Bible Strands
1 Kings 18:27
At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Elijah addresses the prophets of Baal at midday, directly following their failed morning-to-noon invocation. He speaks publicly to expose the silence that followed their ritual preparations.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַ/יְהַתֵּ֧ל (va/y.ha.Tel) literally translates to "he mocked," while בַֽ/צָּהֳרַ֜יִם (va./tzo.ho.Ra.yim) fixes the timeline to "at the noontide."
The thread — The theme of divine sleep and waking appears in Psalms 78:65, which depicts Yahweh awakening as from sleep, and Isaiah 41:23, which demands proof of divinity through foretelling or action.
Why it lands — The text establishes that ritual volume cannot compel a response, requiring the reader to evaluate claims of deity by observable action rather than performative intensity.
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 it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
Cross-references
- Psalms 78:65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a mighty warrior overcome by wine.
- Isaiah 41:23 Tell us the things that are to come, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do something good or evil, that we may look on together in dismay.
- 1 Kings 22:15 When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
- 2 Chronicles 25:8 Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has power to help and power to overthrow.”
- Psalms 44:23 Wake up, O Lord! Why are You sleeping? Arise! Do not reject us forever.
- Psalms 121:4 Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
- Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
- Isaiah 8:9 Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered!
- Isaiah 44:15 It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it to warm himself, and he kindles a fire and bakes his bread. He also fashions it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.
- Ezekiel 20:39 And as for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you. But afterward, you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.