New International Version
1 Kings 19:4
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.”
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.
- 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!”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”
Context of 1 Kings 19:4
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.” 3Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 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.” 5Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
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 rode after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak tree and asked, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” “I am,” he replied.
- Genesis 21:15When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes.
- John 4:6Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
- 1 Kings 19:3Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,
- Numbers 11:15If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”
- 2 Kings 2:11As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
- Job 3:20“Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,
- Jeremiah 20:14Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed!
- Jonah 4:3Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
- Philippians 1:21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
- Amos 6:2Go to Kalneh and look at it; go from there to great Hamath, and then go down to Gath in Philistia. Are they better off than your two kingdoms? Is their land larger than yours?
- Nahum 3:8Are you better than Thebes, situated on the Nile, with water around her? The river was her defense, the waters her wall.
- Matthew 6:26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
- Romans 3:9What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of 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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