Bible Strands

1 Kings 19:6

And he looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator describes Elijah’s physical state after he fell asleep under a broom tree following the angel’s command to rise and eat. The angel has just instructed him to get up and consume the provided sustenance.

The words — The text highlights עֻגַת רְצָפִ֖ים ('u gat re.tza fim), literally a bread cake of hot coals, indicating bread baked directly on heated stones. It also notes מָ֑יִם (Ma.yim), water, provided in a jug for immediate physical restoration.

The thread — This provision of baked bread and water parallels the ravens feeding Elijah in 1 Kings 17:6 and the widow’s sustained supply in 1 Kings 17:9. It also anticipates angelic ministry to Jesus after his wilderness testing in Matthew 4:11.

Why it lands — The verse records a simple cycle of consumption and rest, demanding recognition that physical sustenance precedes spiritual obedience. It requires the reader to acknowledge that divine instruction includes practical care for the body.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיַּבֵּ֕טva/i.ya.Betand/ he lookedוְהִנֵּ֧הve./hi.Nehand/ there!מְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֛יוme.ra.'a.sho.Ta/v[was] [the] place of head/ hisעֻגַ֥ת'u.Gata bread cake ofרְצָפִ֖יםre.tza.Fimhot coalsוְצַפַּ֣חַתve./tza.Pa.chatand/ a jug ofמָ֑יִםMa.yimwaterוַיֹּ֣אכַלva/i.Yo.khaland/ he ateוַיֵּ֔שְׁתְּva/i.Ye.shetand/ he drankוַיָּ֖שָׁבva/i.Ya.shovand/ he returnedוַיִּשְׁכָּֽב׃va/i.yish.Kavand/ he lay down

King James Version

And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

Cross-references