King James Version

What Does 1 Kings 18:46 Mean?

1 Kings 18:46 in the King James Version says “And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. to t...” — study this verse from 1 Kings chapter 18 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. to the: Heb. till thou come to Jezreel”

1 Kings 18:46 · KJV

Context

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

45

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.

46

And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. to the: Heb. till thou come to Jezreel

Read 1 Kings 18 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

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 · 13 words
וְיַד1 of 13

“And the hand”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

יְהוָ֗ה2 of 13

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

הָֽיְתָה֙3 of 13
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

אֶל4 of 13
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ5 of 13

“was on Elijah”

H452

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

וַיְשַׁנֵּ֖ס6 of 13

“and he girded up”

H8151

to compress (with a belt)

מָתְנָ֑יו7 of 13

“his loins”

H4975

properly, the waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins

וַיָּ֙רָץ֙8 of 13

“and ran”

H7323

to run (for whatever reason, especially to rush)

לִפְנֵ֣י9 of 13

“before”

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

אַחְאָ֔ב10 of 13

“Ahab”

H256

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

עַד11 of 13
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

בֹּֽאֲכָ֖ה12 of 13

“to the entrance”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

יִזְרְעֶֽאלָה׃13 of 13

“of Jezreel”

H3157

jizreel, the name of two places in palestine and of two israelites

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 18:46 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 18:46 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 3:14Ezekiel 1:32 Kings 3:152 Kings 9:1Isaiah 8:11Matthew 22:21

Places in This Verse

Jezreel 2Settlement · Modern: Tel Yizre’el · 32.56°N, 35.33°E29 verses across 7 books
View all places in 1 Kings 18 →

Test Your Knowledge

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