Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly;
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:
- BSB and Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah greatly feared the LORD,
- NKJV And Ahab had called Obadiah, who was in charge of his house. (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 7:2I put my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.
- 1 Kgs 16:9His servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah;
- Matt 10:28Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
- Gen 39:4–5Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
- Gen 39:9No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
- Gen 24:10The servant took ten camels, of his master’s camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
- Gen 41:40You shall be over my house, and according to your word will all my people be ruled. Only in the throne I will be greater than you.”
- Gen 42:18Joseph said to them the third day, “Do this, and live, for I fear God.
- Neh 5:15But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, plus forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people; but I didn’t do so, because of the fear of God.
- Acts 10:2a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God.
- Gen 22:12He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
- Mal 3:16Then those who feared Yahweh spoke one with another; and Yahweh listened, and heard, and a book of memory was written before him, for those who feared Yahweh, and who honored his name.
- Acts 10:35but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.
- Gen 24:2Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh.
- 1 Kgs 18:12It will happen, as soon as I leave you, that Yahweh’s Spirit will carry you I don’t know where; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared Yahweh from my youth.
- 2 Kgs 4:1Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead. You know that your servant feared Yahweh. Now the creditor has come to take for himself my two children to be slaves.”
- Prov 14:26In the fear of Yahweh is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.
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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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