1 Kings 18:23

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Elijah speaks to the gathered Israelites and the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. He proposes a public contest to settle the dispute over the true God.

The words — The Hebrew יִתְּנוּ (yittenû) means "let them give" or "get," issuing the command to procure the animals. The verb וִֽ/ינַתְּחֻ֗/הוּ (vinattĕḥûhû) translates to "let them cut it into pieces," detailing the required preparation of the sacrifice.

The thread — The text establishes a ritual pattern where unlit wood and divine fire serve as the decisive proof of authority. This contest structure directly follows Elijah's declaration of being the sole remaining prophet of the LORD in 1 Kings 18:22 and leads immediately to the call for divine response in 1 Kings 18:24.

Why it lands — The passage states that both sides will prepare their offerings without lighting the fire, leaving the outcome entirely to divine intervention. It requires the reader to accept that legitimate worship is validated by God's independent action rather than human ritual control.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְיִתְּנוּ־ve./yi.te.nu-and/ let people giveלָ֜נוּLa./nuto/ usשְׁנַ֣יִםshe.Na.yimtwo פָּרִ֗יםpa.Rimyoung bulls וְיִבְחֲר֣וּve./yiv.cha.Ruand/ let them chooseלָהֶם֩la./Hemfor/ themselvesהַפָּ֨רha./Parthe/ young bull הָאֶחָ֜דha./'e.Chad<the>/ one וִֽינַתְּחֻ֗הוּvi./na.te.Chu./huand/ let them cut in pieces/ it וְיָשִׂ֙ימוּ֙ve./ya.Si.muand/ they may put עַל־'al-on הָ֣עֵצִ֔יםha./'e.Tzimthe/ wood<s>וְאֵ֖שׁve./'Eshand/ fire לֹ֣אlo'not יָשִׂ֑ימוּya.Si.muthey will set וַאֲנִ֞יva./'a.Niand/ I אֶעֱשֶׂ֣ה׀'e.'e.SehI will prepare אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַפָּ֣רha./Parthe/ young bull הָאֶחָ֗דha./'e.Chad<the>/ one וְנָֽתַתִּי֙ve./na.ta.Tiand/ I will put עַל־'al-on הָ֣עֵצִ֔יםha./'e.Tzimthe/ wood<s>וְאֵ֖שׁve./'Eshand/ fire לֹ֥אlo'not אָשִֽׂים׃'a.SimI will set

King James 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 wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: