The Meaning of 1 Kings 18:41 Explained

1 Kings 18:41

KJV: And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

YLT: And Elijah saith to Ahab, 'Go up, eat and drink, because of the sound of the noise of the shower.'

Darby: And Elijah said to Ahab, Go up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

ASV: And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Elijah  said  unto Ahab,  Get thee up,  eat  and drink;  for [there is] a sound  of abundance  of rain. 

What does 1 Kings 18:41 Mean?

Context Summary

1Kings 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: 1Kings 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 18:41 mean?

And said Elijah to Ahab go up eat and drink for [there is] the sound of abundance of rain
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלִיָּ֙הוּ֙ לְאַחְאָ֔ב עֲלֵ֖ה אֱכֹ֣ל וּשְׁתֵ֑ה כִּי־ ק֖וֹל הֲמ֥וֹן הַגָּֽשֶׁם

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.
לְאַחְאָ֔ב  to  Ahab 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַחְאָב 
Sense: king of Israel, son of Omri, husband of Jezebel.
עֲלֵ֖ה  go  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
אֱכֹ֣ל  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
וּשְׁתֵ֑ה  and  drink 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
ק֖וֹל  [there  is]  the  sound 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
הֲמ֥וֹן  of  abundance 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הָמֹון 
Sense: (Qal) murmur, roar, crowd, abundance, tumult, sound.
הַגָּֽשֶׁם  of  rain 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֶּשֶׁם  
Sense: rain, shower.

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