KJV ORIGINAL
And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
At noon, Elijah began mocking them, saying, 'Shout louder! He is a god, isn't he? Maybe he's deep in thought, or busy with something, or traveling somewhere, or perhaps he's sleeping and needs to be woken up.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Elijah is sarcastically mocking the prophets of Baal, pointing out that their god isn't responding because he's powerless and not real.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during the famous contest on Mount Carmel between Elijah and 450 prophets of Baal to prove whose God was real. The prophets of Baal had been crying out all morning for their god to send fire, but nothing happened. Elijah's mocking highlights the futility of worshiping false gods who cannot hear or act.
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