The Meaning of 1 Kings 18:3 Explained

1 Kings 18:3

KJV: And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:

YLT: and Ahab calleth unto Obadiah, who is over the house -- and Obadiah hath been fearing Jehovah greatly,

Darby: And Ahab called Obadiah, who was the steward of his house (now Obadiah feared Jehovah greatly;

ASV: And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared Jehovah greatly:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Ahab  called  Obadiah,  which [was] the governor of [his] house.  (Now Obadiah  feared  the LORD  greatly: 

What does 1 Kings 18:3 Mean?

Study Notes

Obadiah In such a time as the reign of Ahab and Jezebel a believer's true place was by Elijah's side. Obadiah is a warning type of the men of God who adhere to the world while still seeking to serve God. The secret of the Lord, and the power of the Lord were with Elijah, the separated servant. Cf. 2 Timothy 2:20 ; 2 Timothy 2:21 .
feared .
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

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 18:3 mean?

And had called Ahab to Obadiah who [was] in charge of [his] house Now Obadiah feared feared - Yahweh greatly
וַיִּקְרָ֣א אַחְאָ֔ב אֶל־ עֹבַדְיָ֖הוּ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־ הַבָּ֑יִת וְעֹבַדְיָ֗הוּ הָיָ֥ה יָרֵ֛א אֶת־ יְהוָ֖ה מְאֹֽד

וַיִּקְרָ֣א  And  had  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
אַחְאָ֔ב  Ahab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַחְאָב 
Sense: king of Israel, son of Omri, husband of Jezebel.
עֹבַדְיָ֖הוּ  Obadiah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹבַדְיָה 
Sense: the 4th of the 2 minor prophets; nothing personal is known of him but it is probable that he was contemporary with Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  who  [was] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עַל־  in  charge 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַבָּ֑יִת  of  [his]  house 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
וְעֹבַדְיָ֗הוּ  Now  Obadiah 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹבַדְיָה 
Sense: the 4th of the 2 minor prophets; nothing personal is known of him but it is probable that he was contemporary with Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel.
הָיָ֥ה  feared 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
יָרֵ֛א  feared 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא  
Sense: fearing, reverent, afraid.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מְאֹֽד  greatly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.