1 Kings 18:10 As surely as the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, 'He is not here,' he made that kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you.

◄ 1 Kings 18:10 ►

New International Version
As surely as the LORD your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.

New Living Translation
For I swear by the LORD your God that the king has searched every nation and kingdom on earth from end to end to find you. And each time he was told, ‘Elijah isn’t here,’ King Ahab forced the king of that nation to swear to the truth of his claim.

English Standard Version
As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they would say, ‘He is not here,’ he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you.

Berean Standard Bible
As surely as the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you.

King James Bible
As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

New King James Version
As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to hunt for you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath from the kingdom or nation that they could not find you.

New American Standard Bible
As surely as the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom to which my master has not sent word to search for you; and whenever they say, ‘He is not here,’ he makes the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you.

NASB 1995
“As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent to search for you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you.

NASB 1977
“As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent to search for you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you.

Legacy Standard Bible
As Yahweh your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent to search for you; and if they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you.

Amplified Bible
As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent messengers to seek you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ Ahab made the kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you.

Christian Standard Bible
As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear they had not found you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear they had not found you.”

American Standard Version
As Jehovah thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not here, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

Contemporary English Version
I swear to you in the name of the living LORD your God that the king has looked everywhere for you. He sent people to look in every country, and when they couldn't find you, he made the leader of each country swear that you were not in that country.

English Revised Version
As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not here, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I solemnly swear, as the LORD your God lives, my master has searched for you in every region and kingdom. When people would say, 'He isn't here,' my master made that kingdom or region take an oath that they hadn't found you.

Good News Translation
By the living LORD, your God, I swear that the king has made a search for you in every country in the world. Whenever the ruler of a country reported that you were not in his country, Ahab would require that ruler to swear that you could not be found.

International Standard Version
As surely as the LORD your God lives, there isn't a nation or kingdom where my master hasn't tried to find you. Whenever they would say 'He isn't here,' he forced that kingdom or nation to swear that they hadn't seen you.

Majority Standard Bible
As surely as the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you.

NET Bible
As certainly as the LORD your God lives, my master has sent to every nation and kingdom in an effort to find you. When they say, 'He's not here,' he makes them swear an oath that they could not find you.

New Heart English Bible
As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom, where my lord has not sent to seek you. When they said, 'He is not here,' he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they did not find you.

Webster's Bible Translation
As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation nor kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

World English Bible
As Yahweh your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath of the kingdom and nation that they didn’t find you.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Your God YHWH lives, if there is a nation and kingdom to where my lord has not sent to seek [for] you; and they said, He is not, then he caused the kingdom and the nation to swear, that it does not find you;

Young's Literal Translation
Jehovah thy God liveth, if there is a nation and kingdom whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee; and they said, He is not, then he caused the kingdom and the nation to swear, that it doth not find thee;

Smith's Literal Translation
Jehovah thy god lives if there is a nation and kingdom where my lord did not send there to seek thee: and they said, No; and he caused the kingdom and nation to swear that they shall not find.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
As the Lord thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee : and when all answered: He is not here: he took an oath of every kingdom and nation, because thou wast not found.

Catholic Public Domain Version
As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom to which my lord has not sent, seeking you. And when all responded, ‘He is not here,’ he swore each kingdom and nation to an oath, because you were not found at all.

New American Bible
As the LORD, your God, lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent in search of you. When they replied, ‘He is not here,’ he made each kingdom and nation swear they could not find you.

New Revised Standard Version
As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom to which my lord has not sent to seek you; and when they would say, ‘He is not here,’ he would require an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom whither my lord has not sent to seek you; and when they said, He is not here, he took an oath of the kingdoms and nations, that they had not found you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Living is LORD JEHOVAH your God! There is not a nation or a kingdom where my Lord has not sent to seek you, and they said, ‘He is not here”, and he made the kingdoms and the nations swear that surely they had not found you.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee; and when they said: He is not here, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
As the Lord thy God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom, whither my lord has not sent to seek thee; and if they said, He is not here, then has he set fire to the kingdom and its territories, because he has not found thee.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Elijah Confronts Ahab
…9But Obadiah replied, “How have I sinned, that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to put me to death? 10As surely as the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you. 11And now you say, ‘Go tell your master that Elijah is here!’…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Kings 19:2
So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I have not made your life like the lives of those you killed!”

1 Kings 17:1
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”

2 Kings 1:9-10
Then King Ahaziah sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. So the captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down!’” / Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men.

2 Kings 6:31
He announced, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders through this day!”

Jeremiah 26:20-23
Now there was another man prophesying in the name of the LORD, Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land the same things that Jeremiah did. / King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and officials heard his words, and the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah found out about it, he fled in fear and went to Egypt. / Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan son of Achbor along with some other men. ...

Matthew 14:5
Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.

Matthew 23:34-35
Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town. / And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

Luke 11:49-51
Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’ / As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world, / from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.

Acts 7:52
Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—

Hebrews 11:32-38
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, / who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. ...

1 Kings 22:8
The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.

2 Chronicles 18:7
The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.

2 Chronicles 24:20-21
Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has forsaken you.’” / But they conspired against Zechariah, and by order of the king, they stoned him in the courtyard of the house of the LORD.

Nehemiah 9:26
But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.

Jeremiah 2:30
“I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”

Treasury of Scripture

As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom, where my lord has not sent to seek you: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found you not.

the Lord

1 Kings 18:15
And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.

1 Kings 1:29
And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,

1 Kings 2:24
Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.

whither my lord

Psalm 10:2
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

Jeremiah 26:20-23
And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah: …

they found thee not

1 Kings 17:5,9
So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan…

Psalm 12:7,8
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever…

Psalm 31:20
Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

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1 Kings 18

1. In the extremity of famine Elijah, sent to Ahab, meets good Obadiah
9. Obadiah brings Ahab to Elijah
17. Elijah, reproving Ahab, by fire from heaven convinces Baal's prophets
41. Elijah, by prayer obtaining rain, follows Ahab to Jezreel

Berean Study Bible

As surely as the LORD your God lives
This phrase is a solemn oath, invoking the living God as a witness to the truth of the statement. The Hebrew word for "LORD" is "YHWH," the sacred and personal name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. The phrase underscores the seriousness and sincerity of the speaker, Obadiah, who is addressing Elijah. It reflects the deep reverence and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and existence, a common practice in ancient Israel to affirm truthfulness.

there is no nation or kingdom
This highlights the extensive search conducted by King Ahab to find Elijah. The phrase suggests a comprehensive and exhaustive effort, indicating the widespread influence and power of Ahab's reign. Historically, this reflects the political landscape of the time, where Israel had interactions with various neighboring nations and kingdoms. It underscores the desperation and determination of Ahab to locate Elijah, who had pronounced a drought upon the land.

where my master has not sent someone to look for you
The term "my master" refers to King Ahab, underlining Obadiah's position as a servant or official in Ahab's court. The phrase indicates the lengths to which Ahab went to find Elijah, sending emissaries to various regions. This reflects the urgency and importance of Elijah's presence, as he was seen as the key to ending the drought. It also highlights the tension between Ahab and Elijah, with Ahab viewing Elijah as a troubler of Israel.

and when they said, ‘He is not here,’
This part of the verse shows the repeated failure of Ahab's search efforts. The phrase "He is not here" indicates the elusiveness of Elijah, who was being protected by God. It also suggests the futility of human efforts against divine will, as Elijah remained hidden until God's appointed time. This can be seen as a testament to God's providence and protection over His prophets.

he made that kingdom or nation swear
The act of making a kingdom or nation swear is a formal and binding agreement, often invoking a deity as a witness. This reflects the seriousness with which Ahab pursued Elijah, ensuring that no deception was involved in the reports he received. It also illustrates the diplomatic relations and the respect for oaths in the ancient Near Eastern culture, where breaking an oath could have severe consequences.

that they had not found you
This final phrase emphasizes the thoroughness of the search and the accountability demanded by Ahab. It underscores the fear and respect that Elijah commanded, as well as the desperation of Ahab to control the situation. The inability to find Elijah despite such efforts highlights the divine protection over Elijah and the futility of opposing God's plans. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the ultimate futility of human efforts against His will.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) There is no nation.--This unremitting search--implying perhaps some supremacy or authority over neighbouring kingdoms--suits ill with the half-hearted enmity of Ahab. No doubt it was the work of Jezebel, in Ahab's name, connived at (as in the murder of Naboth) by his timidity.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 10. - As the Lord thy God liveth [Obadiah uses precisely the same adjuration as the widow of Zarephath, 1 Kings 17:12. But then, though Jehovah was undoubtedly his God, He was in a more special and intimate manner Elijah's God. The oath corresponds well with the prophet's name], there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee [Keil says the hyperbole is to be explained by the "inward excitement and fear" of the speaker. But the Orientals use similar exaggerations in their calmest moments. All that is meant is that all neighbouring and accessible courts had been communicated with. This search for Elijah shows that Ahab regarded him as the author of the drought, and did not recognize it as sent by God. The belief in occult and magical powers has always held possession of the Eastern mind]: and when they said, He is not there [Heb. Not, and he, etc.]; he took an oath [LXX. ἐνέπρησε, which has been thought by some to point to acts of vengeance. But more probably it is a clerical error, perhaps for ὥρκισε, or ἐνώρκισε. On the frequency of oaths in that age see on 1 Kings 1:51] of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

As surely as the LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God
אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

lives,
חַ֣י ׀ (ḥay)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

there is
יֶשׁ־ (yeš-)
Adverb
Strong's 3426: Being, substance, existence, is

no
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

nation
גּ֤וֹי (gō·w)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

or kingdom
וּמַמְלָכָה֙ (ū·mam·lā·ḵāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4467: Kingdom, sovereignty, dominion, reign

where
אֲ֠שֶׁר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

my lord
אֲדֹנִ֥י (’ă·ḏō·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

has not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

sent
שָׁלַ֨ח (šā·laḥ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

someone to search for you.
לְבַקֶּשְׁךָ֔ (lə·ḇaq·qeš·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

When they said,
וְאָמְר֖וּ (wə·’ā·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘[He is] not [here],’
אָ֑יִן (’ā·yin)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

he made that kingdom
הַמַּמְלָכָה֙ (ham·mam·lā·ḵāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4467: Kingdom, sovereignty, dominion, reign

or nation
הַגּ֔וֹי (hag·gō·w)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

swear
וְהִשְׁבִּ֤יעַ (wə·hiš·bî·a‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear

they had not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

found you.
יִמְצָאֶֽכָּה׃ (yim·ṣā·’ek·kāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

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OT History: 1 Kings 18:10 As Yahweh your God lives there (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)