1 Kings 18:34
in 1 Kings 18and said, “Fill four waterpots and pour the water on the offering and on the wood.” “Do it a second time,” he said, and they did it a second time. “Do it a third time,” he said, and they did it a third time.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he said, Do it the second time; and they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time; and they did it the third time.
KJV
And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
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This verse in 1 Kings 18
Commentary
6 notes on this verseAnd he said, do it the second time, and they did it the second time,.... That is, poured four barrels of water more upon the wood: and he said, do it the third time, and they did it the third time; so that there were in all twelve barrels of water poured on the wood, agreeably to the number of the twelve stones the altar was built with, and may have respect to the same as they.
This site's exposition
he arranged the wood, cut up the bull
on 1 Kings 18:33-35
Four barrels, poured three times, until the wood is soaked, the trench full, and every suspicion of hidden fire drowned. In the third year of drought, water is the costliest thing on the mountain. Elijah spends it like a man removing every explanation but one.
This site's exposition
Fill four waterpots and pour
John Gill counts twelve jars of water in all, one for each of the twelve stones of the altar. Ambrose of Milan read the water and the fire as a picture of baptism, where Christ baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire. The people did every pouring themselves.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Moreover, if anyone has not been baptized, let him be converted all the more securely by receiving the remission of his sins, [so that baptism] as a kind of fire may consume his sins, because Christ baptizes in fire and spirit. Hence, you read of this type in the books of Kings, where Elijah placed wood upon the altar and told them to pour water on it from urns. "And he said, 'Do the same the second time.' And they did it the second time.
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 6.125 · Written before 253.
proposed
And what is the source of your belief that Elijah who is to come will baptize? Did he not even baptize the wood on the altar in the times of Ahab, when it required a bath that it might be burned up when the Lord appeared in fire? He commanded the priests to do this, and not only once, for he says, "Do it a second time, when also they did it a second time," and "Do it a third time, when also they did it a third time." How, then, will he who did not himself baptize at that time, but gave the task to others, baptize when he has come in fulfillment of the things said by Malachi? Christ, therefore, does not baptize in water, but his disciples. He reserves for himself the act of baptizing with the Holy Spirit and fire.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
In vain did they continue invoking their senseless deity from morning till noon, and from noon till evening, uttering the most piercing cries, using the most frantic gesticulations, and mingling their blood with the sacrifice. Elijah exposed their folly and imposture with the severest irony and, as the day was far advanced, commenced his operations.
The words behind it
6 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּ֤אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| שְׁנוּ֙ | shenu | do again | H8138 → | 21 times |
| וַיִּשְׁנ֔וּ | vaiyishnu | and they did again | H8138 → | 21 times |
| וַיֹּ֥אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| שַׁלֵּ֖שׁוּ | shaleshu | do a third time | H8027 → | |
| וַיְשַׁלֵּֽשׁוּ׃ | vayshaleshu | and they did a third time | H8027 → |
וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
שְׁנוּ֙do again
shenuH8138 →21 times
וַיִּשְׁנ֔וּand they did again
vaiyishnuH8138 →21 times
וַיֹּ֥אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
שַׁלֵּ֖שׁוּdo a third time
shaleshuH8027 →
וַיְשַׁלֵּֽשׁוּ׃and they did a third time
vayshaleshuH8027 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Corinthians 4:2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 2:17
For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3–5
For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
- 2 Corinthians 5:11
Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13–15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 6:4–7
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;
- 2 Corinthians 2:17
Through
2 Corinthians 8:21For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
it leads to
- Romans 12:17
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- 1 Peter 2:12
Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
- Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
- Romans 12:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
On this verse
About 1 Kings
This page draws on Ambrose of Milan, Concerning Virginity 2.5.38; Ambrose of Milan, On Elijah and Fasting, Chapter 22, 83; F. W. Farrar, The First Book of Kings (Expositor's Bible); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 6.125.