1 Kings 19:11

11 He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” Behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces 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.

1 Kings 19:11 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 19:11

And he said, go forth and stand upon the mount before the
Lord
Who would appear there as he had to Moses formerly, though not in the same manner:

and, behold, the Lord passed by;
or was about to pass, for as yet he had not; his messengers first went before him:

and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the
rocks before the Lord;
strong enough to do all this, and so it might:

but the Lord was not in the wind;
as he sometimes is, ( Nahum 1:3 ) , he spake to Job out of a whirlwind, ( Job 38:1 ) ,

and after the wind an earthquake;
that shook the earth all around, and the mountain also, as it did when the law was given on it, ( Psalms 68:8 )

but the Lord was not in the earthquake;
as he was when it trembled in the times of Moses, ( Exodus 19:18 ) .

1 Kings 19:11 In-Context

9 He came to a cave there, and camped there; and behold, the LORD’s word came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

11 He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” Behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces 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.

12 After the earthquake a fire passed; but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a still small voice.

13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”