and Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah greatly feared the LORD,
Parallel translations
- WEB Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared Yahweh greatly;
- KJV And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:
- NKJV And Ahab had called Obadiah, who was in charge of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly.
- NASB Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly;
- NLT So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Obadiah was a devoted follower of the Lord.
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
Ahab summons Obadiah, his palace administrator, who is described as a man who greatly feared the Lord.
Overview
The narrative introduces Obadiah, a high official in Ahab's wicked court who nonetheless reverences Yahweh. His presence shows that God preserved faithful servants even in the most corrupt settings. Obadiah stands as an encouraging example of godliness maintained under pressure, a foil to his idolatrous king and queen.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Neh 7:2Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah the commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.
- 1 Kgs 16:9However, while Elah was in Tirzah getting drunk in the house of Arza the steward of his household there, Elah’s servant Zimri, the commander of half his chariots, conspired against him.
- Matt 10:28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
- Gen 39:4–5Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything he owned.
- Gen 39:9No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?”
- Gen 24:10Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim.
- Gen 41:40You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”
- Gen 42:18and on the third day he said to them, “I fear God. So do this and you will live:
- Neh 5:15The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God.
- Acts 10:2He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.
- Gen 22:12“Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”
- Mal 3:16At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name.
- Acts 10:35but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.
- Gen 24:2So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
- 1 Kgs 18:12I do not know where the Spirit of the LORD may carry you off when I leave you. Then when I go and tell Ahab and he does not find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the LORD from my youth.
- 2 Kgs 4:1Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!”
- Prov 14:26He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
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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 18:3 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
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