So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
Parallel translations
- WEB The water ran around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
- KJV And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
- BSB So the water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
- NASB The water flowed around the altar, and he also filled the trench with water.
- NLT and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The water runs around the altar and fills the trench completely. The soaking is total and visible to all.
Overview
The overflowing trench provides clear, public proof that no human means could ignite the sacrifice. This careful detail removes every excuse and prepares the people to recognize God's hand. The greater the natural impossibility, the greater the glory when God's fire falls.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- 1 Kgs 18:38Then Yahweh’s fire fell, and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
- 1 Kgs 18:32With the stones he built an altar in Yahweh’s name. He made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two seahs of seed.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Solomon's glory, wisdom, and temple where God's presence dwells are a shadow of the greater Son of David — 'one greater than Solomon is here' — and of the true Temple, Christ himself.
How 1 Kings 18:35 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.