Bible Strands
1 Kings 18:46
And the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator records Elijah’s immediate physical response after the sky darkens, rain begins, and Ahab departs for Jezreel. Elijah acts on foot while Ahab travels by chariot.
The words — יַד־יְהוָה (yad-Yahweh) translates literally as “hand of Yahweh,” denoting divine agency or power. וַיָּ֙רָץ֙ (va/i.Ya.rotz) means “and he ran,” describing Elijah’s sustained physical exertion.
The thread — The formula “the hand of the LORD came upon” appears in Ezekiel 3:14, Ezekiel 1:3, and 2 Kings 3:15 to mark moments when divine power compels or empowers a prophet for a specific task.
Why it lands — The text states that Elijah’s physical feat is directly preceded by divine empowerment, requiring the reader to observe the sequence of supernatural enablement followed by human action. It demands attention to how prophetic ministry operates through credited divine force rather than mere human effort.
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 the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 3:14 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me.
- Ezekiel 1:3 the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And there the LORD’s hand was upon him.
- 2 Kings 3:15 But now, bring me a harpist.” And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha
- 2 Kings 9:1 Now Elisha the prophet summoned one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak under your belt, take this flask of oil, and go to Ramoth-gilead.
- Isaiah 8:11 For this is what the LORD has spoken to me with a strong hand, instructing me not to walk in the way of this people:
- Jeremiah 1:17 Get yourself ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them, or I will terrify you before them.
- Matthew 22:21 “Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
- 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- 2 Kings 4:29 So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy’s face.”
- Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,