1 Kings 19 8

1 Kings 19:8 kjv

And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

1 Kings 19:8 nkjv

So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.

1 Kings 19:8 niv

So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

1 Kings 19:8 esv

And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

1 Kings 19:8 nlt

So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.

1 Kings 19 verses

1 Kings 19 8 Meaning

Strengthened by a miraculous meal provided by God through an angel, Elijah embarked on a forty-day and forty-night journey to Mount Horeb, also known as the mount of God. This supernatural sustenance allowed him to endure a journey that would otherwise be impossible, leading him to a profound encounter with the Lord.

1 Kings 19 8 Context

The verse immediately follows Elijah's deepest despair. After his triumphant victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and the ending of a long drought (1 Ki 18), Queen Jezebel threatened his life (1 Ki 19:1-2). Terrified, Elijah fled into the wilderness and, overwhelmed by fear and exhaustion, wished for death (1 Ki 19:3-4). An angel of the LORD appeared twice, waking him and providing miraculous sustenance – a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water (1 Ki 19:5-7). Verse 8 describes Elijah's direct obedience to the angelic command and the empowering result, leading him away from his despondency towards a renewed divine encounter and re-commissioning on Mount Horeb. Historically, the reign of Ahab and Jezebel saw aggressive promotion of Baal worship, making Yahweh worship dangerous. This divine provision underscores God's ability to sustain His servants directly, in stark contrast to the inability of the Canaanite deity Baal to provide for his followers or control rain and fertility.

1 Kings 19 8 Word analysis

• So he arose: Vayaqom (וַיָּקָם) in Hebrew. Signifies a swift and decisive response. It marks Elijah's return from despair and lethargy (as seen in his desire to die under the broom tree) to a state of readiness and obedience, empowered by divine grace.

• and did eat and drink: Indicates direct obedience to the angel's repeated instruction (1 Ki 19:7). This was not merely physical intake but an act of faith and acceptance of God's supernatural provision.

• and went: Hebrew vayyelech (וַיֵּלֶךְ). Emphasizes purposeful movement. Elijah was no longer aimlessly fleeing but undertaking a divinely directed journey.

• in the strength of that meat: Hebrew: bĕkoach ha’okel hahu (בְּכֹחַ הָאֹכֶל הַהוּא). "Meat" (אוכל okel) broadly refers to food or sustenance, not necessarily flesh. "Strength" (koach) indicates a power far exceeding natural nutritional value. This highlights the miraculous, empowering nature of the food, supernaturally imbued by God to sustain Elijah. It signifies divine enablement beyond natural limits.

• forty days and forty nights: A highly significant and symbolic period in biblical narratives.

  • Biblical Pattern: This duration consistently marks periods of testing, purification, intense spiritual preparation, divine judgment, or profound encounters with God. Examples include the flood (Gen 7), Moses's two fasting periods on Sinai receiving the Law (Ex 24; Deut 9), Israel's wilderness wandering (Num 14), and Jesus's wilderness temptation and fast (Matt 4).
  • Supernatural Endurance: For a human to travel such a distance and duration on a single meal is physically impossible, underscoring the extreme supernatural nature of God's sustenance. It elevates Elijah's experience to a unique, divinely appointed spiritual "fast."

• unto Horeb the mount of God:

  • Horeb: (חֹרֵב) Also known as Mount Sinai, it means "dry" or "desolate," fitting its desert location.
  • Significance: Horeb is a pivotal sacred site where God appeared to Moses in the burning bush (Ex 3), established His covenant with Israel, and delivered the Ten Commandments (Ex 19-20; Deut 4). It is profoundly associated with direct divine manifestation, covenant, and Law.
  • "Mount of God": This descriptor emphasizes its hallowed status and its profound connection to Yahweh's presence and revelation. Elijah's journey here signals his seeking a profound, foundational encounter with the Lord, similar to those experienced by Moses and the Israelites at the very genesis of their covenant.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "So he arose, and did eat and drink, and went...": This sequence of actions signifies a transformative obedience. Elijah, who previously desired death, is divinely revitalized and actively engages in a purposeful journey, embodying immediate and powerful faith in God's provision.
  • "in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights": This phrase encapsulates the profound miracle. The "strength" points to supernatural invigoration, making an extended journey through desolate terrain possible without further human sustenance. The "forty days and nights" not only describes the duration but sets Elijah's experience within a potent biblical pattern of divine preparation for revelation.
  • "unto Horeb the mount of God": The destination is not arbitrary; it's a sacred return to the covenant roots of Israel. This journey indicates Elijah's crisis requires not just physical rescue but a theological grounding, seeking God at the source of His law and covenant promises. It sets the stage for a critical divine encounter and reaffirmation of purpose.

1 Kings 19 8 Bonus section

• Thematic Parallels with Israel's Exodus: Elijah's flight into the wilderness, supernatural sustenance, and journey to Horeb powerfully echo Israel's wilderness wanderings and their journey to Sinai (Horeb) to receive the Law. This parallelism highlights God's consistent character as provider and guide for His people in desolate times.
• Elijah as a New Moses: The profound similarities between Elijah's 40-day, 40-night fast to Horeb and Moses's time on Sinai without food or water solidifies Elijah's stature as a prophet in the likeness of Moses. This connection signals the theological gravity of Elijah's mission and his role in upholding God's covenant with Israel during apostasy.
• Spiritual Refreshment and Recommissioning: Beyond physical survival, Elijah's journey was a period of spiritual cleansing and re-centering. It was a pilgrimage back to the source of Israel's faith, preparing him not just for continued existence, but for a renewed commission from God that would transform his ministry focus. This journey highlights God's process of bringing His servants from burnout to divine empowerment.
• Polemics against Idolatry: This miraculous provision directly counters the beliefs associated with Baal worship. Unlike Baal, who supposedly controlled fertility and rain (which he clearly did not during the drought), Yahweh demonstrated His ultimate power to provide sustenance independent of land or rituals, even in the harshest desert, emphasizing His sole sovereignty over creation and life.

1 Kings 19 8 Commentary

This verse marks a critical turning point in Elijah's narrative. From the depths of despair and fear, he is supernaturally revived and set on a deliberate path by God's direct intervention. The single, divinely provided meal imparts an impossible strength, enabling him to journey for forty days and nights to Mount Horeb. This extraordinary act of sustenance serves not merely a physical need but symbolizes God's faithfulness and profound care for His servant, providing both physical and spiritual restoration. Elijah's arrival at Horeb, the mount of God, mirrors Moses's experiences, indicating a crucial moment of divine revelation, re-commissioning, and renewed covenant relationship with the Lord, preparing him for the next phase of his prophetic ministry. It showcases God's unwavering ability to meet His people in their lowest moments and to empower them for His purposes.