1 Kings 19 9

1 Kings 19:9 kjv

And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

1 Kings 19:9 nkjv

And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

1 Kings 19:9 niv

There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

1 Kings 19:9 esv

There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

1 Kings 19:9 nlt

There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. The LORD Speaks to Elijah But the LORD said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

1 Kings 19 verses

1 Kings 19 9 Meaning

In 1 Kings 19:9, after a long journey in the wilderness to Mount Horeb (also known as Sinai), the prophet Elijah sought refuge in a cave. While there, the direct revelation of God, "the word of the Lord," came to him. God then addressed Elijah with a profound and probing question, "What doest thou here, Elijah?", initiating a crucial divine encounter that would re-evaluate Elijah's presence, purpose, and understanding of God's ways in his life and ministry. This question, not merely an inquiry but a challenge, marked a pivotal moment for the despondent prophet, prompting him to articulate his perspective and paving the way for divine reassurance and renewed commission.

1 Kings 19 9 Context

First Kings 19:9 occurs immediately after Elijah's arduous journey into the wilderness, fleeing from the murderous threat of Queen Jezebel (1 Ki 19:1-3). After the triumphant display of God's power on Mount Carmel against the prophets of Baal (1 Ki 18), Elijah experienced profound spiritual and physical exhaustion. He desired to die (1 Ki 19:4), felt utterly alone, and believed his work for God had failed. An angel of the Lord strengthened him, enabling him to travel forty days and nights to Horeb, the "mountain of God" (1 Ki 19:8). This sacred mountain, historically Mount Sinai, was the place where God had previously given the Law to Moses and manifested His presence to His people. Elijah's journey there signifies his attempt to return to the root of God's covenant, perhaps seeking answers, comfort, or even a divine dismissal in his despair.

1 Kings 19 9 Word analysis

• And he came thither: Elijah, a man deeply worn down, having traveled "forty days and forty nights" (1 Ki 19:8), finally reached a destination of profound theological significance—Mount Horeb. This "coming thither" highlights both Elijah's perseverance fueled by divine sustenance and the divinely directed nature of his destination, not merely a random hiding place.

• unto a cave: (Hebrew: me'arah, מְעָרָה). Caves were natural shelters in the ancient Near East, often providing refuge for the persecuted (e.g., David in Adullam). On a symbolic level, caves can represent hiding, isolation, or places where divine revelation occurred, echoing Moses in the cleft of the rock (Exod 33:22). For Elijah, it represents both his flight from the world and a setting for sacred encounter, a physical withdrawal anticipating spiritual revelation.

• and lodged there: Implies not merely a brief stop but a settling down, a temporary dwelling out of weariness or the intent to hide. Elijah sought shelter from his physical pursuers and perhaps from his own internal turmoil, hoping for a moment of respite or a resolution from God.

• and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him: The sudden appearance of "behold" signals a moment of immediate divine intervention. "The word of the Lord" (Hebrew: devar Yahweh, דְּבַר יְהוָה) is a common phrase for direct, authoritative divine revelation in the prophetic literature. It emphasizes God's initiative in seeking out His prophet, breaking the silence and confronting Elijah's despair. God Himself enters Elijah's place of retreat, indicating that despite Elijah's feelings of abandonment, God was actively present and concerned.

• and he said unto him: Denotes direct address, a personal and intimate interaction from God to Elijah. It’s not an angel or a vision alone, but God Himself engaging in dialogue.

• What doest thou here, Elijah?: This powerful question is pivotal. It is not an accusatory tone, but rather a profound probe from a loving, yet sovereign, God. It serves multiple functions:

  • Inquiry: Asking for Elijah to verbalize his current state, rationale, and expectations.
  • Challenge: Implied rebuke for Elijah abandoning his post or allowing fear to dictate his steps, questioning why a zealous prophet of Yahweh would be hiding on Horeb rather than confronting apostasy in Israel.
  • Re-direction: It opens the door for God to reveal His continuing plan for Elijah and demonstrate His power not in a conventional manner, but in new ways (as seen in the following verses, the "still small voice"). It challenges Elijah’s perspective of perceived failure and solitude. God is initiating dialogue to draw Elijah back to his divine purpose.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there;": This phrase sets the physical and emotional scene. Elijah, the once fearless prophet who challenged hundreds of Baal prophets, is now a man in retreat, seeking refuge from mortal threats in a confined, isolated space. This vulnerability highlights his human condition, despite his divine gifting. The act of "lodging" points to a profound sense of exhaustion and resignation, emphasizing the depth of his despair.
  • "and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?": This represents the dramatic shift from human despair to divine intervention. The active "word of the Lord" seeking out Elijah, contrasted with Elijah's passive "lodging" in the cave, underscores God's persistent pursuit of His servant. God's question serves as a direct, compassionate, yet challenging, personal address. It pierces through Elijah's self-pity and sense of abandonment, demanding an account and opening the pathway for divine perspective and renewed purpose. The direct mention of Elijah's name personalizes the divine encounter, showing God’s individual concern for him.

1 Kings 19 9 Bonus section

• The parallel between Elijah and Moses journeying to Horeb/Sinai (Moses in Exodus, Elijah in 1 Kings) suggests Elijah is portrayed as a significant prophet in the lineage of Moses. Both spent forty days, both encountered God profoundly, and both dealt with a rebellious people.
• God's method of engaging Elijah – asking a direct, simple question – highlights that spiritual clarity often begins with self-reflection guided by divine inquiry. This open-ended question provided Elijah the opportunity to pour out his heart before God (as he does in verse 10).
• The contrast between the outward spectacle on Carmel (fire from heaven) and the personal, quiet confrontation in the cave subtly foreshadows God's revelation in the "still small voice" (1 Ki 19:12), showing that God is not confined to one form of manifestation or operation.

1 Kings 19 9 Commentary

1 Kings 19:9 marks the threshold of Elijah’s most profound encounter with God following a period of extreme burnout and despair. Having journeyed to Horeb, the sacred mountain where the covenant was revealed, Elijah implicitly sought a definitive word from God—perhaps a new commission, an explanation, or even an end to his suffering. God's first direct address, "What doest thou here, Elijah?", is a masterfully layered question. It is not an interrogation of wrongdoing but a compassionate yet firm challenge to Elijah's perceived position. It invites Elijah to articulate his brokenness and zeal, creating the space for divine healing and re-direction. This moment underscores God’s pursuit of His weary servant, meeting him in his lowest point to remind him of His presence, purpose, and enduring call. It highlights that God often addresses our circumstances and motives before revealing His next steps, moving us beyond human fear and into divine assurance.