1 Kings 19:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Elisha runs after Elijah, asking to bid farewell to his parents before following.
What Does 1 Kings 19:20 Mean?
Elisha leaves the oxen at once and runs after Elijah, asking only to kiss his father and mother goodbye before he follows. Elijah's reply, 'Go back again; for what have I done to thee?', leaves the choice and its weight squarely with Elisha, neither holding him back nor pulling him along.
The young man's eagerness and his honoring of his parents both show a willing and worthy heart. The call of God does not erase love for family but reorders all loves under itself. Years later the Lord Jesus would speak of the cost of following and not looking back; here Elisha counts that cost and chooses, with no chain but love drawing him to leave the plow behind.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 19:20
What does 1 Kings 19:20 mean?
Elisha runs after Elijah, asking to bid farewell to his parents before following.