Bible Strands
1 Kings 18:8
“It is I,” he answered. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here!’”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Elijah speaks directly to Obadiah immediately after their sudden roadside encounter. He addresses the palace overseer who had just fallen facedown and recognized him.
The words — The command לֵ֛ךְ (lekh) means "go" and אֱמֹ֥ר ('e.Mor) means "say," forming a direct instruction to deliver a message. The declaration אָ֑נִי ('A.ni) literally translates to "[it is] I," confirming his physical presence.
The thread — The theme of honoring authority appears in Romans 13:7 and 1 Peter 2:17, with only the former specifying the rendering of taxes and revenue. Obadiah’s position as palace overseer in 1 Kings 18:3 further illustrates a subordinate navigating the demands of a fearful king.
Why it lands — The text requires immediate compliance in delivering a message that could provoke royal wrath. It asks readers to act on divine direction without delaying for personal safety or political calculation.
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 he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 18:3 and Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah greatly feared the LORD,
- Romans 13:7 Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
- 1 Peter 2:17 Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.