King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay [it] on wood, and put no fire [under]: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay [it] on wood, and put no fire [under]:
Complete Jewish Bible:
Let them give us two young bulls, and they can choose the bull they want for themselves. Then let them cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood but put no fire under it. I will prepare the other bull, lay it on the wood and put no fire under it.
Berean Standard Bible:
Get two bulls for us. Let the prophets of Baal choose one bull for themselves, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. And I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire.
American Standard Version:
Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Let them therefore give{H5414} us two{H8147} bullocks{H6499}; and let them choose{H977} one{H259} bullock{H6499} for themselves, and cut it in pieces{H5408}, and lay{H7760} it on wood{H6086}, and put{H7760} no fire{H784} under: and I will dress{H6213} the other{H259} bullock{H6499}, and lay{H5414} it on wood{H6086}, and put{H7760} no fire{H784} under:
Cross-References (KJV):
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Commentary for 1 Kings 18:23
1 Kings 18:23 is a part of the narrative concerning the prophet Elijah during a pivotal moment in Israel's history. The historical context is the northern kingdom of Israel under King Ahab, who is infamous for promoting the worship of the Phoenician god Baal, partly due to the influence of his Phoenician wife, Jezebel. This period is marked by a struggle between the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel, and Baal, a Canaanite deity associated with fertility and storms.
In this verse, Elijah is challenging the prophets of Baal to a dramatic showdown on Mount Carmel to determine whose deity is the true God. Elijah proposes that both he and the prophets of Baal prepare a sacrifice without lighting a fire. Instead, they are to call upon their respective gods to send fire from heaven to consume the offering. The themes present in this verse include the sovereignty of God, the power of true faith versus false religions, and the prophetic confrontation between truth and apostasy.
The verse specifically outlines the terms of the challenge: two bulls are to be sacrificed, one by the prophets of Baal and the other by Elijah. Each is to be placed on an altar without the ignition of fire. This setup is designed to leave no room for doubt regarding which god, if either, answers with the miraculous kindling of the sacrifice—a direct intervention that would demonstrate divine favor and power. The narrative's climax, which follows in the subsequent verses, showcases God's overwhelming response to Elijah's prayer, affirming Yahweh as the one true God and leading to a temporary national repentance and the execution of the Baal prophets. This event is a powerful illustration of God's supremacy over all other claimed deities and highlights Elijah's role as a fearless and faithful prophet of Yahweh.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H8147
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
Transliteration: shᵉnayim
Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. - Strong's Number: H6499
There are 119 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פַּר
Transliteration: par
Pronunciation: par
Description: or פָּר; from פָּרַר; a bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength, or perhaps as dividing the hoof); ([phrase] young) bull(-ock), calf, ox. - Strong's Number: H977
There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּחַר
Transliteration: bâchar
Pronunciation: baw-khar'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select; acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require. - Strong's Number: H259
There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶחָד
Transliteration: ʼechâd
Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, - Strong's Number: H5408
There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַח
Transliteration: nâthach
Pronunciation: naw-thakh'
Description: a primitive root; to dismember; cut (in pieces), divide, hew in pieces. - Strong's Number: H7760
There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׂוּם
Transliteration: sûwm
Pronunciation: soom
Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work. - Strong's Number: H6086
There are 288 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵץ
Transliteration: ʻêts
Pronunciation: ates
Description: from עָצָה; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks); [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood. - Strong's Number: H784
There are 549 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵשׁ
Transliteration: ʼêsh
Pronunciation: aysh
Description: a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively); burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot. - Strong's Number: H6213
There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂה
Transliteration: ʻâsâh
Pronunciation: aw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.