1 Kings 19

All 21 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
2. 2Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, 'May the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like one of theirs by this time tomorrow.'
3. 3When he saw that, he got up and went to save his life. He traveled to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4. 4Then he went alone, a day's journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a juniper tree and asked to die. "I've had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life. I'm no better than my ancestors."
5. 5He lay down and fell asleep under the juniper tree. Then an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat."
6. 6He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals and a jar of water. He ate and drank, then lay down again.
7. 7The angel of the LORD came back a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat — the journey ahead is too much for you."
8. 8So he got up, ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.
9. 9He came to a cave and stayed there; then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
10. 10He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts. The children of Israel have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me too."
11. 11And he said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD." Then the LORD passed by. A powerful wind tore through the mountains and shattered rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
12. 12After the earthquake came a fire — but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice.
13. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak, went out, and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then a voice spoke to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
14. 14And he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts, because the children of Israel have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life too."
15. 15The LORD told him, "Go back the way you came, through the wilderness to Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.
16. 16Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to be prophet in your place.
17. 17Anyone who escapes Hazael's sword will be killed by Jehu, and anyone who escapes Jehu's sword will be killed by Elisha.
18. 18Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.
19. 19Elijah left and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah walked by him and threw his cloak on him.
20. 20Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah. He said, "Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you." Elijah replied, "Go back again: for what have I done to you?"
21. 21Elisha went back, took a yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them. He cooked their meat using the equipment of the oxen as fuel. He gave the food to the people, and they ate. Then he got up, followed Elijah, and served him.