1 Kings 18:3
1 Kings 18:3 in Multiple Translations
and Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah greatly feared the LORD,
And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:
And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared Jehovah greatly:
And Ahab sent for Obadiah, the controller of the king's house. (Now Obadiah had the fear of the Lord before him greatly;
Ahab summoned Obadiah, the manager of his palace (Obadiah was a very sincere believer in the Lord.
And Ahab called Obadiah the gouernour of his house: (and Obadiah feared God greatly:
and Ahab calleth unto Obadiah, who [is] over the house — and Obadiah hath been fearing Jehovah greatly,
Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly;
And Ahab called Obadiah who was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:
And Achab called Abdias the governor of his house: now Abdias feared the Lord very much.
There was a man there named Obadiah. He was in charge of the king’s palace. He greatly revered Yahweh.
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Kings 18:3
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1 Kings 18:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Kings 18:3
Study Notes — 1 Kings 18:3
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Kings 18:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 18:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 18:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:3
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:3
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 18:3
- Barnes' Notes on 1 Kings 18:3
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:3
- Sermons on 1 Kings 18:3
Context — Elijah’s Message to Ahab
3and Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah greatly feared the LORD,
4for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.) 5Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go throughout the land to every spring and every valley. Perhaps we will find grass to keep the horses and mules alive so that we will not have to destroy any livestock.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nehemiah 7:2 | Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah the commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most. |
| 2 | 1 Kings 16:9 | However, while Elah was in Tirzah getting drunk in the house of Arza the steward of his household there, Elah’s servant Zimri, the commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. |
| 3 | Matthew 10:28 | Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. |
| 4 | 2 Kings 4:1 | Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!” |
| 5 | Genesis 39:4–5 | Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything he owned. From the time that he put Joseph in charge of his household and all he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s household on account of him. The LORD’s blessing was on everything he owned, both in his house and in his field. |
| 6 | Genesis 39:9 | No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?” |
| 7 | Proverbs 14:26 | He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. |
| 8 | Acts 10:2 | He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly. |
| 9 | Genesis 24:10 | Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim. |
| 10 | Acts 10:35 | but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. |
1 Kings 18:3 Summary
This verse tells us about a man named Obadiah who worked for King Ahab and greatly feared the Lord. Ahab called for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace, to help with a big problem - a severe famine, similar to the one in Genesis 41:54. Obadiah's fear of the Lord is an important example for us, as it shows that even in difficult situations, we can trust in God's goodness and sovereignty, as seen in Romans 8:28. Just like Obadiah, we can demonstrate our fear of the Lord by obeying Him and respecting His power, as encouraged in Psalm 111:10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Obadiah and why is he significant in this verse?
Obadiah was a man who greatly feared the Lord, as stated in 1 Kings 18:3, and he played a crucial role in hiding prophets of the Lord from Queen Jezebel's wrath, as seen in 1 Kings 18:4, similar to the way God protected His people in Exodus 2:2-10.
What does it mean that Obadiah greatly feared the Lord?
Fearing the Lord, as seen in 1 Kings 18:3, means having a deep respect and reverence for God, which is a foundational aspect of the Christian faith, as emphasized in Proverbs 1:7 and Psalm 111:10.
Why did Ahab summon Obadiah in this context?
Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace, likely due to his administrative role and possibly to utilize his knowledge and resources to address the severe famine, as mentioned in 1 Kings 18:2, similar to how Joseph was used by Pharaoh in Genesis 41:34-36.
How does this verse relate to the broader story of Elijah and Ahab?
This verse sets the stage for the encounter between Elijah and Ahab, as Elijah had been instructed by the Lord to present himself to Ahab, as seen in 1 Kings 18:1, and Obadiah's role becomes significant in facilitating their meeting, highlighting the sovereignty of God in 1 Kings 18:1 and Romans 8:28.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can demonstrate my fear of the Lord in my daily life, just like Obadiah?
- How can I, like Obadiah, use my position or influence to serve and protect God's people?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to trust in God's sovereignty, just as Elijah did when he presented himself to Ahab?
- In what ways can I show reverence and respect for God, just as Obadiah did, in my interactions with others and in my heart?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 18:3
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 18:3
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:3
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:3
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:3
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:3
Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 18:3
Barnes' Notes on 1 Kings 18:3
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:3
Sermons on 1 Kings 18:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
God Is Merciful; Ready to Pardon by Shane Idleman | Shane Idleman emphasizes God's mercy and readiness to pardon, drawing from Nehemiah's leadership in Jerusalem. He highlights the importance of faithfulness and reverence for God, a |
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What Is Real Christianity? by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the preacher passionately delivers the gospel of Jesus Christ, urging the listeners to repent and turn to God. He emphasizes the fallen nature of humanity, using ex |
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2 Corinthians Teaching - God Who Raises the Dead by K.P. Yohannan | K.P. Yohannan discusses the profound motivations behind Christian ministry as illustrated in 2 Corinthians, emphasizing the duality of the fear of the Lord and the love of Christ. |
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Against the Flow by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the speaker shares his experience of preaching in a public setting and facing disdain and mockery when he mentioned God and Jesus. He draws a parallel to the story |
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His Eye Is on the Sparrow by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher talks about the presence of Christ and how the Lord spoke to him. He presents a scenario where a person is faced with the option to quit and share thei |
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Voices From Hell Speaking to America - Part 4 by Alan Cairns | This sermon delves into the reality of hell as depicted in the Bible, emphasizing the urgent need for America to heed the voices from hell that testify to its existence. It challen |
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Communism, Islam, Sept 11, Soverenty of God - Part1 by Josef Tson | In this sermon, the speaker begins by acknowledging the important role of missionaries and their desire to share their stories and literature at mission conferences. He then shares |







