Bible Strands
1 Kings 18:43
“Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant. So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Elijah commands his servant to look toward the sea while he prays on Mount Carmel for rain. The servant returns seven times to report seeing nothing before the cloud appears.
The words — עֲלֵֽה (‘a.leh-) means “go up” or “go,” and הַבֵּ֣ט (ha.Bet) means “look.” Elijah pairs these imperatives to direct the servant’s attention to the horizon.
The thread — The pattern of persistent waiting for a promised sign appears in Habakkuk 2:3, which notes a vision awaits its appointed time, and in Luke 18:1 and Luke 18:7, where Jesus teaches his followers to pray continually and not lose heart.
Why it lands — The text records a repeated physical action that precedes a divine response. It requires the reader to observe that sustained attention and patience are necessary before a promised outcome materializes.
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 said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
Cross-references
- Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.
- Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
- Luke 18:7 Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them?
- 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.”
- Psalms 5:3 In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation.
- Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- Hebrews 10:36 You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.