1 Kings 18 · Verse 27

1 Kings 18:27

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.
1 Kings 18:27, King James Version

1 Kings 18:27 in other translations

BSBAt 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!”
WEBAt noon, Elijah mocked them, and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is deep in thought, or he has gone somewhere, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he sleeps and must be awakened.”
ASVAnd it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud; for he is a god: either he is musing, or he is gone aside, or he is on a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth and must be awaked.
YLTAnd it cometh to pass, at noon, that Elijah playeth on them, and saith, ‘Call with a loud voice, for he is a god, for he is meditating, or pursuing, or on a journey; it may be he is asleep, an doth awake.'
DARBYAnd it came to pass at noon that Elijah mocked them and said, Cry aloud; for he is agod; for he is meditating, or gone aside, or he is on a journey; perhaps he sleeps, and will awake.
BBEAnd in the middle of the day, Elijah made sport of them, saying, Give louder cries, for he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or he may have gone away for some purpose, or he may be on a journey, or by chance he is sleeping and has to be made awake.
WebsterAnd 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 on a journey, or perhaps he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

What does 1 Kings 18:27 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 18:21-40

21-40. Elijah said unto all the people, How long halt ye?--They had long been attempting to conjoin the service of God with that of Baal. It was an impracticable union and the people were so struck with a sense of their own folly, or dread of the king's displeasure, that they "answered not a word." Elijah proposed to decide for them the controversy between God and Baal by an appeal, not to the authority of the law…

Read the full comment on 1 Kings 18:21-40 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 27 At noon - Elijah mocked them - Had not Elijah been conscious of the Divine protection, he certainly would not have used such freedom of speech while encompassed by his enemies. Cry aloud - Make a great noise; oblige him by your vociferations to attend to your suit. For he is a god - כי אלהים הוא ki Elohim hu, he is the supreme God, you worship him as such, he must needs be such, and no doubt jealous of his own honor and the credit of his votaries! A strong irony. He is talking - He may be giving audience to some others; let him know that he has other worshippers, and must not give too much of his attention to one. Perhaps the word שיח siach should be interpreted as in the margin, he meditateth; he is in a profound revery; he is making some god-like projects; he is considering how he may best keep up his credit in the nation. Shout! let him know that all is now at stake. He is pursuing - He may be taking his pleasure in hunting, and may continue to pursue the game in heaven, till he have lost all his credit and reverence on earth. The original words, שיג לו sig lo, are variously translated; He is in a hotel, in diversorio, Vulgate. Perhaps he is delivering oracles, μη ποτε χρηματιζει αυτος, Septuagint. Or, he is on some special business. Therefore, cry aloud! He is in a journey - He has left his audience chamber, and is making some excursions; call aloud to bring him back, as his all is at stake. Peradventure he sleepeth - Rab. S. Jarchi gives this the most degrading meaning; I will give it in Latin, because it is too coarse to be put in English; Fortassis ad locum secretum abiit, ut ventrem ibi exomeret; "Perhaps he is gone to the _____." This certainly reduces Baal to the lowest degree of contempt, and with it the ridicule and sarcasm are complete. Among Asiatic idolaters their gods have different functions to fulfill, and require sleep and rest. Vishnoo sleeps four months in the year. Budhoo is represented in his temple as sleep, though his eyes are open. Vayoo manages the winds; Varoona, the waters; Indra, the clouds, etc.; and according to many fables in the Pooranas, the gods are often out on journeys, expeditions, etc.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Kings 18:21-40

Many of the people wavered in their judgment, and varied in their practice. Elijah called upon them to determine whether Jehovah or Baal was the self-existent, supreme God, the Creator, Governor, and Judge of the world, and to follow him alone. It is dangerous to halt between the service of God and the service of sin, the dominion of Christ and the dominion of our lusts. If Jesus be the only Saviour, let us cleave…

Read the full comment on 1 Kings 18:21-40 →

1 Kings 18:27 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְהִ֨יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
בַֽצָּהֳרַ֜יִםva.tzo.ho.Ra.yimat the noontide<s>H6672
וַיְהַתֵּ֧לvay.ha.Teland he mockedH2048
בָּהֶ֣םba.Hem<in> them
אֵלִיָּ֗הוּ'e.li.Ya.huElijahH452
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merand he saidH559
קִרְא֤וּkir.'Ucall outH7121
בְקוֹל\־ve.kol-with a voiceH6963
גָּדוֹל֙ga.dOlgreatH1419
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
אֱלֹהִ֣ים'E.lo.Him[is] a godH430
ה֔וּאHu'heH1931
כִּ֣יkiforH3588
שִׂ֧יחַSi.achmusingH7879
וְכִֽי\־ve.khi-and forH3588
שִׂ֛יגsiga going awayH7873
ל֖וֹlo[belongs] to him
וְכִֽי\־ve.khi-and forH3588
דֶ֣רֶךְDe.rekha journeyH1870
ל֑וֹlo[belongs] to him
אוּלַ֛י'u.LaiperhapsH194
יָשֵׁ֥ןya.Shen[is] sleepingH3463
ה֖וּאhu'heH1931
וְיִקָֽץ\׃ve.yi.Katzso he may awakeH3364

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Kings 18:27

  • Isaiah 41:23

    Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

  • Psalms 78:65-66

    Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.

  • Ecclesiastes 11:9

    Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

  • Mark 4:38-39

    And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

  • 2 Chronicles 25:8

    But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.

  • Isaiah 44:15-17

    Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.

  • Psalms 44:23

    Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.

  • Mark 14:41

    And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

  • Isaiah 8:9-10

    Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

  • Psalms 121:4

    Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

  • Amos 4:4-5

    Come to Beth–el, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years: And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord God.

  • 1 Kings 22:15

    So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth–gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Elijah.
22:15; 2Ch 25:8; Ec 11:9; Isa 8:9,10; 44:15-17; Eze 20:39
Am 4:4,5; Mt 26:45; Mr 7:9; 14:41
aloud. Heb. with a great voice. for he is a god.
Isa 41:23
either.Such were the absurd and degrading notions which the heathens entertained of their gods. "Vishnoo sleeps four months in the year; and to each of the gods some particular business is assigned. Vayoo manages the winds; Vuroonu the waters, etc. According to a number of fables in the pooranus, the gods are often out on journeys or expeditions." Ward's Views of the Hindoos, vol. ii. p. 324.
he is talking. or, he meditateth. is pursuing. Heb. hatha pursuit. must be awaked.
Ps 44:23; 78:65,66; 121:4; Isa 51:9; Mr 4:38,39

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Kings 18:26

    And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

  • 1 Kings 18:27

    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.

  • 1 Kings 18:28

    And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

Read all of 1 Kings 18

1 Kings 18:27 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y aconteció al medio día, que Elías se burlaba de ellos, diciendo: Gritad en alta voz, que dios es: quizá está conversando, ó tiene algún empeño, ó va de camino; acaso duerme, y despertará.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il arriva qu’à midi Élie se moqua d’eux, et dit: Criez à haute voix, car il est un dieu; car il médite, ou il est allé à l’écart, ou il est en voyage; peut-être qu’il dort, et il se réveillera!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es geschah am Mittag, da verspottete sie Elia und sprach: Rufet mit lauter Stimme, denn er ist ja ein Gott! denn er ist in Gedanken, oder er ist beiseite gegangen, oder er ist auf der Reise; vielleicht schläft er und wird aufwachen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cumque esset jam meridies, illudebat illis Elias, dicens: Clamate voce majore: deus enim est, et forsitan loquitur, aut in diversorio est, aut in itinere, aut certe dormit, ut excitetur.