Study it in the app“Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between the two opinions? If YHWH is Elohim, go after him; and if Baal, go after him.” And the people did not answer him a word.”
Elijahאֵלִיָּהוּcame nearוַיִּגַּשׁtoאֶלallכָּלthe peopleהָעָםand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“How longעַד מָתַיwill youאַתֶּםgo limpingפֹּסְחִיםbetweenעַלthe twoשְׁתֵּיopinions?הַסְּעִפִּיםIfאִםYHWHיְהוָהis Elohim,הָאֱלֹהִיםgoלְכוּafter him;אַחֲרָיוand ifוְאִםBaal,הַבַּעַלgoלְכוּafter him.”אַחֲרָיוAnd the peopleוְ הָעָםdid notלֹאanswerעָנוּhimאֹתוֹa word.דָּבָר
Elijah
Elijah: a name meaning "my El is YHWH." It is the prophet from Gilead who confronted King Ahab and the worship of Baal (1 Kings 17–2 Kings 2); two other Israelites bear the same name (1 Chronicles 8:27; Ezra 10:21).
Where else “eliyahu” appearscome near
To go until one is near someone or something.
Where else “yigash” appearscrowd
The people gathered in a place: the crowd, or the troops that go out to war.
Where else “am” appearssay
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appearswhen?
When? How long?
Where else “matay” appearslimp
To walk badly on a foot or leg that does not hold; also, to waver between two options.
Where else “poschim” appearsboth
The two together, both of them.
Where else “shete” appearsdivided opinion
Going back and forth without deciding.
Where else “seipim” appearsYHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appearsElohim
The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.
Where else “elohim” appearsgo along
To accompany someone on the way, to go along with him.
Where else “lechu” appearsBaal
Baal: the god of the Canaanites, to whom they attributed the rain and the harvests. The word means "lord, owner." The Bible names him as a foreign god whom Israel was not to serve.
Where else “baal” appearsanswer
To reply to what was said.
Where else “anu” appearsword
What someone says or announces, above all what YHWH says.
Where else “davar” appears“Going limping between the two opinions”: an image of disputed meaning. The verb is “to limp” (the same as in verse 26); the other word occurs rarely and can mean “branches,” “crutches,” or “divided opinions.” The idea is clear: one cannot go after YHWH and after Baal at the same time.
20So Ahab sent word among all the sons of Israel and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel.
21 · This verse (above)
22Elijah said to the people, “I am left a prophet of YHWH, I alone; and the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men.
