The Meaning of 1 Kings 18:23 Explained

1 Kings 18:23

KJV: Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

YLT: and let them give to us two bullocks, and they choose for themselves the one bullock, and cut it in pieces, and place it on the wood, and place no fire; and I -- I prepare the other bullock, and have put it on the wood, and fire I do not place; --

Darby: Let them therefore give us two bullocks: and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and put it on the wood, and put no fire; and I will sacrifice the other bullock, and put it on the wood, and put no fire.

ASV: Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let them therefore give  us two  bullocks;  and let them choose  one  bullock  for themselves, and cut it in pieces,  and lay  [it] on wood,  and put  no fire  [under]: and I will dress  the other  bullock,  and lay  [it] on wood,  and put  no fire  [under]: 

What does 1 Kings 18:23 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 18:16-29 - The God That Answereth Not
"The God that answereth by fire, let Him be God." We are thrilled as we read these words. Our altars stand unkindled, our sacrifices are unconsumed, our churches do not witness the descending of the holy flame, and our sermons are damp tinder. It ought not so to be. The Baptist said that our Lord would baptize with the Holy Spirit as by fire, Matthew 3:11, and Jesus Himself taught that he came to kindle fire on the earth, Luke 12:49. The seven lamps burn evermore before the throne, Revelation 4:5. It was as fire that the Holy Spirit fell on the sitting group in the upper room-sitting because they had reached an end of praying, and were now only waiting for the fulfillment of the promise, Acts 2:2-3.
Nothing is needed more absolutely than the answer by fire. There are many who, like the prophets of Baal, endeavor to kindle it. But when prevented from putting their own false fire into the stack of wood, they are paralyzed. The frantic entreaties, the self-inflicted wounds, the monotonous chant, are insufficient. They are carnal and arouse only the worst emotions. Spiritual conditions have to be fulfilled, as Elijah showed; then God bears witness "by signs and wonders" and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Kings 18

1  In the extremity of famine Elijah, sent to Ahab, meets good Obadiah
9  Obadiah brings Ahab to Elijah
17  Elijah, reproving Ahab, by fire from heaven convinces Baal's prophets
41  Elijah, by prayer obtaining rain, follows Ahab to Jezreel

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 18:23 mean?

Therefore let them give us two bulls and let them choose for themselves bull one cut it in pieces and lay [it] on the wood but fire no put [under it] and I will prepare - bull one and lay [it] put [under it]
וְיִתְּנוּ־ לָ֜נוּ שְׁנַ֣יִם פָּרִ֗ים וְיִבְחֲר֣וּ לָהֶם֩ הַפָּ֨ר הָאֶחָ֜ד וִֽינַתְּחֻ֗הוּ וְיָשִׂ֙ימוּ֙ עַל־ הָ֣עֵצִ֔ים וְאֵ֖שׁ לֹ֣א יָשִׂ֑ימוּ וַאֲנִ֞י אֶעֱשֶׂ֣ה ׀ אֶת־ הַפָּ֣ר הָאֶחָ֗ד וְנָֽתַתִּי֙ אָשִֽׂים

וְיִתְּנוּ־  Therefore  let  them  give 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לָ֜נוּ  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
שְׁנַ֣יִם  two 
Parse: Number, md
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
פָּרִ֗ים  bulls 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: פַּר  
Sense: .
וְיִבְחֲר֣וּ  and  let  them  choose 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
לָהֶם֩  for  themselves 
Parse: Preposition-l, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
הַפָּ֨ר  bull 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּר  
Sense: .
הָאֶחָ֜ד  one 
Parse: Article, Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
וִֽינַתְּחֻ֗הוּ  cut  it  in  pieces 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: נָתַח  
Sense: to cut, cut up, cut in pieces, divide.
וְיָשִׂ֙ימוּ֙  and  lay  [it] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
הָ֣עֵצִ֔ים  the  wood 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
וְאֵ֖שׁ  but  fire 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
לֹ֣א  no 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יָשִׂ֑ימוּ  put  [under  it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
וַאֲנִ֞י  and  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
אֶעֱשֶׂ֣ה ׀  will  prepare 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַפָּ֣ר  bull 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּר  
Sense: .
הָאֶחָ֗ד  one 
Parse: Article, Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
וְנָֽתַתִּי֙  and  lay  [it] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
אָשִֽׂים  put  [under  it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.

What are the major concepts related to 1 Kings 18:23?

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