New American Standard Bible 1995

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1 Kings

18

:

21

Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people did not answer him a word.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Elijah "Yah is God," a well-known prophet of Isr., also three other Isr. Noun H452 אֵלִיָּ֜הוּ e·li·ya·hu
Analysis:
Read more about: Elijah
came near to draw near, approach Verb H5066 וַיִּגַּ֨שׁ vai·yig·gash
to all the whole, all Noun H3605 כָּל־ kol-
the people people Noun H5971 הָעָ֗ם ha·'am
and said, to utter, say Verb H559 וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ vai·yo·mer
"How when? Int H4970 מָתַ֞י ma·tai
long as far as, even to, up to, until, while Prepostion H5704 עַד־ ad-
[will] you hesitate to limp Verb H6452 פֹּסְחִים֮ po·se·chim
between upon, above, over Prepostion H5921 עַל־ al-
two two (a card. number) Noun H8147 שְׁתֵּ֣י she·tei
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 

opinions? division, divided opinion H5589    
If if Conjunction H518 אִם־ im-
the LORD the proper name of the God of Israel Noun H3068 יְהוָ֤ה Yah·weh
is God, God, god Noun H430 הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ ha·'e·lo·him
follow to go, come, walk Verb H1980 לְכ֣וּ le·chu
Him; but if if Conjunction H518 וְאִם־ ve·'im-
Baal, a heathen god Noun H1168 הַבַּ֖עַל hab·ba·'al
Analysis:
Read more about: Baal, Baal
follow to go, come, walk Verb H1980 לְכ֣וּ le·chu
him." But the people people Noun H5971 הָעָ֛ם ha·'am
did not answer to answer, respond Verb H6030 עָנ֥וּ a·nu
him a word. speech, word Noun H1697 דָּבָֽר׃ da·var.

People

Baal

Baal [N] [B] [H] [S] lord.  The name appropriated to the principal male god of the Phoenicians. It is found in several places in the plural BAALIM ( Judges 2:11 ;  10:10 ;  1 Kings 18:18 ; Jeremiah 2:23 ;  Hosea 2:17 ). Baal is identified with Molech ( Jeremiah 19:5 ). It was known to the Israelites as Baal-peor ( Numbers 25:3 ; ... View Details

Baal

the name of a city in Simeon, also two Israelites

Elijah

Elijah [N] [B] [H]  [S] whose God is Jehovah.  "The Tishbite," the "Elias" of the New Testament, is suddenly introduced to our notice in 1 Kings 17:1 as delivering a message from the Lord to Ahab. There is mention made of a town called Thisbe, south of Kadesh, but it is impossible to say whether this was the place referred to in the name given to the prophet.  Having deliver... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people did not answer him a word.
King James Bible And Elijah came near to unto all the people people, and said, "How How long will you hesitate halt ye between two opinions? If if the LORD is be God, follow Him; him: but if Baal, then follow him." But him. And the people did answered him not answer him a word.
Hebrew Greek English Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people did not answer him a word.