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Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

1 Kings 18:7

Obadiah went his way and suddenly there he was—Elijah! Obadiah fell on his knees, bowing in reverence, and exclaimed, "Is it really you—my master Elijah?"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Doubting;   Elijah;   Extradition;   Obadiah;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Carmel;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Obadiah;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Gods and Goddesses, Pagan;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hospitality;   Zeal;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Kings, 1 and 2;   Obadiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ahab;   Carmel;   Elijah;   Haggai;   Obadiah;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Prayer (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Obadiah ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Mount carmel;   Obadiah;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Elijah;   Jezebel;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Obadi'ah;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Ashtaroth;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Israel;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Obadiah;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
While Obadiah was walking along the road, Elijah suddenly met him. When Obadiah recognized him, he fell facedown and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
Hebrew Names Version
As `Ovadyah was in the way, behold, Eliyah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Is it you, my lord Eliyah?
King James Version
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?
English Standard Version
And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. And Obadiah recognized him and fell on his face and said, "Is it you, my lord Elijah?"
New Century Version
While Obadiah was on his way, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized Elijah, so he bowed down to the ground and said, "Elijah? Is it really you, master?"
New English Translation
As Obadiah was traveling along, Elijah met him. When he recognized him, he fell facedown to the ground and said, "Is it really you, my master, Elijah?"
Amplified Bible
As Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. He recognized him and fell face downward [out of respect] and said, "Is it you, my lord Elijah?"
New American Standard Bible
Now as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him, and he recognized him and fell on his face and said, "Is it you, Elijah my master?"
Geneva Bible (1587)
And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Eliiah met him: & he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art not thou my lord Eliiah?
Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened that as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him, and he recognized him and fell on his face and said, "Is this you, Elijah my master?"
Contemporary English Version
As Obadiah was walking along, he met Elijah. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down, and asked, "Elijah, is it really you?"
Complete Jewish Bible
‘Ovadyah was on the road when suddenly Eliyahu encountered him. ‘Ovadyah recognized him, fell on his face and said, "Is it really you, my lord Eliyahu?"
Darby Translation
And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him; and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Is it indeed thou, my lord Elijah?
Easy-to-Read Version
As Obadiah was walking along the road by himself, he looked up, and there was Elijah. Obadiah recognized him and bowed down to show his respect. He said, "Elijah? Is it really you, master?"
George Lamsa Translation
And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him; and he recognized him, and fell on his face and said, Is that you, my lord Elijah?
Good News Translation
As Obadiah was on his way, he suddenly met Elijah. He recognized him, bowed low before him, and asked, "Is it really you, sir?"
Lexham English Bible
It happened that Obadiah was on the way, and suddenly Elijah was there to meet him. When he recognized him, he fell on his face and said, "Is this you, my lord Elijah?"
Literal Translation
And Obadiah was in the highway; and behold, Elijah came to meet him. And he recognized him, and he fell on his face, and said, Are you this one, my lord Elijah?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Now whan Abdia was on ye waye, Elias met him. And whan he knewe him, he fell downe vpon his face, & sayde: Art not thou my lorde Elias?
American Standard Version
And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Is it thou, my lord Elijah?
Bible in Basic English
And while Obadiah was on his way, he came face to face with Elijah; and seeing who it was, he went down on his face and said, Is it you, my lord Elijah?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And it chaunced that as Obadia was in the way, beholde Elias met him, and he knew him, and fell on his face, and saide: Art not thou my lorde Elias?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him; and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said: 'Is it thou, my lord Elijah?'
King James Version (1611)
And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Eliiah met him: and hee knew him, and fell on his face, and said; Art thou that my lord Eliiah?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Abdiu was alone in the way; and Eliu came alone to meet him: and Abdiu hasted, and fell upon his face, and said, My lord Eliu, art thou indeed he?
English Revised Version
And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Is it thou, my lord Elijah?
Berean Standard Bible
Now as Obadiah went on his way, Elijah suddenly met him. When Obadiah recognized him, he fell facedown and said, "Is it you, my lord Elijah?"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne Abdie was in the weie, Elie mette hym; and whanne he hadde knowe Elie, he felde on his face, and seide, Whethir thou art my lord Elie?
Young's Literal Translation
and Obadiah [is] in the way, and lo, Elijah -- to meet him; and he discerneth him, and falleth on his face, and saith, `Art thou he -- my lord Elijah?'
Update Bible Version
And as Obadiah was in the way, look, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Is it you, my lord Elijah?
Webster's Bible Translation
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?
World English Bible
As Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Is it you, my lord Elijah?
New King James Version
Now as Obadiah was on his way, suddenly Elijah met him; and he recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, "Is that you, my lord Elijah?"
New Living Translation
As Obadiah was walking along, he suddenly saw Elijah coming toward him. Obadiah recognized him at once and bowed low to the ground before him. "Is it really you, my lord Elijah?" he asked.
New Life Bible
As Obadiah was on the way, Elijah met him. Obadiah knew who he was, and fell on his face and said, "Is it you, my lord Elijah?"
New Revised Standard
As Obadiah was on the way, Elijah met him; Obadiah recognized him, fell on his face, and said, "Is it you, my lord Elijah?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And so it was, as Obadiah was on the road, that lo! Elijah, met him, - and he recognised him, and fell upon his face, and said - Now art, thou, my lord Elijah?
Douay-Rheims Bible
And as Abdias was in the way, Elias met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said: Art thou my lord Elias?
Revised Standard Version
And as Obadi'ah was on the way, behold, Eli'jah met him; and Obadi'ah recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, "Is it you, my lord Eli'jah?"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him, and he recognized him and fell on his face and said, "Is this you, Elijah my master?"

Contextual Overview

1A long time passed. Then God 's word came to Elijah. The drought was now in its third year. The message: "Go and present yourself to Ahab; I'm about to make it rain on the country." Elijah set out to present himself to Ahab. The drought in Samaria at the time was most severe. 3Ahab called for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. Obadiah feared God —he was very devout. Earlier, when Jezebel had tried to kill off all the prophets of God , Obadiah had hidden away a hundred of them in two caves, fifty in a cave, and then supplied them with food and water. 5Ahab ordered Obadiah, "Go through the country; locate every spring and every stream. Let's see if we can find enough grass to keep our horses and mules from dying." So they divided the country between them for the search—Ahab went one way, Obadiah the other. 7 Obadiah went his way and suddenly there he was—Elijah! Obadiah fell on his knees, bowing in reverence, and exclaimed, "Is it really you—my master Elijah?" 8 "Yes," said Elijah, "the real me. Now go and tell your boss, ‘I've seen Elijah.'" 9Obadiah said, "But what have I done to deserve this? Ahab will kill me. As surely as your God lives, there isn't a country or kingdom where my master hasn't sent out search parties looking for you. And if they said, ‘We can't find him; we've looked high and low,' he would make that country or kingdom swear that you were not to be found. And now you're telling me, ‘Go and tell your master Elijah's found!' The minute I leave you the Spirit of God will whisk you away to who knows where. Then when I report to Ahab, you'll have disappeared and Ahab will kill me. And I've served God devoutly since I was a boy! Hasn't anyone told you what I did when Jezebel was out to kill the prophets of God , how I risked my life by hiding a hundred of them, fifty to a cave, and made sure they got food and water? And now you're telling me to draw attention to myself by announcing to my master, ‘Elijah's been found.' Why, he'll kill me for sure." 15 Elijah said, "As surely as God -of-the-Angel-Armies lives, and before whom I take my stand, I'll meet with your master face-to-face this very day." 16 So Obadiah went straight to Ahab and told him. And Ahab went out to meet Elijah.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

was in the way: 1 Kings 11:29

he knew: 2 Kings 1:6-8, Matthew 3:4, Matthew 11:8

fell on: Genesis 18:2, Genesis 50:18, 1 Samuel 20:41, 2 Samuel 19:18, Isaiah 60:14

my lord Elijah: Genesis 18:12, Genesis 44:16, Genesis 44:20, Genesis 44:33, Numbers 12:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 42:10 - General 2 Kings 2:19 - my Lord seeth Daniel 4:19 - My Lord

Cross-References

Genesis 18:15
Sarah lied. She said, "I didn't laugh," because she was afraid. But he said, "Yes you did; you laughed."
Genesis 18:16
When the men got up to leave, they set off for Sodom. Abraham walked with them to say good-bye.
Genesis 19:3
But he insisted, wouldn't take no for an answer; and they relented and went home with him. Lot fixed a hot meal for them and they ate.
Malachi 1:14
"A curse on the person who makes a big show of doing something great for me—an expensive sacrifice, say—and then at the last minute brings in something puny and worthless! I'm a great king, God -of-the-Angel-Armies, honored far and wide, and I'll not put up with it!"
Matthew 22:4
"He sent out another round of servants, instructing them to tell the guests, ‘Look, everything is on the table, the prime rib is ready for carving. Come to the feast!'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And as Obadiah was in the way,.... In his district, making his observations:

behold, Elijah met him: where is not said; but he was, no doubt, upon the road from Zarephath to Samaria:

and he knew him that is, Obadiah knew Elijah, having seen him at Ahab's court before he absconded:

and fell on his face, and said, art thou that my lord Elijah? thus doing him honour and reverence both by words and gesture, as being an extraordinary prophet of the Lord.


 
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