1 Kings 19:3

1 Kings 19:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer–sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
• New International Version (NIV)Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

Context of 1 Kings 19:3

1Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including a detailed account of how he killed all the prophets with the sword. 2Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah with this warning, “May the gods judge me severely if by this time tomorrow I do not take your life as you did theirs!” Elijah was afraid, so he got up and fled for his life to Beer Sheba in Judah. He left his servant there, 4while he went a day’s journey into the desert. He went and sat down under a shrub and asked the Lord to take his life: “I’ve had enough! Now, O Lord, take my life. After all, I’m no better than my ancestors.” 5He stretched out and fell asleep under the shrub. All of a sudden an angelic messenger touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”

1 Kings 19:3 word by word

וַיַּ֗רְא וַיָּ֙קָם֙ וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ אֶל־נַפְשׁ֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֕א בְּאֵ֥ר שֶׁ֖בַע אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִֽיהוּדָ֑ה וַיַּנַּ֥ח אֶֽת־נַעֲר֖וֹ שָֽׁם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And when he sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• he aroseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• and wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• for his lifeנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
• and cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to Beer–shebaבְּאֵר שֶׁ֫בַעbe'êr sheba‛ · BeershebaH884
• to Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
• and leftיָנַחyânach · to restH3240
• his servantנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288

Cross-references for 1 Kings 19:3

• Genesis 12:12When the Egyptians see you they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will keep you alive.
• Exodus 2:15When Pharaoh heard about this event, he sought to kill Moses. So Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, and he settled by a certain well.
• 1 Samuel 27:1David thought to himself, “One of these days I’m going to be swept away by the hand of Saul! There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of searching for me through all the territory of Israel and I will escape from his hand.”
• Isaiah 51:12“I, I am the one who consoles you. Why are you afraid of mortal men, of mere human beings who are as short-lived as grass?
• Matthew 26:56But this has happened so that the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
• 2 Corinthians 12:7even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me – so that I would not become arrogant.
• 1 Kings 4:25All the people of Judah and Israel had security; everyone from Dan to Beer Sheba enjoyed the produce of their vines and fig trees throughout Solomon’s lifetime.
• Genesis 21:31That is why he named that place Beer Sheba, because the two of them swore an oath there.
• Amos 7:12Amaziah then said to Amos, “Leave, you visionary! Run away to the land of Judah! Earn your living and prophesy there!

Commentaries on 1 Kings 19:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3He arose, and went for his life - He saw it was best to give place to this storm, and go to a place of safety. He probably thought that the miracle at Carmel would have been the means of effecting the conversion of the whole court and of the country, but, finding himself mistaken, he is greatly discouraged. To Beer-sheba - This being at the most southern extremity of the promised land, and under the jurisdiction of the king of Judah, he might suppose…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3The rapid movement of the original is very striking. “And he saw (or, “feared,” as some read), and he rose, and he went, etc.” The fear and flight of Elijah are very remarkable. Jezebel‘s threat alone, had not, in all probability, produced the extraordinary change but, partly, physical reaction from the over-excitement of the preceding day; and, partly, internal disquietude and doubt as to the wisdom of the course which he had adopted. Beer-sheba is about…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3Elijah was scared: The New Living Translation, the Berean Standard Bible, and many scholars translate Elijah’s reaction as fear, using the Hebrew word wayyira’ (“he feared”). The Hebrew text we have says, “he saw it” (wayyare’), meaning he saw the danger in Jezebel’s threat. Instead of a warm welcome after his great victory and hoping for the royal family to repent, Elijah faced a death threat. Beersheba was at the southern end of the country. A common…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-31Ki 19:1-3. Elijah Flees to Beer-sheba. 3. he arose, and went for his life--He entered Jezreel full of hope. But a message from the incensed and hard-hearted queen, vowing speedy vengeance for her slaughtered priests, dispelled all his bright visions of the future. It is probable, however, that in the present temper of the people, even she would not have dared to lay violent hands on the Lord's servant, and purposely threatened him because she could do no…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 19:3

• Elijah
• Jezebel
• King
• Life
• Minister, Christian
• Miracles
• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• Judah
• Sheba
• Judah, kingdom of Judah
• Judea, Judah
• Ahab
• Elijah
• Jealous
• Quotations
• Set
• Cattle

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