1 Kings 19 21

1 Kings 19:21 kjv

And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

1 Kings 19:21 nkjv

So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen's equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

1 Kings 19:21 niv

So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.

1 Kings 19:21 esv

And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.

1 Kings 19:21 nlt

So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.

1 Kings 19 verses

1 Kings 19 21 Meaning

1 Kings 19:21 describes Elisha's decisive and public commitment to God's prophetic call through Elijah. He immediately ceases his former life as a wealthy farmer by sacrificing his means of livelihood—a yoke of oxen—and uses his agricultural implements as fuel to cook the meat. This act symbolizes a complete and irrevocable break with his past and a full surrender to a new path of service to God and ministering to Elijah. The sharing of the meal with his community signifies a public declaration of his transition and perhaps a final farewell to his previous life. He then follows Elijah, embarking on his spiritual apprenticeship.

1 Kings 19 21 Context

1 Kings 19 narrates Elijah's deep despair and flight after the triumph at Mount Carmel (1 Ki 18). Following Jezebel's threat, he flees to Horeb (Mount Sinai), where God appears to him not in powerful displays but in a "still small voice," recommissioning him. Part of this commission includes anointing Elisha as his successor. Elijah travels from Horeb and finds Elisha plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, indicating significant wealth and a stable life. Elijah casts his mantle upon Elisha, symbolizing the passing of prophetic authority. Elisha's immediate response in verse 21 shows his understanding and decisive acceptance of this call, setting the stage for his subsequent ministry as Elijah's apprentice and eventual successor. This radical commitment stands in stark contrast to the wavering loyalties of many in Israel towards the Lord during that time, especially in light of the prevalent Baal worship promoted by Ahab and Jezebel.

1 Kings 19 21 Word analysis

• turned back (וַיָּשָׁב - vayyashav): Signifies an immediate change in direction or focus, responding to Elijah's implied call without hesitation or further persuasion.
• took (וַיִּקַּח - vayyiqqaḥ): Elisha takes initiative after Elijah casts the mantle. It's his personal, deliberate choice.
• a yoke of oxen (אֶת-צֶמֶד הַבָּקָר - et tzem-ed hab-ba-qar): Tzem-ed means a pair or yoke. Owning twelve yokes indicates Elisha was a prosperous farmer, suggesting he had significant wealth and an established life. This act involves sacrificing valuable assets, a true cost of discipleship.
• slaughtered them (וַיִּזְבָּחֵהוּ - vayyizbachéhu): The verb zabach means to sacrifice or slaughter, often for a meal or ritual. Here, it signifies the public act of relinquishing his livelihood.
• boiled their flesh (וַיְבַשְּׁלֵם אֶת-בְּשַׂרָם - vayva-sh'sh'lem et-b'sa-ram): To cook the meat. This isn't just killing the oxen but preparing them for consumption, reinforcing the celebratory and public nature of the event.
• implements of the oxen (בְּכְלֵי הַבָּקָר - biklei hab-ba-qar): Refers to the wooden plows and yokes used for farming. Using these tools as fuel to cook the meat symbolizes a burning of bridges—a permanent destruction of his former occupation and the physical means of his livelihood. There is no going back to farming.
• gave it to the people (וַיִּתֵּן לָעָם - vayitten la-am): The meal is shared with the community. This public act solidifies his decision in the eyes of his family and neighbors, making his transition formal and recognized. It's a final, shared feast with his old life.
• they ate (וַיֹּאכֵלוּ - vayyo'khelu): Their acceptance and participation in the meal affirm Elisha's radical departure and calling.
• arose (וַיָּקָם - vayyaqam): A common Hebrew idiom indicating a readiness for immediate action or transition. It signals decisiveness.
• went after Elijah (וַיֵּלֶךְ אַחֲרֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ - vayyelekh acharey Eliyyahu): Indicates physical following and, more importantly, a spiritual allegiance and commitment to serve and learn from Elijah.
• ministered to him (וַיְשָׁרְתֵהוּ - vayishartéhu): From the verb sharat, meaning to serve, attend, or minister. This term describes a servant, assistant, or attendant. It indicates that Elisha became Elijah's devoted personal assistant, implying a period of humble apprenticeship, learning by observation, and providing practical help, before he took on the prophetic mantle fully. It signifies a true discipleship.

1 Kings 19 21 Bonus section

Elisha's burning of his farming equipment and sacrificing his oxen marks one of the most drastic and public "burning of bridges" in the Bible regarding a call to ministry. While Jesus called many to leave their nets or tax booths, Elisha actively destroyed the means by which he could return to his previous profession, symbolizing an irrevocable step of faith. This also emphasizes that the call of God is often absolute and requires entire consecration, demonstrating a trust that God will provide what is needed for the new life of service. The public feast transforms his personal sacrifice into a community event, underscoring the communal witness and affirmation of his new journey. The continuity of prophetic ministry from Elijah to Elisha, marked by this decisive act, ensured a strong prophetic voice for God's truth during a period of intense idolatry in Israel.

1 Kings 19 21 Commentary

1 Kings 19:21 vividly portrays Elisha's total surrender to God's call, conveyed through Elijah. His immediate and dramatic response highlights radical obedience, serving as a powerful illustration of cutting ties with one's past life for the sake of divine purpose. The public destruction of his agricultural assets—burning the plows and yokes—and the communal feast created a definitive separation from his identity as a wealthy farmer. This was not a tentative decision but a complete, irreversible commitment to the Lord and His service. His act reflects a willingness to give up security, comfort, and an established social standing for an unknown future of dedicated service. Furthermore, his initial role as one who "ministered" to Elijah signifies a period of humility, learning, and maturation under prophetic mentorship, preparing him for the weighty responsibilities he would later inherit. This foundational act of self-renunciation is a timeless pattern for those called to devoted service, emphasizing that genuine discipleship often requires laying down personal ambitions and possessions.