1 Kings 19:18

18 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.

1 Kings 19:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 19:18

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; (See Gill on Hosea 13:2). 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 11:2-4 ) , 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" ^F25.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 (ytravhw) "reservabo vel servabo", Vatablus; so V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version.

1 Kings 19:18 In-Context

16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

18 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.

19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing, with twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed over unto him, and cast his mantle upon him.

20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again; for what have I done to thee?