I like the Contemporary English Version's:
At noon, Elijah began making fun of them. "Pray louder!" he said. "Baal must be a god. Maybe he's day-dreaming or using the toilet or traveling somewhere. Or maybe he's asleep, and you have to wake him up."
Does a god need a toiler?
2007-03-08 12:26:12 · 15 answers · asked by Holy Holly 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Oops, toilet not toiler.
2007-03-08 12:26:41 · update #1
The Hebrew word (siyg) that the CEV has translated into "using the toilet," literally means "to withdraw, especially to a private place." (It is Strong's Reference # 7873.)
This word could easily be inferred as a euphemism for using the toilet, since one would withdraw to a private place to do their business.
The only issue that I personally take with that idea, is that the term "covering one's feet" (i.e. I Samuel 24:3, KJV) is most often used as that euphemism; biblically, anyway.
As to whether a god needs to use the toilet, Baal apparently does. :-D
2007-03-08 12:39:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Using a toilet" is rendered " (is) gone aside" by the NASB. It is probably an accurate paraphrase, as the whole point of the passage is that Elijah was mocking the false impotent god Baal, which was nothing more than the figment of men's imaginations, like the imaginary god of so many today who make a god in their own image and likeness. A short time later, Elijah demonstrated before all those gathered to witness who the true God was, when calling on the name of the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, he called down fire from heaven, which consumed not only the sacrifice, but the water that drenched the sacrifice, and even the very stones of the altar on which the sacrifice was placed.
2007-03-08 12:37:44 · answer #2 · answered by wefmeister 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My Bible doesn`t say toilet. 1 Kings 18:27 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 preadventure he sleepth,and must be awaked.
Their god or gods didn`t answer and later in the day,evening time,Elijah showed them who the real God was.
2007-03-08 14:30:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's actually a pretty good modern translation. The KJV isn't far off. Of course, Elijah was mocking them because he knew Baal was a false god.
2007-03-08 12:36:42 · answer #4 · answered by FUNdie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Translation:
At noon Elijah began to tease them. "Shout louder!" he said. "I'm sure Baal is a god! Perhaps he has too much to think about. Or maybe he has gone to the toilet. Or perhaps he's away on a trip. Maybe he's sleeping. You might have to wake him up."
God isn't so mythical actually. Someone or somebodies has their hands on the controls for sure. It could be He uses a toilet.
2007-03-08 12:38:21 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like your version better, but this is what mine says.
18:27 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.
2007-03-08 12:33:14 · answer #6 · answered by Alex 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Elijah was ridiculing Baal, not God. He was implying that Baal has human qualities and is not a god at all.
2007-03-08 12:33:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God does not use a toilet.
Elijah was taunting and mocking the prophets of baal. He did a perfect job!!
2007-03-08 12:29:32 · answer #8 · answered by Tribble Macher 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The correct translation can be found in another book,, Babelonious I; roughly translated, it means it's BS.
2007-03-08 12:29:48 · answer #9 · answered by conx-the-dots 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
He making fun of them,cuase He knows their god is false and not real.
2007-03-08 12:30:07 · answer #10 · answered by Maurice H 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋