God’s Word Translation
1 Kings 19:21
21Elisha left him, took two oxen, and butchered them. He boiled the meat, using the oxen’s yoke ⌞for firewood⌟. He gave the meat to the people to eat. Then he left to follow and assist Elijah.
1 Kings 19:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
- New International Version (NIV)So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.
Context of 1 Kings 19:21
19Elijah found Elisha, son of Shaphat. Elisha was plowing behind 12 pairs of oxen. He was using the twelfth pair. Elijah took off his coat and put it on Elisha. 20So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye. Then I will follow you.” “Go back,” Elijah answered him. “I’m not stopping you.” Elisha left him, took two oxen, and butchered them. He boiled the meat, using the oxen’s yoke ⌞for firewood⌟. He gave the meat to the people to eat. Then he left to follow and assist Elijah.
Read all of 1 Kings 191 Kings 19:21 word by word
וַיָּ֨שָׁב מֵאַחֲרָ֜יו וַיִּקַּ֣ח אֶת־צֶ֧מֶד הַבָּקָ֣ר וַיִּזְבָּחֵ֗הוּ וּבִכְלִ֤י הַבָּקָר֙ בִּשְּׁלָ֣ם הַבָּשָׂ֔ר וַיִּתֵּ֥ן לָעָ֖ם וַיֹּאכֵ֑לוּ וַיָּ֗קָם וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ אַחֲרֵ֥י אֵלִיָּ֖הוּ וַיְשָׁרְתֵֽהוּ׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he returned backשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- from himאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- and tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- a yokeצֶ֫מֶדtsemed · pairH6776
- of oxenבָּקָרbâqâr · cattleH1241
- and slewזָבַחzâbach · to sacrificeH2076
- them, and boiledבָּשַׁלbâshal · to boilH1310
- their fleshבָּשָׂרbâώâr · fleshH1320
- with the instrumentsכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
- and gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- unto the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- and they did eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- Then he aroseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
- and wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- Elijahאֵלִיָּה'êlîyâh 'êlîyâhû · ElijahH452
- and ministeredשָׁרַתshârath · to ministerH8334
Cross-references for 1 Kings 19:21
- 2 Samuel 24:22Araunah said to David, “Take it, Your Majesty, and offer whatever you think is right. There are oxen for the burnt offering, and there are threshers and oxen yokes for firewood.”
- Luke 5:28So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.
- 1 Kings 18:43He said to his servant, “Please go back to ⌞Mount Carmel⌟, and look toward the sea.” He went up, looked, ⌞came back,⌟ and said, “There’s nothing.” Seven times Elijah told him, “Go back.”
- Exodus 24:13Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.
- Numbers 27:18So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua, son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit, and place your hand on him.
- 2 Kings 2:3Some of the disciples of the prophets at Bethel came to Elisha. They asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” He answered, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
- 2 Kings 3:11But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord whom we could ask?” One of the officials of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha, the son of Shaphat, is here. He used to be Elijah’s assistant.”
- Acts 13:5Arriving in the city of Salamis, they began to spread God’s word in the synagogues. John Mark had gone along to help them.
- 2 Timothy 4:11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you. He is useful to me in my work.
- Philemon 1:13I wanted to keep him here with me. Then he could have served me in your place while I am in prison for spreading the Good News.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 19:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21He returned back - He went home to his house; probably he yet lived with his parents, for it appears he was a single man: and he slew a yoke of the oxen - he made a feast for his household, having boiled the flesh of the oxen with his agricultural implements, probably in token that he had abandoned secular life: then, having bidden them an affectionate farewell, he arose, went after Elijah, who probably still awaited his coming in the field or its…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Elisha returns to his oxen and laborers. He indicates his relinquishment of his home and calling by the slaughter of the particular yoke of oxen with which he had himself been plowing, probably the best beasts of the twelve, and by burning the “instruments,” the p oughs and yokes, both made of wood. Next he feasts his people to show his gratitude for his call, Elijah apparently remaining the while; and then, leaving father and mother, cattle and land…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-21Verses 19-21 Elijah found Elisha by Divine direction, not in the schools of the prophets, but in the field; not reading, or praying, or sacrificing, but ploughing. Idleness is no man's honour, nor is husbandry any man's disgrace. An honest calling in the world, does not put us out of the way of our heavenly calling, any more than it did Elisha. His heart was touched by the Holy Spirit, and he was ready to leave all to attend Elijah. It is in a day of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Elisha burned his plow and slaughtered his oxen to show he was leaving his old life behind. From then on, he would serve the Lord. His meal with family and friends might have been a thanksgiving sacrifice to God, ending with a joyful meal celebrating God's call on Elisha's life. Elisha would first serve as the assistant of Elijah. Great leaders often start as good learners. Joshua was the assistant of Moses (Exodus 24:13) before becoming his successor…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. took a yoke of oxen--Having hastily prepared (2Sa 24:22) a farewell entertainment to his family and friends, he left his native place and attached himself to Elijah as his minister.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 19:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries