1 Kings 18:21 “Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you wav…”

1 Kings 18:21

Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

World English Bible

Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people didn’t say a word.

American Standard Version

And Elijah came near unto all the people, and said, How long go ye limping between the two sides? if Jehovah be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

Geneva Bible 1599

And Eliiah came vnto all the people, and said, How long halt ye betweene two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal be he, then goe after him. And the people answered him not a worde.

Darby Translation

Then Elijah drew near to all the people, and said, How long do ye halt between two opinions? if Jehovah be God, follow him; and if Baal, follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

Young's Literal Translation

and Elijah cometh nigh unto all the people, and saith, 'Till when are ye leaping on the two branches? — if Jehovah [is] God, go after Him; and if Baal, go after him;' and the people have not answered him a word.

Bible in Basic English

And Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you go on balancing between two opinions? if the Lord is God, then give worship to him; but if Baal, give worship to him. And the people said not a word in answer.

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Cross references

“How long”

Matthew 6:24 2 Corinthians 6:14–16 2 Kings 17:41 Zephaniah 1:5 Deuteronomy 4:35 Romans 6:16–22

Matthew 6:24 · BSB

No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

2 Corinthians 6:14–16 · BSB

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

2 Kings 17:41 · BSB

So these nations worshiped the LORD but also served their idols, and to this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.

Zephaniah 1:5 · BSB

those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom,

Deuteronomy 4:35 · BSB

You were shown these things so that you would know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides Him.

Romans 6:16–22 · BSB

Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?

“if the Lord”

Joshua 24:15 1 Samuel 7:3 Psalm 100:3 1 Kings 18:39 2 Chronicles 33:13 1 Chronicles 17:26

Joshua 24:15 · BSB

But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you a…

1 Samuel 7:3 · BSB

Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He w…

Psalm 100:3 · BSB

Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

1 Kings 18:39 · BSB

When all the people saw this, they fell facedown and said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”

2 Chronicles 33:13 · BSB

And when he prayed to Him, the LORD received his plea and heard his petition. So He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

1 Chronicles 17:26 · BSB

And now, O LORD, You are God! And You have promised this goodness to Your servant.

“answered”

Genesis 24:50 Genesis 44:16 Matthew 22:12 Matthew 22:36 Matthew 22:34 Romans 3:19

Genesis 24:50 · BSB

Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter.

Genesis 44:16 · BSB

“What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”

Matthew 22:12 · BSB

‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless.

Matthew 22:36 · BSB

“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?”

Matthew 22:34 · BSB

And when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they themselves gathered together.

Romans 3:19 · BSB

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

20So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.

22Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.

Read 1 Kings 18