King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who [was] plowing [with] twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
Complete Jewish Bible:
So he left and found Elisha the son of Shafat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he himself was behind the twelfth. Eliyahu went over to him and threw his cloak on him.
Berean Standard Bible:
So Elijah departed and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him.
American Standard Version:
So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing, with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed over unto him, and cast his mantle upon him.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
So he departed{H3212} thence, and found{H4672} Elisha{H477} the son{H1121} of Shaphat{H8202}, who was plowing{H2790} with twelve{H8147}{H6240} yoke{H6776} of oxen before{H6440} him, and he with the twelfth{H8147}{H6240}: and Elijah{H452} passed{H5674} by him, and cast{H7993} his mantle{H155} upon him.
Cross-References (KJV):
2 Kings 2:8
- And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped [it] together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
2 Kings 2:13
- ¶ He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
2 Kings 2:14
- And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where [is] the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
Psalms 78:70
- He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
Psalms 78:72
- So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
1 Samuel 28:14
- And he said unto her, What form [is] he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he [is] covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it [was] Samuel, and he stooped with [his] face to the ground, and bowed himself.
Zechariah 13:5
- But he shall say, I [am] no prophet, I [am] an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 1 Kings 19:19
1 Kings 19:19 is a pivotal moment in the narrative of the prophet Elijah. Set in the historical context of the divided monarchy of Israel, this verse captures a significant transition in the line of prophetic succession. Elijah, having just fled from the threats of Queen Jezebel after his triumph on Mount Carmel, is directed by God to anoint Elisha as his successor.
In the verse, Elijah finds Elisha engaged in the ordinary and familial task of plowing a field with twelve yoke of oxen, indicating that Elisha is from a well-to-do family, as this would have been a substantial number of animals for a single farmer. The detail that Elisha is with the twelfth pair of oxen suggests he is not merely overseeing the work but is actively involved in the labor, demonstrating his diligence and humility.
Upon encountering Elisha, Elijah casts his mantle upon him, a symbolic act that serves multiple purposes. It is a call to a prophetic vocation, a sign of investiture, and a transfer of authority. This gesture is immediate and unexpected, and it requires Elisha to make a radical life change, leaving behind his life as a farmer to become a prophet of the Lord. Elisha's response, although not detailed in this verse, is one of immediate obedience and willingness to follow Elijah, as seen in the subsequent verses.
The themes present in this verse include the call of God, the radical reorientation of one's life in response to that call, and the continuity of prophetic leadership in Israel. It also touches on the themes of mentorship and discipleship, as Elisha is about to embark on a journey of learning and service under Elijah's guidance. This event is not only a personal call for Elisha but also a moment of national significance, as it ensures the continuation of the prophetic line during a time of great spiritual and political turmoil in Israel's history.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3212
There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַךְ
Transliteration: yâlak
Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak. - Strong's Number: H4672
There are 425 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָצָא
Transliteration: mâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: maw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present; [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on. - Strong's Number: H477
There are 93 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלִישָׁע
Transliteration: ʼĔlîyshâʻ
Pronunciation: el-ee-shaw'
Description: contracted for אֱלִישׁוּעַ.; Elisha, the famous prophet; Elisha. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H8202
There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁפָט
Transliteration: Shâphâṭ
Pronunciation: shaw-fawt'
Description: from שָׁפַט; judge; Shaphat, the name of four Israelites; Shaphat. - Strong's Number: H2790
There are 66 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָרַשׁ
Transliteration: chârash
Pronunciation: khaw-rash'
Description: a primitive root; to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense); hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness); [idiom] altogether, cease, conceal, be deaf, devise, ear, graven, imagine, leave off speaking, hold peace, plow(-er, man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly, keep silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue, worker. - Strong's Number: H8147
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
Transliteration: shᵉnayim
Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. - Strong's Number: H6240
There are 292 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂר
Transliteration: ʻâsâr
Pronunciation: aw-sawr'
Description: for עֶשֶׂר; ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth; (eigh-, fif-, four-, nine-, seven-, six-, thir-) teen(-th), [phrase] eleven(-th), [phrase] sixscore thousand, [phrase] twelve(-th). - Strong's Number: H6776
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צֶמֶד
Transliteration: tsemed
Pronunciation: tseh'-med
Description: a yoke or team (i.e. pair); hence, an acre (i.e. day's task for a yoke of cattle to plough); acre, couple, [idiom] together, two (donkeys), yoke (of oxen). - Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H452
There are 131 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵלִיָּה
Transliteration: ʼÊlîyâh
Pronunciation: ay-lee-yaw'
Description: or prolonged אֵלִיָּהוּ; from אֵל and יָהּ; God of Jehovah; Elijah, the name of the famous prophet and of two other Israelites; Elijah, Eliah. - Strong's Number: H5674
There are 493 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָבַר
Transliteration: ʻâbar
Pronunciation: aw-bar'
Description: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath. - Strong's Number: H7993
There are 121 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלַךְ
Transliteration: shâlak
Pronunciation: shaw-lak
Description: a primitive root; to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively); adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off, out), hurl, pluck, throw. - Strong's Number: H155
There are 67 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַדֶּרֶת
Transliteration: ʼaddereth
Pronunciation: ad-deh'-reth
Description: feminine of אַדִּיר; ; also the same as אֶדֶר; something ample (as a large vine, a wide dress); garment, glory, goodly, mantle, robe.