1 Kings 19:11

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; [but] the LORD [was] not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; [but] the LORD [was] not in the earthquake:

And he said {H559}, Go forth {H3318}, and stand {H5975} upon the mount {H2022} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}. And, behold, the LORD {H3068} passed by {H5674}, and a great {H1419} and strong {H2389} wind {H7307} rent {H6561} the mountains {H2022}, and brake in pieces {H7665} the rocks {H5553} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}; but the LORD {H3068} was not in the wind {H7307}: and after {H310} the wind {H7307} an earthquake {H7494}; but the LORD {H3068} was not in the earthquake {H7494}:

He said, "Go outside, and stand on the mountain before ADONAI"; and right then and there, ADONAI went past. A mighty blast of wind tore the mountains apart and broke the rocks in pieces before ADONAI, but ADONAI was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake, but ADONAI was not in the earthquake.

Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before Jehovah. And, behold, Jehovah passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before Jehovah; but Jehovah was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Jehovah was not in the earthquake:

Commentary

1 Kings 19:11 describes a pivotal moment in the prophet Elijah’s life, where he is instructed by God to stand on Mount Horeb. This verse sets the stage for a profound divine encounter, detailing dramatic natural phenomena that precede God’s unique revelation to Elijah.

Context

Following his spectacular victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:38), Elijah, despite his miraculous success, is fleeing for his life from the vengeful Queen Jezebel. He is in a state of deep despair, feeling utterly alone and even asking God to take his life. God sustains him and directs him to Mount Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai, the very place where Moses encountered God and received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 3:1). This journey to the "mount of God" signifies a return to foundational truths and a personal encounter with the Divine.

Key Themes

  • God's Presence and Revelation: The verse highlights that God’s presence is not always found in the most powerful or dramatic displays. A "great and strong wind," an "earthquake," and later fire (mentioned in the subsequent verse) are all demonstrations of immense power, yet the text explicitly states, "the LORD [was] not in the wind" and "the LORD [was] not in the earthquake." This challenges human expectations of how God reveals Himself.
  • Divine Compassion for Despair: God meets Elijah in his deepest moment of fear and spiritual exhaustion. Instead of rebuke, God offers a profound, personal revelation, demonstrating His care for His servant's emotional and spiritual state.
  • Contrast with Sinai: This scene subtly contrasts with God's initial revelation to Israel at Mount Sinai, which was accompanied by thunder, lightning, and a thick cloud (Exodus 19:16). Here, for Elijah, God's self-disclosure takes a different form, emphasizing intimacy over spectacle.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the LORD passed by" echoes earlier encounters with God, notably when God revealed His glory and character to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 33:19; Exodus 34:6). This suggests a continuation of a divine pattern of self-revelation, though the nature of the revelation itself is unique in Elijah's case. The KJV's parenthetical additions "[but]" and "[was]" clarify the meaning, emphasizing that God was not present in the destructive forces, preparing the reader for the more subtle divine presence in the next verse.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful insights for believers today:

  • Seek God Beyond the Spectacular: We often look for God in grand, miraculous interventions or overwhelming emotional experiences. However, 1 Kings 19:11 reminds us that God may not always be found in the dramatic "wind" or "earthquake" of life's circumstances.
  • Discern God's Voice in Quietness: This passage sets the stage for the famous "still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12), teaching us to cultivate attentiveness to God's subtle promptings and gentle presence amidst life's chaos and noise.
  • God Meets Us in Our Despair: Like Elijah, we may experience periods of profound discouragement or feeling abandoned. This narrative assures us that God is compassionate and will meet us even in our lowest moments, not necessarily with overwhelming power, but with intimate presence and guidance.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 1:4

    ¶ And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness [was] about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

  • Psalms 50:3

    Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

  • Job 38:1

    ¶ Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

  • Isaiah 30:30

    And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of [his] anger, and [with] the flame of a devouring fire, [with] scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

  • Hebrews 12:26

    Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

  • Exodus 19:20

    And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses [up] to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

  • Exodus 34:2

    And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.
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