Bible Strands
1 Kings 18:26
And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The prophets of Baal act during Elijah’s altar contest, preparing a sacrificial bull and calling for divine response from morning until noon. They perform this ritual before the assembled Israelites and Elijah, who has challenged them to demonstrate their god’s power.
The words — The verb וַֽ/יַּעֲשׂוּ֒ (va/i.ya.'a.Su) means “and they prepared,” describing the physical setup of the sacrifice. The phrase בְ/שֵׁם\־ (ve./shem-) translates literally as “on the name of,” indicating the invocation directed toward Baal.
The thread — The pattern of futile ritual invocation appears in Jeremiah 10:5, which describes idols as immobile scarecrows, and Matthew 6:7, which warns against the pagan belief that verbose prayer guarantees a response.
Why it lands — The text reports that despite prolonged shouting and leaping, the altar produced no sound or answer, establishing a factual baseline that ritual effort does not compel divine action. It requires the reader to recognize the contrast between human religious exertion and actual divine silence.
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
King James Version
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 10:5 Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”
- Matthew 6:7 And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.
- 1 Corinthians 8:4 So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.
- 1 Corinthians 12:2 You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
- 1 Kings 18:24 Then you may call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered, “What you say is good.”
- Psalms 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
- Psalms 135:15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
- Isaiah 37:38 One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.
- Isaiah 44:17 From the rest he makes a god, his graven image. He bows down to it and worships; he prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”
- Isaiah 45:20 Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save.