1 Kings 19:12
New International Version
After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

New Living Translation
And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.

English Standard Version
And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.

Berean Standard Bible
After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice.

King James Bible
And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

New King James Version
and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

New American Standard Bible
And after the earthquake, a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire, a sound of a gentle blowing.

NASB 1995
After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.

NASB 1977
And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then after the earthquake a fire, but Yahweh was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a thin gentle whisper.

Amplified Bible
After the earthquake, [there was] a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire, [there was] the sound of a gentle blowing.

Christian Standard Bible
After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.

American Standard Version
and after the earthquake a fire; but Jehovah was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Contemporary English Version
Then there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. Finally, there was a gentle breeze,

English Revised Version
and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
After the earthquake there was a fire. But the LORD wasn't in the fire. And after the fire there was a quiet, whispering voice.

Good News Translation
After the earthquake there was a fire--but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the soft whisper of a voice.

International Standard Version
After the earthquake there came fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was the sound of a gentle whisper.

Majority Standard Bible
After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice.

NET Bible
After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper.

New Heart English Bible
After the earthquake a fire passed; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Webster's Bible Translation
And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

World English Bible
After the earthquake a fire passed; but Yahweh was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a still small voice.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and after the shaking [is] a fire, [but] YHWH [is] not in the fire; and after the fire [is] a voice [like] a small whisper;

Young's Literal Translation
and after the shaking a fire: -- not in the fire is Jehovah; and after the fire a voice still small;

Smith's Literal Translation
And after the shaking, a fire; Jehovah not in the fire: and after the fire, a voice of light stillness.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And after the earthquake a fire: the Lord is not in the fire, and after the fire a whistling of a gentle air.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And after the earthquake, there was a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was the whisper of a gentle breeze.

New American Bible
after the earthquake, fire—but the LORD was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound.

New Revised Standard Version
and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And after the earthquake, a fire. LORD JEHOVAH was not in the fire. And after the fire, a voice that was speaking softly.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire the voice of a gentle breeze.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD Speaks to Elijah at Horeb
11Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”…

Cross References
Exodus 33:21-23
The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock, / and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. / Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

Job 4:16
It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; a form loomed before my eyes, and I heard a whispering voice:

Psalm 46:10
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”

Isaiah 30:15
For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “By repentance and rest you would be saved; your strength would lie in quiet confidence—but you were not willing.”

Zechariah 4:6
So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Mark 1:35
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went out to a solitary place to pray.

Luke 5:16
Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.

John 10:27
My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.

Acts 9:3-4
As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. / He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”

2 Corinthians 12:9
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Hebrews 4:10-11
For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. / Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

Genesis 28:16-17
When Jacob woke up, he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was unaware of it.” / And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!”

Exodus 3:2-4
There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed. / So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?” / When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.


Treasury of Scripture

And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

a fire

1 Kings 18:38
Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

Genesis 15:17
And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

Exodus 3:2
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

a still

Exodus 34:6
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

Job 4:16
It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

Job 33:7
Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

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1 Kings 19
1. Elijah, threatened by Jezebel, flees to Beersheba
4. In the desert, being weary of his life, he is comforted by an angel
9. At Horeb God appears unto him, sending him to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha
19. Elisha, taking leave of his friends, follows Elijah














And after the earthquake a fire
The sequence of natural phenomena—earthquake followed by fire—reflects the powerful and often terrifying manifestations of God's presence in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word for "fire" is "אֵשׁ" (esh), which frequently symbolizes God's holiness and judgment, as seen in the burning bush (Exodus 3:2) and Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:18). Here, however, the fire serves as a precursor to a more profound revelation, emphasizing that God's presence is not confined to dramatic displays.

but the LORD was not in the fire
This phrase challenges the expectation that God is always found in grandiose events. The Hebrew name for "LORD" is "יהוה" (YHWH), the covenant name of God, signifying His eternal presence and faithfulness. The absence of God in the fire suggests that His ways are not always as humans anticipate. It invites believers to seek God beyond the obvious and the spectacular, recognizing His sovereignty and mystery.

And after the fire a still small voice
The phrase "still small voice" is translated from the Hebrew "קוֹל דְּמָמָה דַקָּה" (qol demamah daqqah). "קוֹל" (qol) means "voice" or "sound," "דְּמָמָה" (demamah) implies "silence" or "whisper," and "דַקָּה" (daqqah) means "thin" or "small." This description of God's voice as a gentle whisper contrasts sharply with the preceding tumultuous events. It underscores the intimacy and subtlety of God's communication, encouraging believers to cultivate a quiet heart to discern His guidance. Historically, this moment marks a pivotal point in Elijah's ministry, reminding him—and us—that God's presence and power often manifest in unexpected, quiet ways. This teaches the importance of humility and attentiveness in our spiritual walk, as God's voice may come in the silence rather than the storm.

Verse 12. - And after the earthquake a fire [For the association of tempest, earthquake, fire, etc., as punishments of God, see Isaiah 29:6, and Psalm 18:7, 8. "Fire" may well signify lightning (Job 1:16; Exodus 9:23). For a vivid description of a thunderstorm at Sinai, see Stewart's "Tent and Khan," pp. 139, 140; ap. Stanley, "Jew. Ch.," vol. 1. p. 149]: but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. [Heb. a voice of gentle silence. דְּמָמָה an onomatopoetic word, is allied to our word dumb. Very similar expression Job 4:16. What was the object and meaning of this succession of signs? First, let us remember that Elijah was the prophet of deeds. He taught his contemporaries not by word but by act. He is here taught in turn by signs. There passes before him in the mountain hollow, in the black and dark night, a procession of natural terrors-of storm, and earthquake, and fire. But none of these things move him; none speak to his soul and tell of a present God. It is the hushed voice, the awful stillness, overpowers and enchains him. He is to learn hence, first, that the Lord is a God "merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth" (Exodus 34:6); and secondly, that as it has been with himself, so it will be with others; the name of the Lord will be proclaimed in a voice of gentle silence (ib., ver. 5). The weapons of His warfare, the instruments of religious progress, must be spiritual, not carnal. Not in fire and sword and slaughter, but by a secret voice speaking to the conscience, will God regain His sway over the hearts of Israel. (See Homiletics.) The striking similarity between this theophany and that which Moses saw in the same place, or at no great distance from it, must not be overlooked, for this constitutes another link between law giver and law restorer. The proclamation of Exodus 34:3, 7 is the best exponent of the parable of vers. 11, 12. To each was the vision of God granted after a faithful witness against idolatry, and after a slaughter of idolaters; each was in a clift of the rock; in either case the Lord passed by; the one was taught by words, the other rather by signs, but the message in each case was the same - that judgment is God's strange work, but that He will by no means clear the guilty (cf. ver. 17).]

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
After
וְאַחַ֤ר (wə·’a·ḥar)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

the earthquake
הָרַ֙עַשׁ֙ (hā·ra·‘aš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7494: Vibration, bounding, uproar

there was a fire,
בָאֵ֖שׁ (ḇā·’êš)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

but the LORD
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

was not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

in the fire.
אֵ֔שׁ (’êš)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

And after
וְאַחַ֣ר (wə·’a·ḥar)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

the fire
הָאֵ֔שׁ (hā·’êš)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

came a still,
דְּמָמָ֥ה (də·mā·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1827: A whisper

small
דַקָּֽה׃ (ḏaq·qāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 1851: Crushed, small, thin

voice.
ק֖וֹל (qō·wl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound


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OT History: 1 Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 19:11
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