The Meaning of 1 Kings 18:13 Explained

1 Kings 18:13

KJV: Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

YLT: 'Hath it not been declared to my lord that which I have done in Jezebel's slaying the prophets of Jehovah, that I hide of the prophets of Jehovah a hundred men, fifty by fifty in a cave, and sustained them with bread and water?

Darby: Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of Jehovah, how I hid a hundred men of Jehovah's prophets by fifty in a cave, and maintained them with bread and water?

ASV: Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of Jehovah, how I hid a hundred men of Jehovah's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Was it not told  my lord  what I did  when Jezebel  slew  the prophets  of the LORD,  how I hid  an hundred  men  of the LORD'S  prophets  by fifty  in a cave,  and fed  them with bread  and water? 

What does 1 Kings 18:13 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 18:1-15 - Behold, Elijah!
"The word of the Lord came" to Elijah on four successive occasions- 1 Kings 17:2; 1 Kings 17:8; 1 Kings 18:1; 1 Kings 19:9. God has many things to say to us, if we will only listen. His word may find us in very different places, and direct us to varied duties; but to live by it is to execute the perfect plan of life.
Obadiah was a good man, but weak. He did his best to shield the prophets and to keep the true light from becoming extinguished- 1 Kings 18:13. But court favor had corrupted him. He stood before Ahab, while Elijah stood before God. Our Lord said that soft raiment and the king's court go together, Luke 7:25; and in the enervating atmosphere of a palace, it is granted to very few to retain the spirit and power of Elijah or of the Baptist. Who would not rather be Elijah than Obadiah! Elijah dared confront Ahab as the troubler of Israel, while Obadiah daily feared for his own life. Elijah rooted up idolatry, while Obadiah endeavored only to check its excesses. Obadiah sought grass for the royal steeds, but Elijah's prayer brought the rain. Let us dare to stand for God, though we stand alone! [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 18:13 mean?

Was not it reported to my lord - what I did when killed Jezebel the prophets of Yahweh and how I hid of the prophets of Yahweh a hundred men fifty [by] fifty - to a cave and fed them with bread and water
הֲלֹֽא־ הֻגַּ֤ד לַֽאדֹנִי֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־ עָשִׂ֔יתִי בַּהֲרֹ֣ג אִיזֶ֔בֶל נְבִיאֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וָאַחְבִּא֩ מִנְּבִיאֵ֨י יְהוָ֜ה מֵ֣אָה אִ֗ישׁ חֲמִשִּׁ֨ים חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אִישׁ֙ בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה וָאֲכַלְכְּלֵ֖ם לֶ֥חֶם ؟ וָמָֽיִם

הֲלֹֽא־  Was  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הֻגַּ֤ד  it  reported 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
לַֽאדֹנִי֙  to  my  lord 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
אֵ֣ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עָשִׂ֔יתִי  I  did 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
בַּהֲרֹ֣ג  when  killed 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: הָרַג  
Sense: to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand.
אִיזֶ֔בֶל  Jezebel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִיזֶבֶל  
Sense: queen of Israel, wife of Ahab, daughter of Ethbaal.
נְבִיאֵ֣י  the  prophets 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
יְהוָ֑ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וָאַחְבִּא֩  and  how  I  hid 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: חָבָא  
Sense: to withdraw, hide.
מִנְּבִיאֵ֨י  of  the  prophets 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
יְהוָ֜ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מֵ֣אָה  a  hundred 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: מֵאָה 
Sense: hundred.
אִ֗ישׁ  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
חֲמִשִּׁ֨ים  fifty 
Parse: Number, common plural
Root: חֲמִשִּׁים 
Sense: fifty.
חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים  [by]  fifty 
Parse: Number, common plural
Root: חֲמִשִּׁים 
Sense: fifty.
אִישׁ֙  - 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה  to  a  cave 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְעָרָה  
Sense: cave, den, hole.
וָאֲכַלְכְּלֵ֖ם  and  fed  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular, third person masculine plural
Root: כּוּל  
Sense: to seize, contain, measure.
לֶ֥חֶם  with  bread 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.
؟ וָמָֽיִם  and  water 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.