Elijah (Biblical character)

NAME Elijah (Hebrew: אֵלִיָּהוּ‎, Eliyahu, meaning "My God is Yahweh").

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Elijah is renowned as a prophet and miracle worker in the Old Testament. He is celebrated for his unwavering faith in God, his confrontation with idolatry during King Ahab's reign, and his dramatic miracles, including calling fire from heaven and raising the dead.

BIRTH Elijah's exact birth date and place are unknown, but he is described as being from Tishbe in Gilead, a region east of the Jordan River.

FAMILY BACKGROUND The Bible does not provide details about Elijah's family or lineage. He is introduced as "Elijah the Tishbite," emphasizing his role as a prophet rather than his familial ties. (1)

CHILDHOOD There is no biblical record of Elijah's childhood. His significance lies in his prophetic ministry rather than his early life.

EDUCATION  As a prophet receiving direct communication from God, his "education" in divine matters would have been primarily experiential and revelatory. He was deeply knowledgeable about God's laws and traditions, likely through spiritual revelation and adherence to Israelite customs. (2) 

CAREER RECORD Elijah's career as a prophet was marked by dramatic confrontations with Israelite kings and idol worshippers:

He proclaimed a drought as punishment for Israel's idolatry (1 Kings 17:1).

Raised a widow’s son from the dead, multiplied flour and oil during famine, called fire from heaven to defeat Baal’s prophets, and parted the Jordan River (1 Kings 17–2 Kings 2).

He denounced King Ahab for leading Israel into sin and condemned Jezebel’s influence.

Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind, symbolizing his unique relationship with God (2 Kings 2:11).

APPEARANCE The Bible does not describe Elijah’s physical appearance explicitly. However, he is often depicted wearing a mantle or cloak, which became symbolic of his prophetic authority.

Elijah on Mount Horeb, as depicted in a Greek Orthodox icon

FASHION He is described by messengers to King Ahaziah as "a hairy man," wearing "a garment of haircloth, with a leather belt around his waist" (2 Kings 1:8). This suggests a rugged, ascetic appearance typical of some prophets.

Elijah’s mantle was significant; it symbolized his prophetic office and was passed on to Elisha upon his ascension to heaven.

CHARACTER Elijah was bold, zealous for God, and unwavering in his faith. He stood firm against corruption and idolatry despite persecution. He also experienced moments of fear and discouragement, showing his humanity.

SPEAKING VOICE Elijah’s voice was authoritative and confrontational, often delivering God’s messages with urgency. His words inspired repentance and demonstrated divine power.

SENSE OF HUMOUR He displayed sharp sarcasm and mockery when taunting the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel about their god's inability to answer them. (1 Kings 18:27).

RELATIONSHIPS His primary relationship was with God, whom he served directly and intimately.

Elijah had a close relationship with Elisha, his devoted disciple and successor, with whom he had a mentor-protégé bond.

His interactions with kings like Ahab were contentious due to their idolatry. (1)

MONEY AND FAME Elijah lived an ascetic life without personal wealth, relying on God's provision. He was certainly famous, or rather infamous, throughout Israel due to his public miracles and confrontations with the monarchy. His reputation was one of fearsome power.

FOOD AND DRINK His story features notable instances related to food and drink, often miraculous: being fed bread and meat by ravens, the widow's endlessly replenishing flour and oil, and being sustained in the wilderness by cake and water provided by an angel (1 Kings 19:5-8).

LITERATURE Elijah’s story is preserved in the Bible (1 Kings 17–2 Kings 2), making him one of the most significant figures in biblical literature. There is no record of him writing literature himself, though his powerful words and prophecies are recorded.

NATURE Elijah's ministry was deeply intertwined with the natural world, often demonstrating God's power over it: commanding drought and rain, being fed by ravens, calling down fire, parting the Jordan River, and ultimately ascending in a whirlwind. He spent significant time in the wilderness (Brook Cherith, Mount Horeb).

Elijah in the wilderness, by Washington Allston

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Elijah outran King Ahab’s chariot after praying for rain (1 Kings 18:46), showcasing extraordinary physical endurance granted by God. (3)

SCIENCE AND MATHS Elijah demonstrated supernatural phenomena through divine intervention.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Elijah's life vividly embodied a powerful theology centered on staunch monotheism—an unwavering belief that Yahweh alone is God and demands exclusive worship. This core conviction drove his vehement opposition to idolatry, particularly his famous confrontation with Baal worship, which he saw as a direct affront to God's sovereignty and a violation of Israel's covenant.

His ministry demonstrated this sovereignty through dramatic acts, showcasing his belief in God's direct intervention in human lives and absolute power over nature, from controlling the weather to calling down fire. Flowing from this understanding of God's authority was a profound sense of divine justice. Elijah firmly believed that God judges sin, faithlessness, and injustice, holding even kings and queens accountable, and he operated with the conviction that the prophet speaks God's authoritative message, delivering this divine word to the people and their leaders.

Importantly, Elijah's theology also encompassed the diverse ways God makes His presence known. His experiences revealed a God manifest not only through mighty acts of power, like those on Mount Carmel, but also through moments of profound, quiet intimacy, as famously represented by the "still small voice" he heard on Mount Horeb, highlighting a God who relates both majestically and personally. 

ELIJAH IN THE BIBLE Elijah was one of those people who didn’t exactly blend in. He didn’t do small talk, wasn’t particularly fond of dinner parties (especially if they involved Baal worship), and had a worrying habit of calling down fire from heaven when he got cross.

He lived during the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel—who were, to put it delicately, not exactly a godly couple. You might say they’d taken to Baal worship like ducks to a particularly sulphurous pond, dragging the entire nation of Israel with them. This upset God rather a lot. It also upset Elijah, who was sent as a sort of heavenly cease-and-desist notice with a beard.

One of Elijah’s more memorable moments took place on Mount Carmel, which sounds lovely but was, at the time, crawling with prophets of Baal who were making an absolute racket trying to get their imaginary deity to light a fire under a rather reluctant sacrifice. Elijah, ever the showman, suggested that perhaps Baal was “asleep or on the loo” (that’s the polite translation). Then Elijah, with the calm confidence of someone who really knew he wasn’t making it up, asked God to set the record straight. And—boom!—fire fell from heaven and made a spectacular example of the soggy sacrifice. The crowd was quite impressed. Some fainted. Baal’s prophets were very quiet after that.

Elijah had a colourful CV beyond just heavenly pyrotechnics. He was fed by ravens (which is wonderful unless you’ve ever actually tried to eat something that’s been in a raven’s mouth), raised a widow’s son from the dead (very touching), and called down more fire from heaven when some soldiers came to arrest him (again—fire. You may be noticing a theme).

He also had a rather spectacular exit: no deathbed, no funeral, not even a "thank you for your service" scroll. Just a flaming chariot and a whirlwind. (Note to self: if you see a prophet’s cloak fall from the sky, perhaps don’t pick it up unless you’re prepared for what comes next.)

Elijah pops up again in the New Testament. He makes a cameo on a mountain during the Transfiguration, chatting with Jesus and Moses, presumably comparing notes and wondering if Peter would ever stop talking. His presence there was quite the endorsement—he was, after all, the go-to prophet of the Old Testament. Sort of the spiritual equivalent of that one slightly terrifying uncle who never smiles in photos but always shows up when it matters.

James, in his epistle, reminds us that Elijah, for all his miracles and fiery antics, was just a person like us. A human being with doubts, fears, hunger, and probably the occasional mild bout of prophet’s foot. But when he prayed, things happened. Big, sky-cracking, earth-shaking things.

And maybe that’s the point. God doesn’t just work through the serene and saintly. Sometimes He uses the grumpy, the tired, the fed-up, and the slightly singed. And sometimes, when it’s really important, He sends in Elijah. 

POLITICS Elijah was deeply involved in the politics of his time, not as a statesman, but as God's representative challenging the ruling powers. He directly confronted Kings Ahab and Ahaziah, condemned Queen Jezebel's influence, denounced state-sponsored idolatry, and his actions (like the drought and the execution of Baal prophets) had massive political and social consequences. He was also instructed to anoint future kings who would bring about political upheaval.

SCANDAL Elijah condemned King Ahab for murdering Naboth to seize his vineyard—a scandal that highlighted Ahab’s moral failings (1 Kings 21). (1)

MILITARY RECORD Elijah held no formal military position. However, he commanded supernatural power that destroyed soldiers sent to capture him (calling down fire in 2 Kings 1) and his designation of Hazael and Jehu led directly to future military conflicts and coups.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Elijah endured long journeys without food or water showing remarkable physical resilience. He survived periods in the wilderness through divine sustenance. (2)

The Bible records an instance of deep exhaustion and despair (1 Kings 19:4) but no other illnesses. His unique departure suggests a transformation beyond ordinary physical limitations.

HOMES Elijah lived nomadically, Elijah appears to have been largely itinerant during his recorded ministry. He originated from Tishbe in Gilead, stayed by the Brook Cherith, lived for a time with the widow in Zarephath (in Sidon, outside Israel), and travelled extensively. No permanent residence during his prophetic career is described.

TRAVEL Elijah traveled extensively across Israel during his ministry: within the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria, Mount Carmel, Jezreel), into Phoenicia (Zarephath near Sidon), south to Beersheba, and further into the wilderness to Mount Horeb (Sinai). His final journey took him across the Jordan River before being taken up into heaven.

DEATH Elijah did not die in a conventional sense. While travelling with Elisha, "a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind" (2 Kings 2:11)

Elijah Taken Up in a Chariot of Fire by Giuseppe Angeli, c. 1740

Within several Christian traditions, the prophet Elijah's feast day is primarily observed on July 20th. This date holds particular significance in the Eastern Orthodox Church, where it is celebrated as a major feast day for St. Elias (Elijah). 

While Elijah is highly revered in the Catholic Church, he doesn't have a feast day on the General Roman Calendar used by the Latin Rite. However, the Carmelite Order, which regards Elijah as its spiritual father, honours him with a Solemnity on July 20th. Similarly, some Eastern Catholic Churches that follow the Byzantine Rite also commemorate the prophet on this date.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Elijah appears in religious art, films about biblical prophets, and Christian teachings emphasizing faithfulness to God. He is also mentioned in New Testament accounts like the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1–9).

🎬 Film and Television

The Bible (TV Series, History Channel, 2013) This miniseries dramatized key biblical stories with Hollywood production value. Elijah gets his moment in the spotlight during the showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. There's fire, intensity, and the sort of dramatic pacing Elijah would’ve quite enjoyed.

Elijah (Biblical Tales, 1996) A lesser-known but beautifully animated children’s film, this tells Elijah’s story with gentle narration and a soundtrack that features an awful lot of harp.

Superbook (Animated Series, Various Episodes) This Christian children's series reimagines Elijah for younger audiences. He’s often shown as kind but intense—sort of like your favourite stern uncle who might summon lightning if you don’t finish your vegetables.

🎭 Stage and Music

1. Elijah – Oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn (1846) Now this is where Elijah shines. Mendelssohn’s romantic-era oratorio brings the prophet’s drama to full operatic life—with soaring choruses, dramatic monologues, and that thunderous Mount Carmel scene set to music. Elijah is portrayed as passionate, tormented, faithful, and occasionally exhausted—which feels about right.

📚 Books and Literature

1. The Prophet by Francine Rivers This novel offers a fictionalized but reverent portrayal of Elijah, fleshing out the internal struggles behind the dramatic public acts. Think of it as “Elijah: The Inner Life.”

2. Elijah and the Ravens of Kerith (FBI - Faithful Bible Investigators) Yes, that’s a real kids’ book. Think Christian Hardy Boys, but with more prayer and fewer bicycles. Elijah is the star in his wilderness era.

🎮 Video Games 

While Elijah doesn’t show up in Assassin’s Creed: Ancient Prophets (sadly not a real game), some Bible-themed games like The Bible Game (PS2/Xbox) and David vs. Goliath occasionally reference Elijah or include him in trivia-style gameplay. He’s generally the answer to the question “Which prophet was taken up in a whirlwind?”

🕍 Other Cultural Appearances 

Elijah is also a prominent figure in Jewish Talmud and Midrash, and in Islamic tradition (as Ilyas).

In Jewish tradition, Elijah famously gets a cup of wine and an open door during the Passover Seder, symbolizing hope and the coming of the Messiah. 

ACHIEVEMENTS Confronted idolatry during King Ahab's reign.

Demonstrated God's power through miracles like raising the dead and calling fire from heaven.

Inspired repentance among Israelites after defeating Baal's prophets on Mount Carmel.

Symbolized unwavering faithfulness to God throughout biblical history.

Sources (1) Bible Study Tools (2) Crosswalk (3) Agape Bible Study