Elias in the Bible is another name for Elijah, a major Hebrew prophet who lived in the 9th century BCE during the reign of King Ahab in the northern kingdom of Israel. His name means "Yahweh is my God" and he is renowned for his zealous defense of the worship of Yahweh against the Canaanite god Baal, which had become widespread due to Queen Jezebel's influence

. Elijah (Elias) first appears in 1 Kings 17:1 and is described as a Tishbite from Gilead. He is famous for several dramatic events, including:

• Proclaiming a drought as divine punishment for Baal worship.
• The contest on Mount Carmel where he challenged 450 prophets of Baal to call down fire from heaven; only Elijah's prayer was answered, proving Yahweh's supremacy

• Miracles such as being fed by ravens during famine, providing for a widow and raising her son from the dead

• His encounters with God, including hearing God's "still small voice" on Mount Horeb and being taken to heaven in a whirlwind without dying

Elijah's mission was to call Israel back to faithful worship of the one true God, denouncing the moral corruption of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, and upholding divine law and justice

. In the New Testament and Christian tradition, Elias is seen as a prophetic figure who foreshadows the coming of the Messiah and is expected to return before the "great and terrible day of the Lord" (Malachi 4:5). He is also linked to John the Baptist, who is considered a forerunner of Christ and sometimes identified with the spirit of Elijah

. In summary, Elias (Elijah) is a central prophetic figure in the Bible known for his miracles, his fierce opposition to idolatry, and his role as a messenger of God's judgment and mercy