The Meaning of 1 Kings 18:29 Explained

1 Kings 18:29

KJV: And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

YLT: and it cometh to pass, at the passing by of the noon, that they feign themselves prophets till the going up of the present, and there is no voice, and there is none answering, and there is none attending.

Darby: And it came to pass when midday was past, that they prophesied until the time of the offering up of the oblation; but there was neither voice, nor any that answered, nor any attention.

ASV: And it was so, when midday was past, that they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening oblation; but there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it came to pass, when midday  was past,  and they prophesied  until the [time] of the offering  of the [evening] sacrifice,  that [there was] neither voice,  nor any to answer,  nor any that regarded. 

What does 1 Kings 18:29 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 18:29 mean?

And when was past midday and they prophesied until that the [time] of the offering of the [evening] sacrifice but [there was] no voice and no one answered and no one paid attention
וַֽיְהִי֙ כַּעֲבֹ֣ר הַֽצָּהֳרַ֔יִם וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֔וּ עַ֖ד לַעֲל֣וֹת הַמִּנְחָ֑ה וְאֵֽין־ ק֥וֹל וְאֵין־ עֹנֶ֖ה וְאֵ֥ין קָֽשֶׁב

כַּעֲבֹ֣ר  when  was  past 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
הַֽצָּהֳרַ֔יִם  midday 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: צֹהַר 
Sense: noon, midday.
וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֔וּ  and  they  prophesied 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָבָא  
Sense: to prophesy.
עַ֖ד  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
לַעֲל֣וֹת  that  the  [time]  of  the  offering 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
הַמִּנְחָ֑ה  of  the  [evening]  sacrifice 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִנְחָה  
Sense: gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering.
וְאֵֽין־  but  [there  was]  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
ק֥וֹל  voice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
וְאֵין־  and  no  one 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
עֹנֶ֖ה  answered 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
וְאֵ֥ין  and  no  one 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
קָֽשֶׁב  paid  attention 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶשֶׁב  
Sense: attentiveness, attention.