The Meaning of 1 Kings 18:32 Explained

1 Kings 18:32

KJV: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

YLT: and he buildeth with the stones an altar, in the name of Jehovah, and maketh a trench, as about the space of two measures of seed, round about the altar.

Darby: and with the stones he built an altar in the name of Jehovah, and made a trench round about the altar, of the capacity of two measures of seed;

ASV: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of Jehovah; and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And with the stones  he built  an altar  in the name  of the LORD:  and he made  a trench  about  the altar,  as great as would contain  two measures  of seed. 

What does 1 Kings 18:32 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 18:30-40 - The God That Answereth By Fire
Too many halt, or limp, between two opinions. The altar of consecration to Christ has been thrown down, 1 Kings 18:30. The worship of Baal, which stands for creature-energy, has secretly stolen away our allegiance from Him, who is very jealous of any strange affinities; and as the necessary result, our heart is drought-smitten and our sphere of service is like a parched land. The idolatrous priests had everything in their favor, for at noon the sun-god was on his throne; but there was no voice. It is an awful thing when a man listens for his god to speak, and there is no reply!
Elijah built again the ruined altar which for long years had stood on Carmel's height, 1 Kings 19:10-11. Let us build again the altars of personal consecration, of family piety, and of national religion. Elijah prayed; as the Apostle expressed it, James 5:17, he put all the passion of his mighty nature into prayer. As a result, because they had been shown to be deceivers, he destroyed the prophets of Baal with a ruthless hand. These are the conditions of revival and refreshing. Let any church give itself to consecration, fervent prayer, and the excision of wrong, and there need be no anxiety as to the result-there will be an abundance of rain. [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 18:32 mean?

And he built with the stones an altar in the name of Yahweh and he made a trench large enough to hold two seahs of seed Around altar
וַיִּבְנֶ֧ה אֶת־ הָאֲבָנִ֛ים מִזְבֵּ֖חַ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה וַיַּ֣עַשׂ תְּעָלָ֗ה כְּבֵית֙ סָאתַ֣יִם זֶ֔רַע סָבִ֖יב לַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ

וַיִּבְנֶ֧ה  And  he  built 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
הָאֲבָנִ֛ים  the  stones 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
מִזְבֵּ֖חַ  an  altar 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
בְּשֵׁ֣ם  in  the  name 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
יְהוָ֑ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ  and  he  made 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
תְּעָלָ֗ה  a  trench 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תְּעָלָה 
Sense: conduit, water course, trench.
כְּבֵית֙  large  enough  to  hold 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
סָאתַ֣יִם  two  seahs  of 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: סְאָה  
Sense: seah, a measure of flour or grain.
זֶ֔רַע  seed 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: זֶרַע  
Sense: seed, sowing, offspring.
סָבִ֖יב  Around 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מוּסָב 
Sense: places round about, circuit, round about adv.
לַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ  altar 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.