Read Verse Keyword Strong's
Prev

1 Kings 18:38

Next

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.

Then the fire {H784} of the LORD {H3068} fell {H5307}, and consumed {H398} the burnt sacrifice {H5930}, and the wood {H6086}, and the stones {H68}, and the dust {H6083}, and licked up {H3897} the water {H4325} that was in the trench {H8585}.

Then the fire of ADONAI fell. It consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones and the dust; and it licked up the water in the trench.

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.

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.

Commentary

Context

1 Kings 18:38 marks the dramatic climax of the confrontation between the prophet Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The land of Israel was suffering under a severe drought, sent by God as judgment for the widespread idolatry promoted by King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Elijah had challenged the false prophets to a contest: each side would prepare a sacrifice, but no fire would be lit. The God who answered by fire would be proven true. After the prophets of Baal failed throughout the day, Elijah prepared his altar, pouring twelve barrels of water over the sacrifice, wood, and even filling the surrounding trench, making the miracle even more undeniable.

Key Themes

  • Divine Power and Sovereignty: This verse is a powerful declaration of God's absolute power. The "fire of the LORD" is not just natural lightning but a supernatural demonstration of His presence and authority. It shows that Yahweh alone controls the elements and responds to the prayers of His faithful servants.
  • Vindication of True Worship: The immediate and overwhelming response from God utterly vindicated Elijah and confirmed that the God of Israel was the one true God, distinct from the powerless idol Baal. It exposed the futility of idolatry and the deceit of its prophets.
  • Total Consumption: The thoroughness with which the fire consumed not only the burnt sacrifice and wood but also the stones, dust, and even "licked up the water that was in the trench" underscores the miraculous nature of the event. No doubt was left as to the divine origin and complete acceptance of the offering.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "fire of the LORD" (Hebrew: 'esh Yahweh) emphasizes that this was a direct, divine intervention, not a natural phenomenon. The verb "consumed" (Hebrew: 'akal) means to eat, devour, or utterly destroy, highlighting the totality of the fire's work. The detailed list of what was consumed—sacrifice, wood, stones, dust, and water—builds an incredibly vivid picture of an all-encompassing, miraculous act of God, leaving no room for human explanation or trickery.

Practical Application

1 Kings 18:38 serves as a profound reminder of God's faithfulness and His readiness to respond to those who seek Him with sincerity. It assures us that God is not a distant deity but an active, powerful, and sovereign being who intervenes in human affairs. This passage encourages believers to put their full trust in God, especially when facing spiritual battles or moments of decision. Just as God dramatically revealed Himself on Mount Carmel, He continues to confirm His presence and power in the lives of those who choose to serve Him alone. It challenges us to examine our own lives: are we serving the one true God, or are there "Baals" (idols, worldly desires, self-reliance) that compete for our devotion?

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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • Leviticus 9:24 (11 votes)

    And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: [which] when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:26 (10 votes)

    And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.

  • 2 Chronicles 7:1 (8 votes)

    ¶ Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

  • Judges 6:21 (6 votes)

    Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that [was] in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

  • Leviticus 10:2 (5 votes)

    And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

  • Job 1:16 (5 votes)

    While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

  • 1 Kings 18:24 (5 votes)

    And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.