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.
What does 1 Kings 19:19 mean?
Elijah found Elisha by Divine direction, not in the schools of the prophets, but in the field; not reading, or praying, or sacrificing, but ploughing. Idleness is no man's honour, nor is husbandry any man's disgrace.
Key themes
WisdomJustice and mercyTempleIdolatry
Read with
Keep this verse inside 1 Kings 19:19-21 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Glossary
- Elisha Person
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God his salvation, the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, who became the attendant and disciple of Elijah ( 1 Kings 19:16-19 ).
- Shaphat Tribe
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Judge. (1. ) One of the spies. He represented the tribe of Simeon ( Num. 13:5 ). (2. ) The father of Elisha ( 1 Kings 19:16-19 ). (3. ) One of David’s chief herdsmen ( 1 Chr. 27:29 ).