1 Kings 19:18

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel-all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But I will leave seven thousand in Israel—every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Hebrew Names Version
Yet will I leave [me] seven thousand in Yisra'el, all the knees which have not bowed to Ba`al, and every mouth which has not kissed him.

King James Version
Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

English Standard Version
Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."

New Century Version
I have seven thousand people left in Israel who have never bowed down before Baal and whose mouths have never kissed his idol."

New English Translation
I still have left in Israel seven thousand followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him."

Amplified Bible
"Yet I will leave 7,000 [survivors] in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed down to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him."

New American Standard Bible
"Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Yet wil I leaue seuen thousand in Israel, euen all the knees that haue not bowed vnto Baal, and euery mouth that hath not kissed him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him."

Contemporary English Version
But seven thousand Israelites have refused to worship Baal, and they will live.

Complete Jewish Bible
Still, I will spare seven thousand in Isra'el, every knee that hasn't bent down before Ba‘al and every mouth that has not kissed him."

Darby Translation
Yet I have left [myself] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth that hath not kissed him.

Easy-to-Read Version
I still have 7000 people in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed that idol."

George Lamsa Translation
Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.

Good News Translation
Yet I will leave seven thousand people alive in Israel—all those who are loyal to me and have not bowed to Baal or kissed his idol."

Lexham English Bible
I will leave in Israel seven thousand, all of the knees that have not bowed down to Baal and all of the mouths that have not kissed him."

Literal Translation
And I have left in Israel seven thousand, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And I wil reserue vnto me vij.M. men in Israel: namely, all ye knees which haue not bowed the selues vnto Baal, and euery mouth yt hath not kyssed him.

American Standard Version
Yet will I leave me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Bible in Basic English
But I will keep safe seven thousand in Israel, all those whose knees have not been bent to Baal, and whose mouths have given him no kisses.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And [thereto] I haue left me seuen thousande in Israel, of whiche neuer man bowed his knees vnto Baal, nor kissed him with his mouth.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Yet will I leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.'

King James Version (1611)
Yet I haue left me seuen thousand in Israel, all the knees which haue not bowed vnto Baal, and euery mouth which hath not kissed him.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And thou shalt leave in Israel seven thousand men, all the knees which had not bowed themselves to Baal, and every mouth which had not worshipped him.

English Revised Version
Yet will I leave [me] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y schal leeue to me in Israel seuene thousynde of men, of whiche the knees ben not bowid bifor Baal, and ech mouth that worschipide not hym, and kisside hond.

Young's Literal Translation
and I have left in Israel seven thousand, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that hath not kissed him.'

Update Bible Version
Yet I will leave [me] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which haven't bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him.

Webster's Bible Translation
Yet I have left to [me] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

World English Bible
Yet will I leave [me] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him.

New King James Version
Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."

New Living Translation
Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!"

New Life Bible
But I will leave 7,000 in Israel whose knees have not bowed down in front of Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him."

New Revised Standard
Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Yet will I leave remaining in Israel, seven thousand, - all knees which have not bowed to Baal, and all mouths which have not kissed to him.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will leave me seven thousand men in Israel, whose knees have not been bowed before Baal, and every mouth that hath not worshipped him, kissing the hands.

Revised Standard Version
Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Ba'al, and every mouth that has not kissed him."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him."

Contextual Overview

⁹There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" ¹⁰"I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts," he replied, "but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well." ¹¹Then the LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by." And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ¹²After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice. ¹³When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" ¹⁴"I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts," he replied, "but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well." ¹⁵Then the LORD said to him, "Go back by the way you came, to the Desert of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. ¹⁶You are also to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah to succeed you as prophet. ¹⁷Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu. ¹⁸Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel-all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Yet I have left: or, Yet I will leave, Isaiah 1:9, Isaiah 10:20-22, Romans 11:4, Romans 11:5

the knees: Exodus 20:5, Isaiah 49:23, Romans 14:10-12, Philippians 2:10

every mouth: Idolaters often kissed their hand in honour of their idols; and hence the origin of adoration from ad, to and os, oris, the mouth. Cicero mentions a statue of Hercules, the chin and lips of which were considerably worn by the kissing of his worshippers. Job 31:27, Psalms 2:12, Hosea 13:2

Reciprocal: Numbers 25:2 - bowed 1 Samuel 10:1 - kissed him 1 Kings 20:15 - seven thousand 2 Kings 5:18 - and I bow 2 Kings 23:4 - Baal Isaiah 17:6 - General Mark 15:19 - and bowing Ephesians 3:14 - I Revelation 3:4 - even

Cross-References

Genesis 19:6
Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him.

Genesis 19:8
Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them to you, and you can do to them whatever you want. But do not do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof."

Genesis 19:11
And they struck with blindness the men at the entrance, both young and old, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the door.

Genesis 19:12
Then the two men said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else here-a son-in-law, your sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here,

Genesis 32:26
Then the man said, "Let Me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let You go unless You bless me."

Isaiah 45:11
Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: "How dare you question Me concerning My sons, or instruct Me about the work of My hands?

Acts 9:13
But Ananias answered, "Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

Acts 10:14
"No, Lord!" Peter answered. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel,.... From perishing by the sword of either of them:

all the knees which have not bowed to Baal; that is, had not worshipped him, which was signified by this gesture:

and every mouth which hath not kissed him; either the image of Baal itself, or the hand, in reverence of him; which rites, one or other, or both, were used by his worshippers; :-. This either refers, as some think, to the present time, and so is an answer to Elijah, who thought he was the only worshipper left with which seems to agree Romans 11:2, or to the times to come, when destruction should be made by the above persons, and when God would have some faithful worshippers, and would take care of them; so some render the words, "I will reserve", c. y.

y והשארתי "reservabo vel servabo", Vatablus so V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Yet I have left me ... - Rather, as in the margin. “Seven thousand” faithful Israelites shall survive all the persecutions of Ahab and Jezebel, and carry down the worship of Yahweh to another generation. Elijah is mistaken in supposing that he only is left. The number is manifestly a “round” number, not an exact estimate. Perhaps it is, moreover, a mystical or symbolic number. Compare Revelation 7:5-8. Of all the symbolic numbers used in Scripture, seven is the most common.

Every mouth which hath not kissed him - Idolaters sometimes kissed the hand to the object of their worship Job 31:26-27; at other times they kissed the actual image (marginal reference).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 19:18. Seven thousand in Israel — That is, many thousands; for seven is a number of perfection, as we have often seen: so, The barren has borne seven - has had a numerous off-spring; Gold seven times purified-purified till all the dross is perfectly separated from it. The court and multitudes of the people had gone after Baal; but perhaps the majority of the common people still worshipped in secret the God of their fathers.

Every mouth which hath not kissed him. — Idolaters often kissed their hand in honour of their idols; and hence the origin of adoration - bringing the hand to the mouth after touching the idol, if it were within reach; and if not, kissing the right hand in token of respect and subjection. The word is compounded of ad, to, and os, oris, the mouth. Dextera manu deum contingentes, ori admovebant: "Touching the god with their right hand, they applied it to their mouth." So kissing the hand, and adoration, mean the same thing -

thus Pliny,

Inter adorandum, dexteram ad osculum referimus, totum corpus circumagimus: Nat. Hist. lib. xxviii., cap. 2. -

"In the act of adoration we kiss the right hand, and turn about the whole body."

Cicero mentions a statue of Hercules, the chin and lips of which were considerably worn by the frequent kissing of his worshippers:

Ut rictus ejus, et mentum paulo sit attritius, quod in precibus et gratulationibus, non solum id venerari, sed etiam osculari solent. - Orat. in VERREM.

I have seen several instances of this, especially in the paintings of old saints: the lips and mouth of beautiful paintings literally worn away by the unmerciful osculations of devotees.