1 Kings 18:24 Meaning and Explanation
“And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Elijah declares that the true God will be the one who answers by fire, and the people agree the test is fair.
What Does 1 Kings 18:24 Mean?
Elijah names the deciding sign: whichever God answers by sending fire is the true God. Fire was the very domain Baal claimed, so the test meets the idol on its own ground. The people approve, saying it is well spoken.
By calling on the name of the LORD, Elijah stakes everything on God's revealed character and power. The contest is not about clever argument but about who can act. The people, so silent before, now agree to let God Himself decide. There are moments when words must give way to demonstration, when the living God shows by His own hand that He alone is to be worshipped.
1 Kings 18:24 in the Original Language
shem (שֵׁם), 'name' -- in Scripture a name carries the person's character and power, so to call on the name is to call on the very being of God.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 18:24
What does 1 Kings 18:24 mean?
Elijah declares that the true God will be the one who answers by fire, and the people agree the test is fair.