Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, September 25th, 2024
the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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Read the Bible

New Living Translation

Romans 11:3

" Lord , they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Martyrdom;   Quotations and Allusions;   Salvation;   The Topic Concordance - Forsaking;   Gentiles/heathen;   Israel/jews;   Partaking;   Predestination;   Salvation;   Stumbling/slipping;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Church of Israel;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Church;   Elijah;   Remnant;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Elijah;   Person, Personhood;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Calvinists;   Incomprehensibility of God;   Jews;   Merit;   Omniscience of God;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Serpent;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Kings, the Books of;   Prophet;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Altar;   Elijah;   Romans, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Paul the Apostle;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Altar;   Elijah ;   Quotations;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Elijah;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for February 16;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
"Lord, they've ambushed and killed all of your true followers and torn down your special places. I'm all that's left and I'm being hunted like wolves after a rabbit."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE."
Legacy Standard Bible
"Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life."
Bible in Basic English
Lord, they have put your prophets to death, and made waste your altars, and now I am the last, and they are searching for me to take away my life.
Darby Translation
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have dug down thine altars; and *I* have been left alone, and they seek my life.
Christian Standard Bible®
Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life!
World English Bible
"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thy altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
Weymouth's New Testament
"Lord, they have put Thy Prophets to death, and have overthrown Thy altars; and, now that I alone remain, they are thirsting for my blood"?
King James Version (1611)
Lord, they haue killed thy Prophets, and digged downe thine Altars, and I am left alone, and they seeke my life.
Literal Translation
Lord, "they killed Your prophets," "and they dug down Your altars," "and only I am left, and they seek my life." 1 Kg. 19:10
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
LORDE, they haue slayne thy prophetes, & dydged downe thine altares, and I am lefte ouer onely, and they seke my life?
Mace New Testament (1729)
in these words, "Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I alone am left, and they seek my life also."
THE MESSAGE
There was a time not so long ago when you were on the outs with God. But then the Jews slammed the door on him and things opened up for you. Now they are on the outs. But with the door held wide open for you, they have a way back in. In one way or another, God makes sure that we all experience what it means to be outside so that he can personally open the door and welcome us back in. Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It's way over our heads. We'll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice? Everything comes from him; Everything happens through him; Everything ends up in him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes.
Amplified Bible
"Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT [of the prophets], AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE."
American Standard Version
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
Revised Standard Version
"Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have demolished thy altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Lorde they have kylled thy prophetes and dygged doune thyn alters: and I am lefte only and they seke my lyfe.
Update Bible Version
Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have dug down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
Webster's Bible Translation
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thy altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
Young's Literal Translation
`Lord, Thy prophets they did kill, and Thy altars they dug down, and I was left alone, and they seek my life;'
New Century Version
"Lord," he said, "they have killed your prophets, and they have destroyed your altars. I am the only prophet left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."
New English Translation
"Lord, they have killed your prophets , they have demolished your altars; I alone am left and they are seeking my life! "
Berean Standard Bible
"Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well"?
Contemporary English Version
He said, "Lord, they killed your prophets and destroyed your altars. I am the only one left, and now they want to kill me."
Complete Jewish Bible
" Adonai , they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars, and I'm the only one left, and now they want to kill me too!"
English Standard Version
"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life."
Geneva Bible (1587)
Lord, they haue killed thy Prophets, and digged downe thine altars: and I am left alone, and they seeke my life?
George Lamsa Translation
My LORD, they have killed your prophets and have demolished your altars; and I am left alone; and they seek my life.
Hebrew Names Version
"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life."
International Standard Version
"Lord, they have killed your prophets and demolished your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life."1 Kings 19:10,14">[fn]1 Kings 19:10,14;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
when he cried unto Aloha against Israel, saying, My Lord, thy prophets have they killed, and thy altars overthrown, and I alone am left, and they seek my soul ?
Murdock Translation
My Lord, they have slain thy prophets, and have thrown down thy altars; and I am left alone; and they seek my life.
New King James Version
"Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"? 1 Kings 19:10, 14">[fn]
New Life Bible
He said, "Lord, they have killed Your early preachers. They have destroyed the places where You are worshiped. I am the only one left. They are trying to kill me."
English Revised Version
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have digged down thine altars: and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
New Revised Standard
"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Lord! Thy prophets, have they slain, thine altars, have they overthrown, and, I, am left alone, and they are seeking my life!
Douay-Rheims Bible
Lord, they have slain thy prophets, they have dug down thy altars. And I am left alone: and they seek my life.
King James Version
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
Lexham English Bible
"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have torn down your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life!"
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Saying: Lord, they haue kylled thy prophetes, and dygged downe thyne aulters: and I am left alone, and they seke my lyfe.
Easy-to-Read Version
"Lord, they have killed your prophets and destroyed your altars. I am the only prophet still living, and they are trying to kill me now."
New American Standard Bible
"Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE."
Good News Translation
"Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Lord, thei han slayn thi prophetis, thei han vndurdoluun thin auteris, and Y am lefte aloone, and thei seken my lijf.

Contextual Overview

1 I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, 3 " Lord , they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." 4 And do you remember God's reply? He said, "No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!" 5 It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God's grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. 6 And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved. 7 So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. 8 As the Scriptures say, "God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear." 9 Likewise, David said, "Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve. 10 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Lord: 1 Kings 18:4, 1 Kings 18:13, 1 Kings 19:10-18, Nehemiah 9:26, Jeremiah 2:30

digged: 1 Kings 18:30, 1 Kings 18:31

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 18:22 - I only

Cross-References

Genesis 11:4
Then they said, "Come, let's build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world."
Genesis 11:6
"Look!" he said. "The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them!
Genesis 11:7
Come, let's go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won't be able to understand each other."
Genesis 11:18
When Peleg was 30 years old, he became the father of Reu.
Genesis 14:10
As it happened, the valley of the Dead Sea was filled with tar pits. And as the army of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into the tar pits, while the rest escaped into the mountains.
Exodus 1:14
They made their lives bitter, forcing them to mix mortar and make bricks and do all the work in the fields. They were ruthless in all their demands.
Exodus 2:3
But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River.
2 Samuel 12:31
He also made slaves of the people of Rabbah and forced them to labor with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and to work in the brick kilns. That is how he dealt with the people of all the Ammonite towns. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.
Psalms 64:5
They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret. "Who will ever notice?" they ask.
Proverbs 1:11
They may say, "Come and join us. Let's hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let's ambush the innocent!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Lord, they have killed thy prophets,.... By the order of Jezebel, wife of Ahab king of Israel, 1 Kings 18:4. This sin of slaying the prophets of the Lord is charged upon the Jews by Christ,

Matthew 23:31, and by the apostle, 1 Thessalonians 2:15. In the text in

1 Kings 19:14, it is added, "with the sword": which expresses the manner of death they were put to; and this clause is there put after the following, according to a rule of transposition among the Jews;

1 Kings 19:14- :.

And digged down thine altars; either the altars which the patriarchs had formerly built, and were still in being; and though not used, yet were kept and had in great veneration; wherefore the pulling of them down was done in contempt of them, and of the worship of God, which had been formerly performed there; or else such altars, which the religious among the ten tribes built, since the times of Jeroboam, who forbad them to go up to Jerusalem, but ordered them to go to Dan or Bethel; which they not choosing to do erected altars in different places for divine service, and which the Jews r say were allowed; for from that time, the prohibition of altars at other places than at Jerusalem ceased:

and I am left alone: meaning either as a prophet, not knowing that Obadiah had hid an hundred prophets by fifty in a cave, 1 Kings 18:4; or else as a worshipper of the true God, imagining that he was the only person in Israel, that had a true zeal for the Lord of hosts:

and they seek my life; lay in wait for it, Jezebel by her emissaries being in quest of him; it is added in 1 Kings 19:14, "to take it away"; for she had swore by her gods, that by the morrow about that time, his life should be as the life of one of the prophets of Baal he had slain; and in one copy it is added here.

r Kimchi in 1 Kings xviii. 30.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Lord, they have killed ... - This is taken from 1 Kings 19:10. The quotation is not literally made, but the sense is preserved. This was a charge which Elijah brought against the whole nation; and the act of killing the prophets he regarded as expressive of the character of the people, or that they were universally given to wickedness. The fact was true that they had killed the prophets, etc.; 1 Kings 18:4, 1 Kings 18:13; but the inference which Elijah seems to have drawn from it, that there were no pious people in the nation, was not well founded.

And digged down - Altars, by the Law of Moses, were required to be made of earth or unhewn stones; Exodus 20:24-25. Hence, the expression to dig them down means completely to demolish or destroy them.

Thine altars - There was one great altar in the front of the tabernacle and the temple, on which the daily sacrifices of the Jews were to be made. But they were not forbidden to make altars also elsewhere; Exodus 20:25. And hence they are mentioned as existing in other places; 1Sa 7:17; 1 Samuel 16:2-3; 1 Kings 18:30, 1 Kings 18:32. These were the altars of which Elijah complained as having been thrown down by the Jews; an act which was regarded as expressive of signal impiety.

I am left alone - I am the only prophet which is left alive. We are told that when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred of them and hid them in a cave; 1 Kings 18:4. But it is not improbable that they had been discovered and put to death by Ahab. The account which Obadiah gave Elijah when he met him 1 Kings 18:13 seems to favor such a supposition.

Seek my life - That is, Ahab and Jezebel seek to kill me. This they did because he had overcome and slain the prophets of Baal; 1 Kings 19:1-2. There could scarcely be conceived a time of greater distress and declension in religion than this. It has not often happened that so many things that were disheartening have occurred to the church at the same period of time. The prophets of God were slain; but one lonely man appeared to have zeal for true religion; the nation was running to idolatry; the civil rulers were criminally wicked, and were the leaders in the universal apostasy; and all the influences of wealth and power were setting in against the true religion to destroy it. It was natural that the solitary man of God should feel disheartened and lonely in this universal guilt; and should realize that he had no power to resist this tide of crime and calamities.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Romans 11:3. Lord, they have killed thy prophets — They will not permit any person to speak unto them in thy name; and they murder those who are faithful to the commission which they have received from thee.

Digged down thine altars — They are profligate and profane beyond example, and retain not the slightest form of religion.

I am left alone — There is no prophet besides myself left, and they seek to destroy me.


 
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