Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

1 KINGS 18:37KJV
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1 Kings 18:37 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 18:37 mean?

1 Kings 18:37 is a prayer from Elijah asking God to answer him so that the people will recognize that the LORD is the true God and that God is turning their hearts back to Himself. Elijah’s request is for a clear sign that will convince the people of God’s identity and His power to bring them back from their wandering.

In this scene, Elijah is speaking directly to God during the dramatic showdown on Mount Carmel, where he is facing the prophets of Baal before the people of Israel. Elijah’s prayer highlights his desire for God to reveal Himself unmistakably, not for Elijah’s sake, but so the people will know the LORD (H3068) is God (H430) and realize their hearts are being turned (H5437) back to Him.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 18:37

  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH, H3068): This is the personal name of Israel’s God, emphasizing that Elijah is calling on the specific, covenant God of Israel, not just any deity.
  • God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim, H430): This word means “God” in a general sense but here is paired with YHWH to stress that the LORD alone is truly God, in contrast to Baal.
  • Turned/back (סָבַב, savav, H5437): This verb is used twice, showing that Elijah is asking God to actively change the direction of the people’s hearts, bringing them back from following other gods.

Why 1 Kings 18:37 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Elijah’s main concern is not his own reputation but the people’s recognition of the LORD as the true God.
  • The verse connects directly to the larger contest with the prophets of Baal, showing that the miracle Elijah asks for is meant to restore the people’s loyalty to God.
  • The language of turning hearts back shows that repentance and restoration are at the heart of Elijah’s prayer, not just a display of power.

Where else these words appear

“again” Hebrew H322 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 9:23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.
  • 1 Samuel 4:18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
  • 2 Kings 20:11 And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.

“turned” Hebrew H5437 · used in 147 verses

  • Genesis 2:11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
  • 2 Samuel 18:30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
  • Psalms 48:12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.