1 Kings 18:44
New International Version
The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”

New Living Translation
Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’”

English Standard Version
And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’”

Berean Standard Bible
On the seventh time the servant reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” And Elijah replied, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”

King James Bible
And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

New King James Version
Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
And when he returned the seventh time, he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a person’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And Elijah said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Harness your chariot horses and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’”

NASB 1995
It came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’”

NASB 1977
And it came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the rain does not stop you.’”

Amplified Bible
And at the seventh time the servant said, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And Elijah said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the rain shower does not stop you.’”

Christian Standard Bible
On the seventh time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming up from the sea.” Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
On the seventh time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming from the sea.” Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’”

American Standard Version
And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a cloud out of the sea, as small as a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Make ready thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

Contemporary English Version
After the seventh time the servant replied, "I see a small cloud coming this way. But it's no bigger than a fist." Elijah told him, "Tell Ahab to get his chariot ready and start home now. Otherwise, the rain will stop him."

English Revised Version
And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a cloud out of the sea, as small as a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Make ready thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
After the seventh time the servant said, "A little cloud like a man's hand is coming from the sea." Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Prepare [ your chariot], and leave before the rain delays you.'"

Good News Translation
The seventh time he returned and said, "I saw a little cloud no bigger than a man's hand, coming up from the sea." Elijah ordered his servant, "Go to King Ahab and tell him to get in his chariot and go back home before the rain stops him."

International Standard Version
On the seventh look, he said, "Look! There's a cloud, a small one, about the size of a man's hand. It's coming up out of the sea!" "Get up and find Ahab!" Elijah said. "Tell him, 'Mount your chariot and ride down the mountain so the storm doesn't stop you.'"

Majority Standard Bible
On the seventh time the servant reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” And Elijah replied, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”

NET Bible
The seventh time the servant said, "Look, a small cloud, the size of the palm of a man's hand, is rising up from the sea." Elijah then said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up the chariots and go down, so that the rain won't overtake you.'"

New Heart English Bible
It happened at the seventh time, that he said, "Look, a small cloud, like a man's hand, is rising out of the sea." He said, "Go up, tell Ahab, 'Get ready and go down, so that the rain doesn't stop you.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say to Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and go down, that the rain may not hinder thee.

World English Bible
On the seventh time, he said, “Behold, a small cloud, like a man’s hand, is rising out of the sea.” He said, “Go up, tell Ahab, ‘Get ready and go down, so that the rain doesn’t stop you.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it comes to pass, at the seventh, that he says, “Behold, a little thickness as the palm of a man is coming up out of the sea.” And he says, “Go up, say to Ahab, Bind and go down, and the shower does not restrain you.”

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, at the seventh, that he saith, 'Lo, a little thickness as the palm of a man is coming up out of the sea.' And he saith, 'Go up, say unto Ahab, 'Bind -- and go down, and the shower doth not restrain thee.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And it will be in the seventh, and he will say, Behold, a little cloud as the hand of a man, coming up from the sea. And he will say, Go up; say to Ahab, Harness; go down, and the rain shall not hinder thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And at the seventh time, behold, a little cloud arose out of the sea like a man's foot. And he said: Go up and say to Achab: Prepare thy chariot and go down, lest the rain prevent thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And at the seventh time, behold, a little cloud ascended from the sea like the footstep of a man. And he said: “Ascend, and say to Ahab, ‘Yoke your chariot, and descend; otherwise, the rain may prevent you.’ ”

New American Bible
And the seventh time the youth reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Elijah said, “Go and say to Ahab, ‘Harness up and go down the mountain before the rain stops you.’ ”

New Revised Standard Version
At the seventh time he said, “Look, a little cloud no bigger than a person’s hand is rising out of the sea.” Then he said, “Go say to Ahab, ‘Harness your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And at the seventh time, he said, Behold, there is a little cloud like a man's hand rising out of the sea. And he said to him, Go up, say to Ahab, Mount your horse, and get down before the rain stops you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And at the seventh time, he said: “I saw and behold, a small cloud like the palm of a hand coming up from the sea!” And he said to him: “Go up, say to Akhab: ‘Ride and come down before the rain will stop you!’”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said: 'Behold, there ariseth a cloud out of the sea, as small as a man's hand.' And he said: 'Go up, say unto Ahab: Make ready thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the servant went again seven times: and it came to pass at the seventh time, that, behold, a little cloud like the sole of a man's foot brought water; and he said, Go up, and say to Achaab, make ready thy chariot, and go down, lest the rain overtake thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD Sends Rain
43“Go and look toward the sea,” he said to his servant. So the servant went and looked, and he said, “There is nothing there.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” 44 On the seventh time the servant reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” And Elijah replied, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” 45Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.…

Cross References
James 5:17-18
Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. / Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.

Luke 4:25
But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land.

Matthew 17:20
“Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Mark 11:22-24
“Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them. / “Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him. / Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

Matthew 21:21-22
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. / If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

2 Kings 3:16-17
and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’ / For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’

Job 36:27-28
For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist, / which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.

Zechariah 10:1
Ask the LORD for rain in springtime; the LORD makes the storm clouds, and He will give everyone showers of rain and crops in the field.

Psalm 135:7
He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Jeremiah 14:22
Can the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies alone send showers? Is this not by You, O LORD our God? So we put our hope in You, for You have done all these things.

Isaiah 55:10
For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat,

Deuteronomy 11:14
then I will provide rain for your land in season, the autumn and spring rains, that you may gather your grain, new wine, and oil.

Joel 2:23
Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.

Hosea 6:3
So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.


Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there rises a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say to Ahab, Prepare your chariot, and get you down that the rain stop you not.

a little cloud.

Job 8:7
Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

Zechariah 4:10
For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

Prepare [heb] Tie, or Bind

1 Samuel 6:7,10
Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them: …

Micah 1:13
O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.

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1 Kings 18
1. In the extremity of famine Elijah, sent to Ahab, meets good Obadiah
9. Obadiah brings Ahab to Elijah
17. Elijah, reproving Ahab, by fire from heaven convinces Baal's prophets
41. Elijah, by prayer obtaining rain, follows Ahab to Jezreel














On the seventh time
The number seven in the Bible often symbolizes completeness or perfection, reflecting God's creation week. Here, it signifies the completion of Elijah's persistent prayer and faith. Elijah's unwavering faith in God's promise of rain is a testament to the power of perseverance in prayer, encouraging believers to remain steadfast in their petitions to God.

the servant reported
The servant acts as a witness to God's unfolding miracle. In the Hebrew context, a servant often played a crucial role in delivering messages and executing tasks. This highlights the importance of obedience and attentiveness in serving God's purposes, reminding believers that even seemingly small roles are vital in God's plan.

There is a cloud
The cloud, though small, is a sign of hope and the fulfillment of God's promise. In biblical symbolism, clouds often represent God's presence and divine intervention. This small cloud signifies the beginning of a great blessing, teaching believers to recognize and have faith in the small beginnings of God's work in their lives.

as small as a man’s hand
The imagery of the cloud being as small as a man's hand emphasizes the humble beginnings of God's mighty works. It serves as a reminder that God often uses small, seemingly insignificant things to accomplish His grand purposes, encouraging believers to trust in God's ability to magnify the little they have.

rising from the sea
The sea, in ancient Near Eastern culture, often symbolized chaos and unpredictability. The cloud rising from the sea signifies God's sovereignty over chaos and His ability to bring order and blessing from it. This reassures believers of God's control over life's uncertainties and His power to bring about His promises.

And Elijah replied
Elijah's response is immediate and filled with faith. His readiness to act upon the servant's report demonstrates his confidence in God's word. This encourages believers to respond promptly and faithfully to God's signs and instructions, trusting in His timing and provision.

Go and tell Ahab
Elijah's instruction to inform Ahab reflects the prophetic role of delivering God's message to leaders and nations. It underscores the responsibility of God's people to communicate His truth boldly, regardless of the audience, and to be instruments of His will in the world.

Prepare your chariot
This phrase indicates urgency and preparation. Elijah's command to prepare the chariot signifies the need for readiness in response to God's actions. It serves as a reminder for believers to be prepared for God's interventions and to act swiftly in accordance with His guidance.

and go down before the rain stops you
The impending rain is both a blessing and a challenge. Elijah's warning to Ahab to move quickly before the rain becomes a hindrance highlights the dual nature of God's blessings—they require timely action and discernment. This teaches believers to act wisely and promptly in response to God's blessings, ensuring they do not miss the opportunities He provides.

Verse 44. - And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. [כַּפ lit., palm, hollow of hand. Cf. Luke 12:54, "When ye see the cloud (Gr. τὴν νεφέλην) arise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is." "Still in autumn the little cloud comes up like a man's hand and swells till huge thunder pillars are piled black and high above the mountains" (Condor). But it is not in Palestine alone that a little cloud on the horizon is frequently the harbinger of rain]. And he said, Go up [see note on ver. 42], say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot [Heb. bind], and get thee down [Keil, Stanley, and others assume that Ahab's chariot was waiting at the foot of the mountain. But it is to be noticed that the command to harness the horses precedes that to "go down." The writer rode down from El Murahkah to the plain, and it is quite conceivable that the royal chariot may have conveyed Ahab to the plateau of sacrifice and have waited for him there], that the rain stop thee not, [After heavy rain (גֶּשֶׁם) the Kishon, which "collects the whole drainage of this large basin" (Conder), the Great Plain, soon becomes an impassable swamp.(Judges 5:21), "I can tell you from experience that in wet seasons it (the Wady) is extremely muddy, and then the Kishon causes great tribulation to the muleteers. Rarely indeed do they get over it without some of their animals sticking fast in its oozy bottom" (Thomson, L. and B. 2. p. 218).]

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
On the seventh time
בַּשְּׁבִעִ֔ית (baš·šə·ḇi·‘îṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular
Strong's 7637: Seventh (an ordinal number)

[the servant] reported,
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“There is
הִנֵּה־ (hin·nêh-)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

a cloud
עָ֛ב (‘āḇ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 5645: An envelope, darkness, a, cloud, a copse

as small
קְטַנָּ֥ה (qə·ṭan·nāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 6996: Small, young, unimportant

as a man’s
אִ֖ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

hand
כְּכַף־ (kə·ḵap̄-)
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3709: Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan

rising
עֹלָ֣ה (‘ō·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

from the sea.”
מִיָּ֑ם (mî·yām)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

And Elijah replied,
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Go
עֲלֵ֨ה (‘ă·lêh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

and tell
אֱמֹ֤ר (’ĕ·mōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

Ahab,
אַחְאָב֙ (’aḥ·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 256: Ahab -- 'father's brother', a king of Israel, also a false prophet

‘Prepare [your chariot]
אֱסֹ֣ר (’ĕ·sōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 631: To yoke, hitch, to fasten, to join battle

and go down
וָרֵ֔ד (wā·rêḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

before the rain
הַגָּֽשֶׁם׃ (hag·gā·šem)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1653: Rain, shower

stops you.’”
יַעַצָרְכָ֖ה (ya·‘a·ṣā·rə·ḵāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6113: To inclose, to hold back, to maintain, rule, assemble


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OT History: 1 Kings 18:44 It happened at the seventh time that (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 18:43
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