1 Kings 18:43
in 1 Kings 18“Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant. So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
KJV
And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
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This verse in 1 Kings 18
Commentary
6 notes on this verseGo - While I continue praying. Elijah desired to have timely notice of the first appearance of rain, that Ahab and the people might know that it was obtained from Jehovah by the prophet's prayers, and thereby be confirmed in the true religion.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? 10 As the L ORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:97%@v9-10
And said to his servant,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Go up now, look toward the sea--From the place of worship there is a small eminence, which, on the west and northwest side, intercepts the view of the sea [STANLEY; It can be ascended in a few minutes, and presents a wide prospect of the Mediterranean. Six times the servant went up, but the sky was clear--the sea tranquil.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-brackets
Look toward the sea - From the top of Mount Carmel the Mediterranean Sea was full in view.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Tradition says that Elijah’s servant was the son of the widow of Sarepta 1Ki 17:23.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֶֽל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| נַעֲר֗וֹ | naaro | servant his | H5288 → | 239 times |
| עֲלֵֽה־ | ʾaleh- | go up | H5927 → | 890 times |
| נָא֙ | na' | please | H4994 → | 404 times |
| הַבֵּ֣ט | habet | look | H5027 → | 69 times |
| דֶּֽרֶךְ־ | derekh- | [the] direction of | H1870 → | 707 times |
| יָ֔ם | yam | [the] sea | H3220 → | 396 times |
| וַיַּ֙עַל֙ | vaiyaal | and he went up | H5927 → | 890 times |
| וַיַּבֵּ֔ט | vaiyabet | and he looked | H5027 → | 69 times |
| וַיֹּ֖אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֵ֣ין | ʾein | there not | H369 → | 789 times |
| מְא֑וּמָה | meumah | [is] anything | H3972 → | |
| וַיֹּ֕אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| שֻׁ֖ב | shuv | go back | H7725 → | 1056 times |
| שֶׁ֥בַע | sheva' | seven | H7651 → | 394 times |
| פְּעָמִֽים׃ | peamim | times | H6471 → | 118 times |
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
אֶֽל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
נַעֲר֗וֹservant his
naaroH5288 →239 times
עֲלֵֽה־go up
ʾaleh-H5927 →890 times
נָא֙please
na'H4994 →404 times
הַבֵּ֣טlook
habetH5027 →69 times
דֶּֽרֶךְ־[the] direction of
derekh-H1870 →707 times
יָ֔ם[the] sea
yamH3220 →396 times
וַיַּ֙עַל֙and he went up
vaiyaalH5927 →890 times
וַיַּבֵּ֔טand he looked
vaiyabetH5027 →69 times
וַיֹּ֖אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
אֵ֣יןthere not
ʾeinH369 →789 times
מְא֑וּמָה[is] anything
meumahH3972 →
וַיֹּ֕אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
שֻׁ֖בgo back
shuvH7725 →1056 times
שֶׁ֥בַעseven
sheva'H7651 →394 times
פְּעָמִֽים׃times
peamimH6471 →118 times
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
Luke 18:1Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
it leads to
- Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
- Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- Colossians 4:2
Through
Ephesians 6:18Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Timothy 2:1
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Through
Habakkuk 2:3For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.
it leads to
- Psalms 27:14
Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!
- Hebrews 10:36–37
You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
- Psalms 27:14
Where this verse is studied
About 1 Kings
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); 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 and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.