Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing. New Living Translation Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. English Standard Version And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. Berean Standard Bible Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word. King James Bible And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. New King James Version And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. New American Standard Bible Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to struggle with the two choices? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him so much as a word. NASB 1995 Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word. NASB 1977 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word. Legacy Standard Bible And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you be limping between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word. Amplified Bible Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people [of Israel] did not answer him [so much as] a word. Christian Standard Bible Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.” But the people didn’t answer him a word. Holman Christian Standard Bible Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him.” But the people didn’t answer him a word. American Standard Version And Elijah came near unto all the people, and said, How long go ye limping between the two sides? if Jehovah be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And Elyah came near to all the people and said: “How long are you divided into two divisions? If LORD JEHOVAH is God, go after him, and if Baala is, go after him!” And the people did not give him an answer. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Eliu drew near to them all: and Eliu said to them, How long wilt ye halt on both feet? if the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, follow him. And the people answered not a word. Contemporary English Version Elijah stood in front of them and said, "How much longer will you try to have things both ways? If the LORD is God, worship him! But if Baal is God, worship him!" The people did not say a word. Douay-Rheims Bible And Elias coming to all the people, said: How long do you halt between two sides? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word. English Revised Version And Elijah came near unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. GOD'S WORD® Translation Elijah stood up in front of all the people and asked them, "How long will you try to have it both ways? If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal is God, follow him." The people didn't say a word. Good News Translation Elijah went up to the people and said, "How much longer will it take you to make up your minds? If the LORD is God, worship him; but if Baal is God, worship him!" But the people didn't say a word. International Standard Version where Elijah approached all the people and asked them, "How long will you keep hesitating between both sides? If the LORD is God, go after him. If Baal, go after him." But the people didn't say a word. JPS Tanakh 1917 And Elijah came near unto all the people, and said: 'How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.' And the people answered him not a word. Literal Standard Version and Elijah comes near to all the people and says, “Until when are you leaping on the two branches? If YHWH [is] God, go after Him; and if Ba‘al, go after him”; and the people have not answered him a word. Majority Standard Bible Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word. New American Bible Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you straddle the issue? If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him. NET Bible Elijah approached all the people and said, "How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? If the LORD is the true God, then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!" But the people did not say a word. New Revised Standard Version Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people did not answer him a word. New Heart English Bible Elijah came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you keep limping between two positions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." But the people did not answer him a word. Webster's Bible Translation And Elijah came to all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD is God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. World English Bible Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people didn’t say a word. Young's Literal Translation and Elijah cometh nigh unto all the people, and saith, 'Till when are ye leaping on the two branches? -- if Jehovah is God, go after Him; and if Baal, go after him;' and the people have not answered him a word. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Elijah on Mount Carmel…20So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word. 22Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.… Cross References Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Joshua 24:15 But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!" 1 Kings 18:20 So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 1 Kings 18:39 When all the people saw this, they fell facedown and said, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" 2 Kings 17:41 So these nations worshiped the LORD but also served their idols, and to this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did. Psalm 119:113 The double-minded I despise, but Your law I love. Hosea 10:2 Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars. Treasury of Scripture And Elijah came to all the people, and said, How long halt you between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. How long Deuteronomy 4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. 2 Kings 17:41 So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day. Zephaniah 1:5 And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; opinions. 1 Kings 18:39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. Exodus 5:1,2 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness… Joshua 24:15,23,24 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD… answered Genesis 24:50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. Genesis 44:16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. Job 40:4,5 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth… Jump to Previous Baal Ba'al Balancing Different Elijah Eli'jah Follow Halt Hesitate Opinions Sides Waver Word WorshipJump to Next Baal Ba'al Balancing Different Elijah Eli'jah Follow Halt Hesitate Opinions Sides Waver Word Worship1 Kings 18 1. In the extremity of famine Elijah, sent to Ahab, meets good Obadiah9. Obadiah brings Ahab to Elijah 17. Elijah, reproving Ahab, by fire from heaven convinces Baal's prophets 41. Elijah, by prayer obtaining rain, follows Ahab to Jezreel (21) How long halt ye between two opinions?--In this exclamation is expressed the very motto of Elijah's life. It is that of righteous impatience of the "halting" (i.e., limping to and fro) "between two opinions--at all times more dangerous, because more easy, than open apostasy--which was evidently characteristic of Ahab, and probably of the mass of the people. It might have suited well the accommodating genius of such polytheism as had been brought into Israel since the days of Solomon himself, but was utterly incompatible with the sole absolute claim of the worship of Jehovah. Perhaps Jezebel would have scorned it equally for Baal. Compare the indignant expostulation of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 20:31; Ezekiel 20:39). The question, once clearly understood, is always unanswerable, and is listened to here in awestruck silence.Verse 21. - And Elijah came unto all the people [He is concerned not so much with the king as the people of the Lord. His object was not "to prove that Ahab and not he had troubled Israel," but to prove that Jehovah and not Baal was God. There is abundant room on the plateau, or "wide upland sweep" (Stanley), above referred to, to accommodate a large concourse of people], and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? [This is a faithful and felicitous rendering. But it must be remembered that "halt" is used in the sense of "limp." Vulg. Usquequo claudicatis in duas partes. The same word is used in ver. 26 of the swaying, tottering dance of the Baal prophets.] If the Lord be God [Heb. if Jehovah the God], follow him [Heb. go (i.e., walk straight) after him]: but if Baal, then follow him And the people answered him not a word. [Not only were they awed by the presence of the king and the priests of Baal on the one side, and of Elijah on the other, but they were "convicted by their own consciences," and so were speechless (Matthew 22:12).] Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Then Elijahאֵלִיָּ֜הוּ (’ê·lî·yā·hū) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 452: Elijah -- 'Yah is God', a well-known prophet of Israel, also three other Israelites approached וַיִּגַּ֨שׁ (way·yig·gaš) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the people הָעָ֗ם (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock and said, וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “How long עַד־ (‘aḏ-) Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while will you אַתֶּ֣ם (’at·tem) Pronoun - second person masculine plural Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you waver פֹּסְחִים֮ (pō·sə·ḥîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 6452: To hop, skip over, to hesitate, to limp, to dance between עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against two שְׁתֵּ֣י (šə·tê) Number - fdc Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) opinions? הַסְּעִפִּים֒ (has·sə·‘ip·pîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 5587: Divided, a sentiment If אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not the LORD יְהוָ֤ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel is God, הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative follow לְכ֣וּ (lə·ḵū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk Him. אַחֲרָ֔יו (’a·ḥă·rāw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 310: The hind or following part But if וְאִם־ (wə·’im-) Conjunctive waw | Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not Baal [is], הַבַּ֖עַל (hab·ba·‘al) Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1168: Baal -- a heathen god follow לְכ֣וּ (lə·ḵū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk him.” אַחֲרָ֑יו (’a·ḥă·rāw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 310: The hind or following part But the people הָעָ֛ם (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock did not וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no answer עָנ֥וּ (‘ā·nū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6030: To answer, respond a word. דָּבָֽר׃ (dā·ḇār) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause Links 1 Kings 18:21 NIV1 Kings 18:21 NLT 1 Kings 18:21 ESV 1 Kings 18:21 NASB 1 Kings 18:21 KJV 1 Kings 18:21 BibleApps.com 1 Kings 18:21 Biblia Paralela 1 Kings 18:21 Chinese Bible 1 Kings 18:21 French Bible 1 Kings 18:21 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Kings 18:21 Elijah came near to all the people (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) |
    |