared for his own life. Elijah rooted up idolatry, while Obadiah endeavored only to check its excesses. Obadiah sought grass for the royal steeds, but Elijah's prayer brought the rain. Let us dare to stand for God, though we stand alone! [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Kings 18

1  In the extremity of famine Elijah, sent to Ahab, meets good Obadiah
9  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

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 18:2 mean?

So went Elijah to present himself to Ahab And [there was] a famine mighty in Samaria
וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֵֽלִיָּ֔הוּ לְהֵרָא֖וֹת אֶל־ אַחְאָ֑ב וְהָרָעָ֖ב חָזָ֥ק בְּשֹׁמְרֽוֹן

וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙  So  went 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
אֵֽלִיָּ֔הוּ  Elijah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵלִיָּה 
Sense: the great prophet of the reign of Ahab.
לְהֵרָא֖וֹת  to  present  himself 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אַחְאָ֑ב  Ahab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַחְאָב 
Sense: king of Israel, son of Omri, husband of Jezebel.
וְהָרָעָ֖ב  And  [there  was]  a  famine 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רָעָב  
Sense: famine, hunger.
חָזָ֥ק  mighty 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָזָק  
Sense: strong, stout, mighty.
בְּשֹׁמְרֽוֹן  in  Samaria 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שֹׁמְרֹון  
Sense: the region of northern Palestine associated with the northern kingdom of the 0 tribes of Israel which split from the kingdom after the death of Solomon during the reign of his son Rehoboam and were ruled by Jeroboam.