1 Kings 18:38
in 1 Kings 18Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then the fire of Jehovah fell, and consumed the burnt-offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
KJV
Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
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This verse in 1 Kings 18
Commentary
8 notes on this verseIn the time of Elijah, also, fire came down when he challenged the prophets of the heathen to light up the altar without fire. When they could not do so, he poured water three times over his victim, so that the water ran around about the altar; then he cried out, and the fire fell from the Lord from heaven and consumed the burnt offering. You are that victim. Contemplate in silence each single point. The breath of the Holy Spirit descends on you; he seems to burn you when he consumes your sins.
This site's exposition
the fire of the Lord fell
The narrator inventories the consumption: sacrifice, wood, stones, dust, and the water in the trench, licked up in the order of least to most fireproof. Fire from the LORD marked accepted worship at the tabernacle's opening (Lev 9:24) and will mark the temple's (2 Chr 7:1), so Carmel stands in a short series of inaugurations, here inaugurating nothing but the return of a nation's heart. The stones themselves burning ends any argument about a trick.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Elijah, who on mount Carmel abolished the sacrifices of the pagan priests, ministers of vanity, through the burnt offering which he offered to the living God, gives us a living image of the burnt offering that the Emmanuel made on Mount Golgotha, bringing to an …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Then the fire of the Lord fell,.... An extraordinary fire from God out of heaven, as the effects of it show: and consumed the burnt sacrifice; as it had done in former instances, Lev 9:24, and besides this, which is still more extraordinary, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust; of the altar, thereby signifying that even such were not to be used any more: and licked up the water that was in the trench; around the altar, see 1Ki 18:32.
1 ) consumed the sacrifice and the wood, in token of God's acceptance of the offering, but licked up all the water in the trench, exhaling that, and drawing it up as a vapour, in order to the intended rain, which was to be the fruit of this sacrifice and prayer, more than the product of natural causes.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number+unbalanced-parens
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Then the fire of the Lord fell - It did not burst out from the altar; this might still, notwithstanding the water, have afforded some ground for suspicion that fire had been concealed, after the manner of the heathens, under the altar.
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.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The fire of the Lord fell - This cannot have been a flash of lightning. It was altogether, in its nature as well as in its opportuneness, miraculous. Compare the marginal references for the conduct of the people.
The words behind it
17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַתִּפֹּ֣ל | vatipol | and it fell | H5307 → | 435 times |
| אֵשׁ־ | ʾesh- | [the] fire of | H784 → | 378 times |
| יְהוָ֗ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| וַתֹּ֤אכַל | vatokhal | and it consumed | H398 → | 810 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הָֽעֹלָה֙ | haolah | the burnt offering | H5930 → | 287 times |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הָ֣עֵצִ֔ים | haetzim | the wood<s> | H6086 → | 328 times |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הָאֲבָנִ֖ים | haavanim | the stones | H68 → | 273 times |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הֶעָפָ֑ר | heafar | the dust | H6083 → | 110 times |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הַמַּ֥יִם | hamayim | the water | H4325 → | 581 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| בַּתְּעָלָ֖ה | batealah | [was] in the trench | H8585 → | 11 times |
| לִחֵֽכָה׃ | lichekhah | it licked up | H3897 → |
וַתִּפֹּ֣לand it fell
vatipolH5307 →435 times
אֵשׁ־[the] fire of
ʾesh-H784 →378 times
יְהוָ֗הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
וַתֹּ֤אכַלand it consumed
vatokhalH398 →810 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הָֽעֹלָה֙the burnt offering
haolahH5930 →287 times
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
הָ֣עֵצִ֔יםthe wood<s>
haetzimH6086 →328 times
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
הָאֲבָנִ֖יםthe stones
haavanimH68 →273 times
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
הֶעָפָ֑רthe dust
heafarH6083 →110 times
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
הַמַּ֥יִםthe water
hamayimH4325 →581 times
אֲשֶׁר־which
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
בַּתְּעָלָ֖ה[was] in the trench
batealahH8585 →11 times
לִחֵֽכָה׃it licked up
lichekhahH3897 →
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 Chronicles 7:1When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
it leads to
- 1 Chronicles 21:26
And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. He called upon the LORD, who answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.
Reached by 4 separate paths from here.
- Leviticus 9:23–24
Moses and Aaron then entered the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people.
- 1 Kings 18:24
Then you may call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered,…
- 1 Chronicles 21:26
Through
Leviticus 9:24Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell…
it leads to
- Judges 6:21
Then the angel of the LORD extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. And fire flared from the rock and consumed the…
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- 1 Kings 18:38–39
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench.
- Exodus 3:2
There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed.
- Judges 6:21
Through
Judges 6:21Then the angel of the LORD extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. And fire flared from the rock and consumed the…
it leads to
- Leviticus 9:24
Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell…
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- 2 Chronicles 7:1
When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Leviticus 9:24
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
On this verse
About 1 Kings
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, On the Duties of the Clergy 3.18.106-7; Ephrem the Syrian, ON THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS 18:26-38; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil, The Books of the Kings and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.