Elijah
maleDivided MonarchyMeaning: “My God is the LORD (Yahweh)”
The fiery prophet who confronted King Ahab and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind without dying.
Biography
Elijah the Tishbite burst onto the scene in the darkest days of the northern kingdom, when Ahab and Jezebel had led Israel into the worship of Baal. Bold, solitary, and utterly devoted to the LORD, he became the model of the prophet — so much so that Scripture promised his "return" before the day of the LORD (Malachi 4:5).
The drought
Elijah announced a drought as judgment on Baal worship: "there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word" (1 Kings 17:1). God sustained him by ravens at the brook Cherith, then through the widow of Zarephath, whose oil and meal did not fail and whose son he raised from death (1 Kings 17).
Contest on Mount Carmel
Elijah challenged the 450 prophets of Baal to a contest of sacrifice. When Baal was silent, the LORD answered Elijah's prayer with fire from heaven, and the people cried, "The LORD, he is the God" (1 Kings 18:39).
The still small voice
Fleeing Jezebel's threats into the wilderness, the exhausted prophet met God not in wind, earthquake, or fire, but in "a still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12), and was recommissioned and given Elisha as his successor.
Taken up to heaven
At the end of his ministry Elijah did not die but was carried up "by a whirlwind into heaven," his mantle falling to Elisha (2 Kings 2:11).
Legacy
Elijah appeared with Moses at the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:3), and the New Testament identifies John the Baptist as coming "in the spirit and power of Elias" (Luke 1:17). James cites him as proof that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:17).
Life Timeline
Announces a drought on idolatrous Israel
Raises the widow of Zarephath’s son
Defeats the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel
Meets God in the still small voice at Horeb
Taken up to heaven in a whirlwind
On the Bible timeline
Elijah belongs to the The Divided Monarchy era (c. 930 – 586 BC).
- c. 930 BCThe Kingdom Divides
- 722 BCThe Fall of Samaria
- 586 BCThe Fall of Jerusalem
Themes & lessons from Elijah
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Elijah appears.
People they appear with
Places in their story
Things in their story
Scripture Appearances
92 verses in 10 books1 Kings38 verses
1 Kings 17:1
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. Elijah: Heb. Elijahu: Gr. Elias
1 Kings 17:13
And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
1 Kings 17:15
And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. many: or, a full year
1 Kings 17:16
And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah. by: Heb. by the hand of
1 Kings 17:18
And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
1 Kings 17:22
And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
1 Kings 17:23
And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
1 Kings 17:24
And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
1 Kings 18:1
And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
1 Kings 18:2
And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.
1 Kings 18:7
And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?
1 Kings 18:8
And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
1 Kings 18:11
And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
1 Kings 18:14
And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.
1 Kings 18:15
And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.
1 Kings 18:16
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
1 Kings 18:17
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
1 Kings 18:21
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. opinions: or, thoughts
1 Kings 18:22
Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
1 Kings 18:25
And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
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. aloud: Heb. with a great voice he is talking: or, he meditateth is pursuing: Heb. hath a pursuit
1 Kings 18:30
And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
1 Kings 18:31
And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
1 Kings 18:36
And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
1 Kings 18:40
And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. Take: or, Apprehend
1 Kings 18:41
And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. a sound: or, a sound of a noise of rain
1 Kings 18:42
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
1 Kings 18:46
And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. to the: Heb. till thou come to Jezreel
1 Kings 19:1
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
1 Kings 19:2
Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
1 Kings 19:9
And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
1 Kings 19:13
And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
1 Kings 19:19
So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
1 Kings 19:20
And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? Go: Heb. Go return
1 Kings 19:21
And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
1 Kings 21:17
And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
1 Kings 21:20
And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.
1 Kings 21:28
And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
2 Kings22 verses
2 Kings 1:3
But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?
2 Kings 1:4
Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed. Thou shalt: Heb. The bed whither thou art gone up, thou shalt not come down from it
2 Kings 1:8
And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.
2 Kings 1:10
And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
2 Kings 1:12
And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
2 Kings 1:13
And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. fell: Heb. bowed
2 Kings 1:15
And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.
2 Kings 1:17
So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.
2 Kings 2:1
And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 Kings 2:2
And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
2 Kings 2:4
And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
2 Kings 2:6
And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
2 Kings 2:8
And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
2 Kings 2:9
And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
2 Kings 2:11
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
2 Kings 2:13
He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; bank: Heb. lip
2 Kings 2:14
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
2 Kings 2:15
And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
2 Kings 3:11
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
2 Kings 9:36
Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: by: Heb. by the hand of
2 Kings 10:10
Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah. by: Heb. by the hand of
2 Kings 10:17
And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah.
2 Chronicles1 verse
2 Chronicles 21:12
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
Malachi1 verse
Malachi 4:5
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Matthew9 verses
Matthew 11:14
And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
Matthew 16:14
And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Matthew 17:3
And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Matthew 17:4
Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Matthew 17:10
And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
Matthew 17:11
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
Matthew 17:12
But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
Matthew 27:47
Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
Matthew 27:49
The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
Mark9 verses
Mark 6:15
Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.
Mark 8:28
And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
Mark 9:4
And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
Mark 9:5
And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Mark 9:11
And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
Mark 9:12
And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.
Mark 9:13
But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
Mark 15:35
And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
Mark 15:36
And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.
Luke8 verses
Luke 1:17
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. to the wisdom: or, by the wisdom
Luke 4:25
But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
Luke 4:26
But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
Luke 9:8
And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.
Luke 9:19
They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.
Luke 9:30
And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
Luke 9:33
And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
Luke 9:54
And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
John2 verses
Romans1 verse
Romans 11:2
God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.2228 Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, of Elias: Gr. in Elias?
James1 verse
James 5:17
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. subject: of the same nature, that is, a fellow mortal earnestly: or, in his prayer
Frequently asked about Elijah
Who was Elijah in the Bible?
The fiery prophet who confronted King Ahab and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind without dying.
What does the name Elijah mean?
The name Elijah means “My God is the LORD (Yahweh)”.
What did Elijah do in the Bible?
Elijah served as prophet.
Where does Elijah appear in the Bible?
Elijah is mentioned 92 times across 10 books: 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Malachi, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Romans, James.
What can we learn from Elijah?
The story of Elijah touches on themes of miracles wrought through servants of god, prophets, ascension, zarephath — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Elijah's life.
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