1 Kings 18:12
And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָיָ֞ה
H1961
וְהָיָ֞ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 22
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
אֵלֵ֣ךְ
H1980
אֵלֵ֣ךְ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
3 of 22
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
מֵֽאִתָּ֗ךְ
H853
מֵֽאִתָּ֗ךְ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְר֨וּחַ
from thee that the Spirit
H7307
וְר֨וּחַ
from thee that the Spirit
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
5 of 22
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
6 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יִֽשָּׂאֲךָ֙
shall carry
H5375
יִֽשָּׂאֲךָ֙
shall carry
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
7 of 22
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
עַ֚ל
H5921
עַ֚ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
8 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
9 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
10 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אֵדָ֔ע
thee whither I know
H3045
אֵדָ֔ע
thee whither I know
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
11 of 22
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
וּבָ֨אתִי
not and so when I come
H935
וּבָ֨אתִי
not and so when I come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
12 of 22
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
לְהַגִּ֧יד
and tell
H5046
לְהַגִּ֧יד
and tell
Strong's:
H5046
Word #:
13 of 22
properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to
לְאַחְאָ֛ב
Ahab
H256
לְאַחְאָ֛ב
Ahab
Strong's:
H256
Word #:
14 of 22
achab, the name of a king of israel and of a prophet at babylon
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
15 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִֽמְצָאֲךָ֖
and he cannot find
H4672
יִֽמְצָאֲךָ֖
and he cannot find
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
16 of 22
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
20 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Acts 8:39And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.2 Kings 2:16And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.Ezekiel 8:3And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.Ezekiel 11:24Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.Ezekiel 37:1The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,2 Kings 2:11And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Historical 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.
Questions for Reflection
- How does this passage illustrate the importance of complete obedience to God's word without compromise?
- What does Elijah's ministry reveal about God's character and His commitment to His covenant people?
- How does this verse point toward or prepare for the coming of Christ and His eternal kingdom?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.
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 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.