The Meaning of 1 Kings 18:45 Explained

1 Kings 18:45

KJV: And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

YLT: And it cometh to pass, in the meantime, that the heavens have become black -- thick clouds and wind -- and the shower is great; and Ahab rideth, and goeth to Jezreel,

Darby: And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heavens became black with clouds and wind, and there was a great pour of rain. And Ahab got on the chariot, and went to Jizreel.

ASV: And it came to pass in a little while, that the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it came to pass in the mean while,  that the heaven  was black  with clouds  and wind,  and there was a great  rain.  And Ahab  rode,  and went  to Jezreel. 

What does 1 Kings 18:45 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 18:41-46 - Exaltation And Depression
When the priests had been executed, the quick ear of the prophet detected the hurrying rain-clouds. Note the contrast between Ahab and the prophet. The one ascended from the Kishon gorge to eat and drink in his pavilion until the darkened heavens made him drive-post-haste to Jezreel; the other went up to pray! which do we care for most-to eat and drink or to pray? God help us! The answer that our hearts utter is far from satisfactory. But what praying was this! So humble, so intense, so expectant. Six times the servant came down from the spur, saying, "There is nothing," and a seventh time he was sent back to watch the Mediterranean sky-line-this time, not in vain!
But why that sudden change to despair? Was it the overstrain of that day on Carmel, which induced a terrible reaction? Was it that swift run from Carmel to Jezreel, in front of Ahab's fiery steeds? Was it that threat of Jezebel? She, at least, was neither awed nor checkmated by the massacre of her favorite priests. Did he lose sight of God in that dark hour? Elijah was but mortal! His feet had almost gone; his steps had well-nigh slipped, Psalms 73:2. [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 18:45 mean?

And it came to pass in the meanwhile thus and in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind and there was a rain Heavy so rode away Ahab and went to Jezreel
וַיְהִ֣י ׀ עַד־ כֹּ֣ה וְעַד־ כֹּ֗ה וְהַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ הִֽתְקַדְּרוּ֙ עָבִ֣ים וְר֔וּחַ וַיְהִ֖י גֶּ֣שֶׁם גָּד֑וֹל וַיִּרְכַּ֥ב אַחְאָ֖ב וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ יִזְרְעֶֽאלָה

וַיְהִ֣י ׀  And  it  came  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
עַד־  in  the  meanwhile 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
כֹּ֣ה  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
וְעַד־  and  in 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
כֹּ֗ה  the  meantime 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
וְהַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙  that  the  sky 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
הִֽתְקַדְּרוּ֙  became  black 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: קָדַר  
Sense: to mourn, be dark.
עָבִ֣ים  with  clouds 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: עָב 
Sense: darkness, cloud, thicket.
וְר֔וּחַ  and  wind 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
וַיְהִ֖י  and  there  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
גֶּ֣שֶׁם  a  rain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֶּשֶׁם  
Sense: rain, shower.
גָּד֑וֹל  Heavy 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
וַיִּרְכַּ֥ב  so  rode  away 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָכַב  
Sense: to mount and ride, ride.
אַחְאָ֖ב  Ahab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַחְאָב 
Sense: king of Israel, son of Omri, husband of Jezebel.
וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ  and  went 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
יִזְרְעֶֽאלָה  to  Jezreel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: יִזְרְעֶאל 
Sense: a descendant of the father or founder of Etam of Judah.