1 Kings 19:18

18 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.

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 Yehu the son of Nimshi shall you anoint to be king over Yisra'el; and Elisha the son of Shafat of Avel-Mecholah shall you anoint to be prophet in your room.

17 It shall happen, that he who escapes from the sword of Haza'el shall Yehu kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Yehu shall Elisha kill.

18 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.

19 So he departed there, and found Elisha the son of Shafat, who was plowing, with twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he with the twelfth: and Eliyah passed over to him, and cast his mantle on him.

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