New International Version Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” New Living Translation O LORD, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” English Standard Version Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” Berean Standard Bible Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.” Berean Literal Bible Answer me, O YHWH! Answer me, that this people may know that You are YHWH God, and You have turned their hearts back again.” King James Bible Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. New King James Version Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” New American Standard Bible Answer me, LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that You, LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back.” NASB 1995 “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.” NASB 1977 “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that Thou, O LORD, art God, and that Thou hast turned their heart back again.” Legacy Standard Bible Answer me, O Yahweh, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Yahweh, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.” Amplified Bible Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back [to You].” Berean Annotated Bible Answer me, O LORD {YHWH}! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God {Elohim}, and that You have turned their hearts back again. Christian Standard Bible Answer me, LORD! Answer me so that this people will know that you, the LORD, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Answer me, LORD! Answer me so that this people will know that You, Yahweh, are God and that You have turned their hearts back.” American Standard Version Hear me, O Jehovah, hear me, that this people may know that thou, Jehovah, art God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Contemporary English Version Please answer me, so these people will know that you are the LORD God, and that you will turn their hearts back to you. English Revised Version Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou, LORD, art God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. GOD'S WORD® Translation Answer me, LORD! Answer me! Then these people will know that you, LORD, are God and that you are winning back their hearts." Good News Translation Answer me, LORD, answer me, so that this people will know that you, the LORD, are God and that you are bringing them back to yourself." International Standard Version Answer me, LORD! Answer me so that this people may know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning back their hearts again." NET Bible Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are the true God and that you are winning back their allegiance." New Heart English Bible Hear me, LORD, hear me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again." Webster's Bible Translation Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnswer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.” World English Bible Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionanswer me, O YHWH, answer me, and this people [then] knows that You [are] YHWH God; and You have turned their heart backward.” Berean Literal Bible Answer me, O YHWH! Answer me, that this people may know that You are YHWH God, and You have turned their hearts back again.” Young's Literal Translation answer me, O Jehovah, answer me, and this people doth know that Thou art Jehovah God; and Thou hast turned their heart backward.' Smith's Literal Translation Answer me, O Jehovah, answer me, and this people shall know that thou art Jehovah God, and thou didst turn their heart backwards. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHear me, O Lord, hear me: that this people may learn, that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart again. Catholic Public Domain Version Heed me, O Lord, heed me, so that this people may learn that you are the Lord God, and that you have converted their heart again.” New American Bible Answer me, LORD! Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God and that you have turned their hearts back to you.” New Revised Standard Version Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnswer me, O LORD, answer me, that all this people may know that thou art the LORD God and that thou hast turned their perverse heart back again. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Answer me, LORD JEHOVAH! Answer me and all this people shall know that you are LORD JEHOVAH God, and you have turned their perverse heart!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that Thou, LORD, art God, for Thou didst turn their heart backward.' Brenton Septuagint Translation Hear me, O Lord, hear me, and let this people know that thou art the Lord God, and thou hast turned back the heart of this people. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Elijah's Prayer36At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command. 37Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.” 38Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench.… Cross References Answer me, O LORD! Psalm 27:7 Hear, O LORD, my voice when I call; be merciful and answer me. Psalm 143:1 A Psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me. Jeremiah 33:3 Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Answer me, Psalm 4:1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer. Psalm 102:2 Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call. 1 Samuel 7:9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him. so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, Psalm 100:3 Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. 1 Kings 8:60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God. There is no other! Exodus 6:7 I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. and that You have turned their hearts back again.” Lamentations 5:21 Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return; renew our days as of old, Jeremiah 31:18 I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God. Psalm 80:3 Restore us, O God, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved. 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 1:16-17 Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God. / And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Matthew 17:3 Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus. Romans 11:2-4 God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel: / “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”? / And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” Treasury of Scripture Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that you are the LORD God, and that you have turned their heart back again. Hear me 1 Kings 18:24,29,36 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken… Genesis 32:24,26,28 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day… 2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. thou hast turned Jeremiah 31:18,19 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God… Ezekiel 36:25-27 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you… Malachi 4:5,6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: … Jump to Previous Backward Hear Heart Hearts Turn Turned TurningJump to Next Backward Hear Heart Hearts Turn Turned Turning1 Kings 18 1. In the extremity of famine Elijah, sent to Ahab, meets good Obadiah9. 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 Answer me, O LORD! Elijah appealed to the covenant God of Israel in the presence of an apostate nation and the prophets of Baal. His confidence rested not in a ritual, spectacle, or personal power, but in the LORD who had revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Psa 27:7 Hear, O LORD, my voice when I call; be merciful… Answer me, Elijah’s repeated cry stood in sharp contrast to Baal’s silence after his prophets had called upon him throughout the day. The LORD hears His servants and acts according to His purpose, showing that He alone is the living God. Psa 4:1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments.… so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, The fire Elijah requested would publicly settle the contest on Mount Carmel. Israel had been divided between the worship of the LORD and the worship of Baal, but the miracle would reveal that the God of the covenant alone rules heaven, earth, rain, and fire. Psa 100:3 Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us,… and that You have turned their hearts back again.” Elijah desired Israel’s repentance rather than his own recognition. The LORD’s answering fire would expose their idolatry and summon them back to covenant faithfulness, preparing the way for the renewed confession, “The LORD, He is God!” Lam 5:21 Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return;… Persons / Places / Events 1. ElijahA prophet of God who played a pivotal role in turning the hearts of the Israelites back to God. He is the one praying in this verse. 2. Mount Carmel The location where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal and called upon God to demonstrate His power. 3. The Israelites The people of God who had turned to worship Baal, needing a demonstration of God's power to return to Him. 4. The Prophets of Baal False prophets who led the Israelites into idolatry, opposing Elijah on Mount Carmel. 5. The LORD (Yahweh) The one true God whom Elijah calls upon to reveal Himself to the people and turn their hearts back to Him. Teaching Points The Power of PrayerElijah's prayer is a model of earnest and faith-filled communication with God. It shows the importance of praying for God's will to be done and for His glory to be revealed. God's Desire for Repentance This verse highlights God's desire for His people to turn back to Him. It reminds us that God is always ready to forgive and restore those who repent. Demonstration of God's Sovereignty The event on Mount Carmel demonstrates God's supreme power over false gods and idols. It encourages believers to trust in God's sovereignty in all circumstances. The Role of a Prophet Elijah's role as a prophet was to call people back to God. This serves as a reminder of the importance of speaking truth and calling others to repentance in our own lives. Faith in Action Elijah's faith was not passive; it was demonstrated through bold action. Believers are encouraged to act on their faith, trusting God to work through their obedience. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Kings 18:37?2. How does 1 Kings 18:37 demonstrate God's power in response to prayer? 3. What does Elijah's prayer in 1 Kings 18:37 teach about faith? 4. How can we apply Elijah's example of bold prayer in our lives today? 5. How does 1 Kings 18:37 connect to James 5:16 about effective prayer? 6. What role does humility play in Elijah's prayer in 1 Kings 18:37? 7. How does 1 Kings 18:37 demonstrate God's power and authority over false gods? 8. What historical evidence supports the events described in 1 Kings 18? 9. How does Elijah's prayer in 1 Kings 18:37 reflect faith and dependence on God? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 18? What Does 1 Kings 18:37 Mean Answer me, O LORD!Elijah’s first cry is simple, direct, and personal. He addresses the covenant name “LORD,” recognizing God’s faithfulness to His promises (Exodus 3:15). • The prophet does not rely on elaborate rituals like the prophets of Baal; he leans on relationship (Psalm 116:1–2, “I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice”). • Calling on God’s name in faith honors Him as the living Listener who alone can intervene (Psalm 3:4; James 5:16–18 referencing Elijah). Answer me, The repetition heightens urgency and confidence. Elijah expects God to act—now. • Persistent prayer is encouraged throughout Scripture (Luke 18:7–8; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). • Elijah’s boldness rests on previous obedience: he rebuilt the ruined altar (1 Kings 18:30–32). Obedience and answered prayer go hand in hand (1 John 3:22). so that this people will know Elijah’s motive is public revelation, not private benefit. • God routinely displays power “so the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD” (Exodus 7:5) and so the church will know His greatness (Ephesians 1:18–19). • True prayer aims at others seeing God clearly (John 11:42, “I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe”). that You, the LORD, are God, The showdown on Carmel is about exclusivity. Only Yahweh is God; Baal is nothing. • Deuteronomy 4:35 declares, “the LORD, He is God; there is no other besides Him.” • Moments later the crowd repeats Elijah’s confession verbatim (1 Kings 18:39), fulfilling this request. • Isaiah 45:5 underscores the same truth: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.” and that You have turned their hearts back again. Elijah knows revival is God’s work from start to finish. • Solomon foresaw this in his temple prayer: when the people repent, “grant them compassion” (1 Kings 8:47–50). • God promises to give “a heart to know Me” (Jeremiah 24:7). Repentance is divine gift (2 Timothy 2:25) as well as human response. • Fire falling from heaven would not merely impress; it would transform hearts, drawing Israel back to covenant loyalty (Malachi 4:6). summary 1 Kings 18:37 captures Elijah’s heart: an urgent, faith-filled plea for God to answer so the watching nation will recognize His sole deity and experience heart-deep restoration. The verse reminds us that effective prayer is passionate, persistent, God-exalting, and revival-seeking—confident that the Lord still answers and still turns hearts to Himself. Verse 37. - Hear me, O Lord [Jehovah], hear me [or answer me; same word as in vers. 24, 26, and 29], that this people may know that thou art the Lord God [Rather, "that thou, Jehovah, art the God." Same expression as in ver. 24, "let him be the God"], and that thou hast turned their heart back again. [Cf. Malachi 4:5, 6: "He "Elijah the prophet") shall turn the heart of the fathers," etc. He speaks as if the miracle were already wrought (cf. John 11:41), and the people already repentant. His prayer is that they may understand that the prodigy about to be performed was wrought for their conversion.]Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Answer me,עֲנֵ֤נִי (‘ă·nê·nî) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular Strong's 6030: To answer, respond O LORD! יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel Answer me, עֲנֵ֔נִי (‘ă·nê·nî) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular Strong's 6030: To answer, respond so that this הַזֶּ֔ה (haz·zeh) Article | Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that people הָעָ֣ם (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock will know וְיֵֽדְעוּ֙ (wə·yê·ḏə·‘ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 3045: To know that כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction You, אַתָּ֥ה (’at·tāh) Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you the LORD, יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel are God, הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative and that You וְאַתָּ֛ה (wə·’at·tāh) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you have turned הֲסִבֹּ֥תָ (hă·sib·bō·ṯā) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5437: To turn about, go around, surround their hearts לִבָּ֖ם (lib·bām) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre back again.” אֲחֹרַנִּֽית׃ (’ă·ḥō·ran·nîṯ) Adverb Strong's 322: Backwards Additonal Resources 1 Kings 18:37 Blue Letter Bible1 Kings 18:37 Bible Gateway 1 Kings 18:37 Bible.com 1 Kings 18:37 NIV |
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