1 Kings 19:11
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
Original Language Analysis
צֵ֣א
Go forth
H3318
צֵ֣א
Go forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
2 of 27
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
וְעָֽמַדְתָּ֣
and stand
H5975
וְעָֽמַדְתָּ֣
and stand
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
3 of 27
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
הָרִ֨ים
the mountains
H2022
הָרִ֨ים
the mountains
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
4 of 27
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
5 of 27
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יְהוָֽה׃
And behold the LORD
H3068
יְהוָֽה׃
And behold the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
6 of 27
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יְהוָֽה׃
And behold the LORD
H3068
יְהוָֽה׃
And behold the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
8 of 27
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עֹבֵ֗ר
passed by
H5674
עֹבֵ֗ר
passed by
Strong's:
H5674
Word #:
9 of 27
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
הָר֨וּחַ
the wind
H7307
הָר֨וּחַ
the wind
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
10 of 27
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
גְּדוֹלָ֡ה
and a great
H1419
גְּדוֹלָ֡ה
and a great
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
11 of 27
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
וְחָזָ֞ק
and strong
H2389
וְחָזָ֞ק
and strong
Strong's:
H2389
Word #:
12 of 27
strong (usu. in a bad sense, hard, bold, violent)
הָרִ֨ים
the mountains
H2022
הָרִ֨ים
the mountains
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
14 of 27
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
וּמְשַׁבֵּ֤ר
and brake in pieces
H7665
וּמְשַׁבֵּ֤ר
and brake in pieces
Strong's:
H7665
Word #:
15 of 27
to burst (literally or figuratively)
סְלָעִים֙
the rocks
H5553
סְלָעִים֙
the rocks
Strong's:
H5553
Word #:
16 of 27
a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress)
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
17 of 27
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יְהוָֽה׃
And behold the LORD
H3068
יְהוָֽה׃
And behold the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
18 of 27
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
19 of 27
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
הָר֨וּחַ
the wind
H7307
הָר֨וּחַ
the wind
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
20 of 27
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
יְהוָֽה׃
And behold the LORD
H3068
יְהוָֽה׃
And behold the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
21 of 27
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְאַחַ֤ר
and after
H310
וְאַחַ֤ר
and after
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
22 of 27
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
הָר֨וּחַ
the wind
H7307
הָר֨וּחַ
the wind
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
23 of 27
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
25 of 27
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
Ezekiel 1:4And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.Psalms 50:3Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.Isaiah 30:30And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.Job 38:1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,Hebrews 12:26Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.Psalms 68:8The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.Exodus 19:20And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.Exodus 34:2And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.Ezekiel 37:7So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.Revelation 20:11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
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 he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
This verse contributes to the broader narrative of elijah flees to horeb, 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.