1 Kings 19
1 Kings 19 finds the prophet Elijah exhausted and suicidal after his victory at Carmel. God meets him not in wind, earthquake or fire but in a 'still small voice' — one of Scripture's most pastoral chapters for the burnt-out.
The Book of 1 Kings · Old Testament · chapter 19 of 22.
Where this chapter sits
Elijah flees immediately after the public triumph on Mount Carmel recorded in the previous chapter, when a single threat from Jezebel sends him running south alone, far past any real safety. His journey ends at Horeb, the mountain associated with Moses, where the encounter recorded here leads into new instructions and the anointing of Elisha as his successor by the chapter's final verses.
Key verses (KJV)
“And after the fire a still small voice.” — 1 Kings 19:12 (KJV)
What to notice as you read
God asks the same question twice, worded identically, and receives the same answer both times, framing the whole scene around repetition rather than progress. The dramatic wind, earthquake, and fire each pass without God in them, before a quieter sound arrives, subverting where power was expected to show itself.
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Frequently asked questions
Where does 1 Kings 19 come in 1 Kings?
It is chapter 19 of 22 in 1 Kings, a book of History in the Old Testament. The other widely-read chapters of 1 Kings are linked further down this page.
Where can I read 1 Kings 19?
Read the full text of 1 Kings 19 — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.