The Meaning of 1 Kings 18:22 Explained

1 Kings 18:22

KJV: Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

YLT: And Elijah saith unto the people, 'I -- I have been left a prophet of Jehovah -- by myself; and the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men;

Darby: And Elijah said to the people, I, only I, remain a prophet of Jehovah; and Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

ASV: Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, am left a prophet of Jehovah; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then said  Elijah  unto the people,  I, [even] I only, remain  a prophet  of the LORD;  but Baal's  prophets  [are] four  hundred  and fifty  men. 

What does 1 Kings 18:22 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 18:16-29 - The God That Answereth Not
"The God that answereth by fire, let Him be God." We are thrilled as we read these words. Our altars stand unkindled, our sacrifices are unconsumed, our churches do not witness the descending of the holy flame, and our sermons are damp tinder. It ought not so to be. The Baptist said that our Lord would baptize with the Holy Spirit as by fire, Matthew 3:11, and Jesus Himself taught that he came to kindle fire on the earth, Luke 12:49. The seven lamps burn evermore before the throne, Revelation 4:5. It was as fire that the Holy Spirit fell on the sitting group in the upper room-sitting because they had reached an end of praying, and were now only waiting for the fulfillment of the promise, Acts 2:2-3.
Nothing is needed more absolutely than the answer by fire. There are many who, like the prophets of Baal, endeavor to kindle it. But when prevented from putting their own false fire into the stack of wood, they are paralyzed. The frantic entreaties, the self-inflicted wounds, the monotonous chant, are insufficient. They are carnal and arouse only the worst emotions. Spiritual conditions have to be fulfilled, as Elijah showed; then God bears witness "by signs and wonders" and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will. [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 18:22 mean?

And said Elijah to the people I am left a prophet of Yahweh alone but prophets [are] of Baal four hundred and fifty men
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־ הָעָ֔ם אֲנִ֞י נוֹתַ֧רְתִּי נָבִ֛יא לַיהוָ֖ה לְבַדִּ֑י וּנְבִיאֵ֣י הַבַּ֔עַל אַרְבַּע־ מֵא֥וֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים אִֽישׁ

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלִיָּ֙הוּ֙  Elijah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵלִיָּה 
Sense: the great prophet of the reign of Ahab.
הָעָ֔ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
נוֹתַ֧רְתִּי  am  left 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָתַר  
Sense: to be left over, remain, remain over, leave.
נָבִ֛יא  a  prophet 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
לַיהוָ֖ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְבַדִּ֑י  alone 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בַּד 
Sense: alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone.
וּנְבִיאֵ֣י  but  prophets  [are] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
הַבַּ֔עַל  of  Baal 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּעַל  
Sense: supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians or Canaanites.
אַרְבַּע־  four 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: אַרְבַּע  
Sense: four.
מֵא֥וֹת  hundred 
Parse: Number, feminine plural
Root: מֵאָה 
Sense: hundred.
וַחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים  and  fifty 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, common plural
Root: חֲמִשִּׁים 
Sense: fifty.
אִֽישׁ  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.