Who was Elijah in the Bible?

Last updated Jul 15, 2026

Published by Bible Direct Answers · Licensed under Citation License 1.0

Elijah was a prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah, recorded in 1 Kings 17 through 2 Kings 2, where he is taken up in a whirlwind.

1 Kings 17:1 in the King James Version reads:

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.

The verse introduces Elijah at the opening of 1 Kings 17. Read it in context at 1 Kings 17:1, or the full chapter at 1 Kings 17. Encyclopedia entry: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah.

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