New International Version
1 Kings 19:2
2So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
1 Kings 19:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”
Context of 1 Kings 19:2
1Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4while 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.”
Read all of 1 Kings 191 Kings 19:2 word by word
וַתִּשְׁלַ֤ח אִיזֶ֙בֶל֙ מַלְאָ֔ךְ אֶל־אֵלִיָּ֖הוּ לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּֽה־יַעֲשׂ֤וּן אֱלֹהִים֙ וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִפ֔וּן כִּֽי־כָעֵ֤ת מָחָר֙ אָשִׂ֣ים אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁךָ֔ כְּנֶ֖פֶשׁ אַחַ֥ד מֵהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then Jezebelאִיזֶבֶל'îyzebel · JezebelH348
- sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- a messengerמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messengerH4397
- unto Elijahאֵלִיָּה'êlîyâh 'êlîyâhû · ElijahH452
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- So let the godsאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- and moreיָסַףyâsaph · to addH3254
- also, if I makeשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
- not thy lifeנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
- of oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- of them by to morrowמָחָרmâchâr · tomorrowH4279
- about this timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
Cross-references for 1 Kings 19:2
- 1 Kings 2:28When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar.
- 1 Kings 20:10Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if enough dust remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful.”
- Ruth 1:17Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”
- 2 Kings 6:31He said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today!”
- Exodus 10:28Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.”
- Exodus 15:9The enemy boasted, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.’
- 2 Kings 19:10“Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.’
- Daniel 3:15Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
- Proverbs 27:1Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
- Acts 12:4After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
- James 4:13Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”
Commentaries on 1 Kings 19:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2So let the gods do - If I do not slay thee, let the gods slay me with the most ignominious death.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2The prophet had not long to wait before learning the intentions of the queen. A priest‘s daughter herself, she would avenge the slaughtered priests; a king‘s wife and a king‘s child, she would not quail before a subject. That very night a messenger declared her determination to compass the prophet‘s death within the space of a day. So let the gods - A common oath about this time (marginal references). The Greek Version prefixes to this another clause…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Jezebel threatened to kill Elijah within a day by speaking a curse. Solomon had made a similar threat against his half-brother Adonijah (1 Kings 2:23), and the king of Aram later used the same approach against Elisha (2 Kings 6:31). Jezebel was determined and ruthless in achieving her goals (1 Kings 21:5–15).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 19:2
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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