1 Kings 18:27

²⁵ 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.

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!”

²⁸ So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them.

²⁹ Midday passed, and they kept on raving until the time of the evening sacrifice. But there was no response; no one answered, no one paid attention.

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: 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!”
KJV: And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
WEB: At noon, Elijah mocked them, and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is deep in thought, or he has gone somewhere, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he sleeps and must be awakened.”
ASV: And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud; for he is a god: either he is musing, or he is gone aside, or he is on a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth and must be awaked.
DARBY: And it came to pass at noon that Elijah mocked them and said, Cry aloud; for he is a god; for he is meditating, or gone aside, or he is on a journey; perhaps he sleeps, and will awake.
BLB: And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out in a louder voice, for he [is] a god. Either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, [or] perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”

ÅB: Men da det var blitt middag, spottet Elias dem og sa: Rop høyere! Han er jo Gud; han er vel falt i tanker, eller han er gått avsides eller er ute på reise; kanskje han sover - så vil han vel våkne.
OTB: Ved middagstid hånte Elia dem og sa: "Rop høyt, siden han er en gud; kanskje han er fordypet i tanker, eller er på vei, eller er på en reise; kanskje han sover og vil våkne!"
B1930: Men da det var blitt middag, spottet Elias dem og sa: Rop høiere! Han er jo Gud; han er vel falt i tanker, eller han er gått avsides eller er ute på reise; kanskje han sover - så vil han vel våkne.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 41:23
Tell us the things that are to come, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do something good or evil, that we may look on together in dismay.
Read in context
Psalms 78:65–66
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a mighty warrior overcome by wine.
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 11:9
Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
Read in context
Mark 4:38–39
But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”
Read in context
2 Chronicles 25:8
Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will make you stumble before the enemy, for God has power to help and power to overthrow.”
Read in context
Isaiah 44:15–17
It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it to warm himself, and he kindles a fire and bakes his bread; he even fashions it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.
Read in context
Psalms 44:23
Wake up, O Lord! Why are You sleeping? Arise! Do not reject us forever.
Read in context
Mark 14:41
When Jesus returned the third time, He said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? That is enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Read in context