Call Things That Are Not as Though They Are
I hear people speak about the still, small voice of the Lord often. I’ve heard it referenced in personal conversations and in sermons and just about everything in between. Almost every time I have heard it referenced, it’s being used to describe the way the Lord is speaking, has spoken, or will speak to someone. Usually, it’s used as a way to describe an internal voice, promptings, impressions, or something similar. But is that what is actually meant in scripture by the phrase “still, small voice”? Let’s look at the passage in 1 Kings 19.
Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
1 Kings 19:11-14 (NKJV)
I decided to do a word study to see what is actually being referred to here. The word voice that is used in verse 12 (“still, small voice”) is transliterated from Hebrew as qol (pronounced kole) and means “to call aloud; a voice or sound”. In each instance that it is used in the Old Testament, it is a sound or noise, most often translated as the word ‘voice’. As I studied, it was clear from the etymology of the word and every time that the word is used, it is describing an external, audible voice or sound, not an internal voice or impression.
Something that I found interesting as I studied this word is that in most English translations, it’s not translated as “still, small voice”. I only found that phrase in the KJV, NKJV and BSB. Other translations read “gentle blowing” (NASB), “low whisper” (ESV), “gentle whisper” (NIV and NLT), and “soft whisper” (CSB). That made me wonder what words were used in the Hebrew for our translation of ‘voice’ and ‘cry aloud’ in the surrounding verses. What I found was that it was the same word in 1 Kings 18:26, 27, 28, 29, and 19:13. I didn’t look further after looking at the context of those verses because it was clear to me what the intended meaning of the word was, and it is not what I’ve been taught in the past or how I’ve heard it used over the years.
So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made. And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.” So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
1 Kings 18:26-29 (NKJV)
So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
1 Kings 19:13 (NKJV)
Notice in verse 13 above what Elijah did after he heard this voice and what happened. He “went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” Presumably, he moved toward the voice, where he heard it audibly again when he got to the entrance of the cave. What’s more, he didn’t have to question or guess at whose voice he was hearing. He didn’t have to weigh the words to figure out if it was his own internal voice, the voice of the enemy, or God’s voice. It was certainly God, and His words were clear.
Why did I do this particular study, and what did it do to edify my faith?
Discovering the context of this phrase and understanding that it was a description of an event that happened to someone (notably, an OT prophet) in Bible history has had a profound effect on my faith. As I studied these verses and this word, it became clear that this is not an imperative passage, but a descriptive one. We don’t see anything in these verses that would organically push us to conclude that we should also be hearing or seeking a quiet voice or impression. This relieved me of the burden to try to hear or feel something that I thought I needed to experience every day in my quiet time. Turns out, there’s nothing here that says that. What a relief!! If I based what hearing God’s voice would be like on these verses, there would be no doubt about when He’s speaking and that it’s Him. It would be external and audible and clear in every sense. Also, if we read the whole chapter (or better yet, the whole book), it does tell us all kinds of things about God and His attributes, and points to the coming of Christ.
This was a very simple study. I used my Strong’s Concordance at home, but I also looked the word and verses up on BibleHub.com and used their study tools. It’s a very easy-to-use, free online resource. I encourage you all to check it out as a supplemental bible study tool.
As for this topic of hearing God’s voice, I will be looking at more scriptures soon and I’ll post more short blogs as I go. I hope this is a blessing and an encouragement to you. Thank you for reading!