Bible Strands
1 Kings 18:37
Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Elijah addresses the LORD at the altar during the evening sacrifice, positioning himself before the assembled crowd to demand a visible response.
The words — The Hebrew עֲנֵֽנִי ('a.Ne./ni) literally means "answer me," while וְיֵדְעוּ (ve./ye.de.'U) translates as "so they may know," structuring the prayer as a conditional plea for public demonstration.
The thread — The pattern of urgent petition appears in Daniel 9:17, the motif of people returning to God runs in Luke 1:16, and the theme of ritual cleansing is recorded in Ezekiel 36:25.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to accept that divine identity must be publicly confirmed and that human allegiance shifts only through direct divine action.
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
Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
Cross-references
- Daniel 9:17 So now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servant. For Your sake, O Lord, cause Your face to shine upon Your desolate sanctuary.
- Luke 1:16 Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
- Ezekiel 36:25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your 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.”
- Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
- Genesis 32:24 So Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
- Genesis 32:26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
- Genesis 32:28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”
- 1 Kings 18:29 Midday passed, and they kept on raving until the time of the evening sacrifice. But there was no response; no one answered, no one paid attention.
- 1 Kings 18:36 At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command.