Elijah
אֵלִיָּה · e.liy.yah · H0452GἩλίας · Hēlias · G2243“God the Lord, the strong Lord” Hitchcock's 186992 mentions in 10 books, most in 1 Kings (38)
Who he was
Elijah was a prominent prophet in Israel during the reigns of King Ahab and his son Ahaziah (1Ki.17-2Ki.2). He is introduced as a Tishbite from Gilead, who proclaimed a drought in Israel as a judgment from God (1 Kings 17:1). During the drought, God miraculously provided for Elijah through ravens and a widow in Zarephath (1 Kings 17:2–16). Elijah famously confronted the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, demonstrating the power of the true God and exposing the false prophets (1Ki.18). He also confronted King Ahab and Queen Jezebel for their wickedness, particularly in the case of Naboth's vineyard (1Ki.21). Elijah anointed Elisha as his successor and was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, leaving behind his mantle for Elisha (2Ki.2). He is mentioned in the New Testament as a forerunner to John the Baptist (Matthew 11:14; Luke 1:17) and as appearing with Moses at Jesus' transfiguration (Matthew 17:3–4; Mark 9:4–5; Luke 9:30–33). Elijah is also referenced as an example of powerful prayer (James 5:17–18) and as a prophet whom God had preserved a remnant of faithful Israelites (Romans 11:2–4). The prophet Malachi foretold that Elijah would return before the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5–6).
Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0
Every mention
92 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
1 Kings38 mentions
1 Kings 17:1Elijah the Tishbite, who was one of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but…1 Kings 17:13Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go and do as you have said; but make me a little cake from it first, and bring it out to me, and afterward make some for you and for your son.1 Kings 17:15She went and did according to the saying of Elijah; and she, he, and her household ate many days.1 Kings 17:16The jar of meal didn’t run out and the jar of oil didn’t fail, according to Yahweh’s word, which he spoke by Elijah.1 Kings 17:18She said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, you man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son!”1 Kings 17:22Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.1 Kings 17:23Elijah took the child and brought him down out of the room into the house, and delivered him to his mother; and Elijah said, “Behold, your son lives.”1 Kings 17:24The woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that Yahweh’s word in your mouth is truth.”1 Kings 18:1After many days, Yahweh’s word came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth.”1 Kings 18:2Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria.1 Kings 18:7As Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. He recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”1 Kings 18:8He answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here!’”1 Kings 18:11Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’1 Kings 18:14Now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”.’ He will kill me.”1 Kings 18:15Elijah said, “As Yahweh of Armies lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”1 Kings 18:16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.1 Kings 18:17When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”1 Kings 18:21Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people didn’t say a word.1 Kings 18:22Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left as a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men.1 Kings 18:25Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”1 Kings 18:27At 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.”1 Kings 18:30Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me!”; and all the people came near to him. He repaired Yahweh’s altar that had been thrown down.1 Kings 18:31Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom Yahweh’s word came, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”1 Kings 18:36At the time of the evening offering, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that…1 Kings 18:40Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let one of them escape!” They seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there.1 Kings 18:41Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.”1 Kings 18:42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down on the earth, and put his face between his knees.1 Kings 18:46Yahweh’s hand was on Elijah; and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.1 Kings 19:1Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.1 Kings 19:2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don’t make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time!”1 Kings 19:9He came to a cave there, and camped there; and behold, Yahweh’s word came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”1 Kings 19:13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”1 Kings 19:19So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and put his mantle on…1 Kings 19:20Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me please kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” He said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?”1 Kings 19:21He returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, killed them, and boiled their meat with the oxen’s equipment, and gave to the people; and they ate. Then he arose, and went after…1 Kings 21:17Yahweh’s word came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,1 Kings 21:20Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do that which is evil in Yahweh’s sight.1 Kings 21:28Yahweh’s word came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
2 Kings22 mentions
2 Kings 1:3But Yahweh’s angel said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and tell them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you go to inquire…2 Kings 1:4Now therefore Yahweh says, “You will not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you will surely die.”’” Then Elijah departed.2 Kings 1:8They answered him, “He was a hairy man, and wearing a leather belt around his waist.” He said, “It’s Elijah the Tishbite.”2 Kings 1:10Elijah answered to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty!” Then fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and…2 Kings 1:12Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty!” Then God’s fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.2 Kings 1:13Again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. The third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, and said to him, “Man of God…2 Kings 1:15Yahweh’s angel said to Elijah, “Go down with him. Don’t be afraid of him.” Then he arose and went down with him to the king.2 Kings 1:17So he died according to Yahweh’s word which Elijah had spoken. Jehoram began to reign in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, because he had no son.2 Kings 2:1When Yahweh was about to take Elijah up by a whirlwind into heaven, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.2 Kings 2:2Elijah said to Elisha, “Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me as far as Bethel.” Elisha said, “As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.2 Kings 2:4Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho.” He said, “As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.2 Kings 2:6Elijah said to him, “Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan.” He said, “As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” Then they both went on.2 Kings 2:8Elijah took his mantle, and rolled it up, and struck the waters; and they were divided here and there, so that they both went over on dry ground.2 Kings 2:9When they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me.”2 Kings 2:11As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.2 Kings 2:13He also took up Elijah’s mantle that fell from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.2 Kings 2:14He took Elijah’s mantle that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” When he also had struck the waters, they were divided apart, and Elisha…2 Kings 2:15When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho facing him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.2 Kings 3:11But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahweh here, that we may inquire of Yahweh by him?” One of the king of Israel’s servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat, who poured…2 Kings 9:36Therefore they came back, and told him. He said, “This is Yahweh’s word, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘The dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel on the plot of…2 Kings 10:10Know now that nothing will fall to the earth of Yahweh’s word, which Yahweh spoke concerning Ahab’s house. For Yahweh has done that which he spoke by his servant Elijah.”2 Kings 10:17When he came to Samaria, he struck all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, until he had destroyed them, according to Yahweh’s word which he spoke to Elijah.
Malachi1 mention
Matthew9 mentions
Matthew 11:14If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.Matthew 16:14They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”Matthew 17:3Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.Matthew 17:4Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”Matthew 17:10His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”Matthew 17:11Jesus answered them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things;Matthew 17:12but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.”Matthew 27:47Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”Matthew 27:49The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”
Mark9 mentions
Mark 6:15But others said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a prophet, or like one of the prophets.”Mark 8:28They told him, “John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, but others, one of the prophets.”Mark 9:4Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus.Mark 9:5Peter answered Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”Mark 9:11They asked him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”Mark 9:12He said to them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and restores all things. How is it written about the Son of Man, that he should suffer many things and be despised?Mark 9:13But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they have also done to him whatever they wanted to, even as it is written about him.”Mark 15:35Some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.”Mark 15:36One ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down.”
Luke8 mentions
Luke 1:17He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared…Luke 4:25But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land.Luke 4:26Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.Luke 9:8and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.Luke 9:19They answered, “‘John the Baptizer,’ but others say, ‘Elijah,’ and others, that one of the old prophets has risen again.”Luke 9:30Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah,Luke 9:33As they were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he said.Luke 9:54When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky and destroy them, just as Elijah did?”
John2 mentions
What the dictionary says
Whose God is Jehovah.
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Read the article →Sources
- STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
- Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain