New English Translation
1 Kings 19:4
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.”
1 Kings 19:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
- New International Version (NIV)while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers."
- New King James Version (NKJV)But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”
Context of 1 Kings 19:4
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!” 3Elijah was afraid, so he got up and fled for his life to Beer Sheba in Judah. He left his servant there, while 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.” 6He looked and right there by his head was a cake baking on hot coals and a jug of water. He ate and drank and then slept some more.
Read all of 1 Kings 191 Kings 19:4 word by word
וְהֽוּא־הָלַ֤ךְ בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ י֔וֹם וַיָּבֹ֕א וַיֵּ֕שֶׁב תַּ֖חַת רֹ֣תֶם אֶחָ֑ד וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל אֶת־נַפְשׁוֹ֙ לָמ֔וּת וַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀ רַ֗ב עַתָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ קַ֣ח נַפְשִׁ֔י כִּֽי־לֹא־ט֥וֹב אָנֹכִ֖י מֵאֲבֹתָֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But he himself wentהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
- a day’sיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- journeyדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
- into the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
- and cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- and sat downיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- under aאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- juniper treeרֹ֫תֶםrethem rôthem · broomH7574
- and he requestedשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
- for himselfנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: myselfH5315
- that he might dieמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- It is enoughרַבrab · manyH7227
- now, O Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- take awayלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- my lifeנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
- not betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- than my fathersאָב'âb · fatherH1
Cross-references for 1 Kings 19:4
- 1 Kings 13:14and took off after the prophet, whom he found sitting under an oak tree. He asked him, “Are you the prophet from Judah?” He answered, “Yes, I am.”
- Genesis 21:15When the water in the skin was gone, she shoved the child under one of the shrubs.
- John 4:6Jacob’s well was there, so Jesus, since he was tired from the journey, sat right down beside the well. It was about noon.
- 1 Kings 19:3Elijah was afraid, so he got up and fled for his life to Beer Sheba in Judah. He left his servant there,
- Numbers 11:15But if you are going to deal with me like this, then kill me immediately. If I have found favor in your sight then do not let me see my trouble.”
- 2 Kings 2:11As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a fiery chariot pulled by fiery horses appeared. They went between Elijah and Elisha, and Elijah went up to heaven in a windstorm.
- Job 3:20“Why does God give light to one who is in misery, and life to those whose soul is bitter,
- Jeremiah 20:14Cursed be the day I was born! May that day not be blessed when my mother gave birth to me.
- Jonah 4:3So now, Lord, kill me instead, because I would rather die than live!”
- Philippians 1:21For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.
- Amos 6:2They say to the people: “Journey over to Calneh and look at it! Then go from there to Hamath-Rabbah! Then go down to Gath of the Philistines! Are they superior to our two kingdoms? Is their territory larger than yours?”
- Nahum 3:8You are no more secure than Thebes – she was located on the banks of the Nile; the waters surrounded her, herrampart was the sea, the water was her wall.
- Matthew 6:26Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are?
- Romans 3:9What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin,
Commentaries on 1 Kings 19:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4A day's journey into the wilderness - Probably in his way to Mount Horeb. See 1 Kings 19:8. Juniper tree - A tree that afforded him a shade from the scorching sun. It is enough - I have lived long enough! I can do no more good among this people; let me now end my days.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Elijah did not feel himself safe until he was beyond the territory of Judah, for Ahab might demand him of Jehoshaphat 1 Kings 18:10, with whom he was on terms of close alliance 1 Kings 22:4. He, therefore, proceeds southward into the desert, simply to be out of the reach of his enemies. A juniper-tree - The tree here mentioned רתם rethem is not the juniper but a species of broom (Genista monosperma ), called “rethem” by the Arabs, which abounds in the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Although technically a shrub, the broom tree can grow up to ten feet tall. Its small leaves still offer enough shade for a tired traveler in the wilderness. Like Jonah (Jonah 4:3), Elijah completed his mission but felt disappointed with the outcome. no better: God's prophet, seeking refuge, felt he achieved little and thought he would be better off dead.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-184-18. went a day's journey into the wilderness--on the way from Beer-sheba to Horeb--a wide expanse of sand hills, covered with the retem (not juniper, but broom shrubs), whose tall and spreading branches, with their white leaves, afford a very cheering and refreshing shade. His gracious God did not lose sight of His fugitive servant, but watched over him, and, miraculously ministering to his wants, enabled him, in a better but not wholly right frame of…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 19:4
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
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