And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.

1 KINGS 18:30KJV
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1 Kings 18:30 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 18:30 mean?

1 Kings 18:30 describes how Elijah called all the people to come close to him and then repaired the altar of the LORD that had been broken down. This verse shows Elijah preparing for an important act of worship by restoring a neglected or damaged altar dedicated to God.

Elijah is speaking to the gathered Israelites on Mount Carmel during a time of spiritual crisis, when many had turned away from worshiping the LORD. By inviting everyone to draw near, Elijah makes sure the people witness what he is doing. Repairing the altar signals a return to proper worship of the LORD, setting the stage for the dramatic contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal that follows.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 18:30

  • "Repaired" (רָפָא, rafa): This word often means "to heal" or "to make whole." Here, it emphasizes that Elijah is not just fixing stones but restoring something spiritually significant that had been neglected or ruined.
  • "Altar" (מִזְבֵּחַ, mizbeach): This is the specific place for sacrifices to the LORD. Its broken state highlights how far Israel had drifted from their worship of God.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of Israel’s God, making it clear which deity Elijah is honoring, in contrast to Baal.

Why 1 Kings 18:30 matters

  • The verse clears up that Elijah is not building a new altar but restoring one that had been dedicated to the LORD, showing a call back to Israel’s original faith.
  • By having all the people come near, Elijah ensures that the restoration and the coming events are public and witnessed by everyone, giving the act greater significance.
  • This moment connects directly to the larger story, where Elijah’s actions challenge the people to choose whom they will serve—YHWH or Baal—by first restoring the proper place for worship.

Where else these words appear

“down” Hebrew H2040 · used in 42 verses

  • Exodus 15:7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
  • Psalms 58:6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.
  • Jeremiah 50:15 Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.

“repaired” Hebrew H7495 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
  • 2 Chronicles 16:12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
  • Jeremiah 6:14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

“Elijah” Hebrew H452 · used in 65 verses

  • 1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
  • 1 Kings 18:31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
  • 2 Kings 1:13 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.

“near” Hebrew H5066 · used in 112 verses

  • Genesis 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
  • Deuteronomy 25:9 Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house.
  • 2 Kings 4:5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.