1 Kings 18:43

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Then he said to his servant, "Go and look toward the sea." So he went and looked and said, "There is nothing." Seven times Elijah told him, "Go back."

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶֽל־נַעֲר֗וֹ עֲלֵֽה־נָא֙ הַבֵּ֣ט דֶּֽרֶךְ־יָ֔ם וַיַּ֙עַל֙ וַיַּבֵּ֔ט וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵ֣ין מְא֑וּמָה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שֻׁ֖ב שֶׁ֥בַע פְּעָמִֽים׃

Transliteration

wă-yō'mer to-na'ărô 'ălēh-nā' habbēṭ dereḵ-yām wă-ya'al wă-yabbēṭ wă-yō'mer 'ên mĕ'ûmâ wă-yō'mer šuḇ šeḇa' pĕ'āmîm

Grammar Details

• *wă-yō'mer*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *na'ărô*: common noun, masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his servant/young man
• *'ălēh*: qal imperative masculine singular - go up
• *nā'*: particle of entreaty - please
• *habbēṭ*: hiphil imperative masculine singular - look/observe
• *dereḵ*: common noun, masculine singular construct - way of
• *yām*: common noun, masculine singular - sea
• *wă-ya'al*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he went up
• *wă-yabbēṭ*: waw consecutive + hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he looked
• *'ên*: particle of negation - there is not
• *mĕ'ûmâ*: indefinite pronoun - anything
• *šuḇ*: qal imperative masculine singular - return
• *šeḇa'*: cardinal number - seven
• *pĕ'āmîm*: common noun, feminine plural - times

Word Meanings

• *na'ărô*: his servant/his attendant/his young man
• *'ălēh*: go up/ascend
• *habbēṭ*: look/observe/gaze
• *dereḵ*-*yām*: way of the sea/toward the sea
• *'ên* *mĕ'ûmâ*: there is nothing/not anything
• *šuḇ*: return/go back/do again

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  & sayde vnto his lad: Go vp, and loke towarde the See. He wente vp & loked, & sayde: There is nothinge. He sayde: Go agayne seuen tymes.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And sayde to his seruant, Goe vp now and looke towarde the way of the Sea; he went vp, and looked, and sayde, There is nothing. Againe he sayd, Goe againe seuen times.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And sayde to his seruaunt: Go vp I pray thee and loke towarde the way of the sea. And he went vp, and loked, and sayde: There is nothing. And againe he sayde: Go againe seuen times.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, [There is] nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  He said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. He went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. He said, Go again seven times.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and saith unto his young man, `Go up, I pray thee, look attentively the way of the sea;' and he goeth up and looketh attentively, and saith, `There is nothing;' and he saith, `Turn back,' seven times.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And he said to his servant, Go now, and take a look in the direction of the sea. And he went up, and after looking said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times; and he went seven times.

• World English Bible (2000)

  He said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." He went up, and looked, and said, "There is nothing." He said, "Go again" seven times.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  He told his servant,“Go on up and look in the direction of the sea.” So he went on up, looked, and reported,“There is nothing.” Seven times Elijah sent him to look.

Referenced Verses

• Gen 32:26 : 26 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was dislocated as they wrestled.
• Ps 5:3 : 3 Pay attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for I pray to You.
• Hab 2:3 : 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it may delay, wait for it, for it will surely come and will not be late.
• Luke 18:1 : 1 Jesus told them a parable to show that they should always pray and not give up.
• Luke 18:7 : 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay in helping them?
• Eph 6:18 : 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and petition. Stay alert with all perseverance as you pray for all the saints.
• Heb 10:36-37 : 36 You need endurance so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 37 For yet in a very little while, the One who is coming will come and will not delay.