King James Version

What Does 1 Kings 18:42 Mean?

1 Kings 18:42 in the King James Version says “So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, a...” — study this verse from 1 Kings chapter 18 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,”

1 Kings 18:42 · KJV

Context

40

And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. Take: or, Apprehend

41

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

42

So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

43

And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

44

And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. Prepare: Heb. Tie, or, Bind

Read 1 Kings 18 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

This verse contributes to the broader narrative of elijah and the prophets of baal, within the book's focus on prophetic ministry of Elijah confronting Baalism. The prophetic office represents God's faithful witness even in apostasy, calling His people back to covenant faithfulness.

The Hebrew text reveals nuances important for understanding this passage's contribution to 1 Kings' theological message about kingship, covenant, and faithfulness to Yahweh. This verse demonstrates the consequences when God's people—especially their leaders—either follow or forsake the covenant established at Sinai.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

First Kings was written during or after the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE), reflecting on the monarchy period (10th-9th centuries BCE) to explain why the kingdoms fell. Elijah's ministry (c. 860-850 BCE) occurred during Ahab's reign, a time of intense spiritual crisis in Israel.

Ancient Near Eastern kingship ideology viewed kings as divine representatives responsible for maintaining cosmic order through right worship. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Megiddo, Hazor, and Samaria confirm the historical reliability of 1 Kings' descriptions of building projects and administrative structures.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this passage illustrate the importance of complete obedience to God's word without compromise?
  2. What does Elijah's ministry reveal about God's character and His commitment to His covenant people?
  3. How does this verse point toward or prepare for the coming of Christ and His eternal kingdom?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
עָלָ֨ה1 of 15

“went up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

אַחְאָ֖ב2 of 15

“So Ahab”

H256

achab, the name of a king of israel and of a prophet at babylon

לֶֽאֱכֹ֣ל3 of 15

“to eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

וְלִשְׁתּ֑וֹת4 of 15

“and to drink”

H8354

to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

וְאֵ֨לִיָּ֜הוּ5 of 15

“And Elijah”

H452

elijah, the name of the famous prophet and of two other israelites

עָלָ֨ה6 of 15

“went up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

אֶל7 of 15
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

רֹ֤אשׁ8 of 15

“to the top”

H7218

the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)

הַכַּרְמֶל֙9 of 15

“of Carmel”

H3760

karmel, the name of a hill and of a town in palestine

וַיִּגְהַ֣ר10 of 15

“and he cast himself down”

H1457

to prostrate oneself

אַ֔רְצָה11 of 15

“upon the earth”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

וַיָּ֥שֶׂם12 of 15

“and put”

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

פָּנָ֖יו13 of 15

“his face”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

בֵּ֥ין14 of 15
H996

between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or

בִּרְכָּֽו׃15 of 15

“between his knees”

H1290

a knee

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Kings. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Kings 18:42 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Kings 18:42 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Luke 6:12Joshua 7:6Genesis 24:52Psalms 89:7Acts 10:92 Samuel 12:16

Places in This Verse

Mount CarmelMountain · Modern: Mount Carmel · 32.67°N, 35.02°E18 verses across 9 books
View all places in 1 Kings 18 →

Test Your Knowledge

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