1 Kings 18:25
23 Get two bulls for us. Let the prophets of Baal choose one bull for themselves, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. And I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire.
24 Then you may call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered, “What you say is good.”
Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.”
26 And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made.
27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!”
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.”
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
- ASV
- 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 god, but put no fire under.
- DARBY
- And Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose one bullock for yourselves, and sacrifice it first; for ye are the many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire.
- BLB
- And Elijah said to the prophets of the Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare [it] first, for you⁺ [are] many. And call on the name of your⁺ god, and do not set a fire.”
- ÅB
- Da sa Elias til Ba'als profeter: Velg nå dere dere den ene okse og stell den til først, siden dere er flest, og påkall så deres guds navn! Men dere skal ikke tenne ild på.
- OTB
- Så sa Elia til Baals profeter: "Velg en okse for dere selv og forbered den først, siden dere er mange, og påkall navnet til deres gud, men legg ikke ild under den."
- B1930
- Da sa Elias til Ba'als profeter: Velg nu I eder den ene okse og stell den til først, siden I er flest, og påkall så eders guds navn! Men I skal ikke tende ild på.