1 Kings 19:13

Authorized King James Version

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיְהִ֣י׀
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#2
כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ
heard
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
#3
אֵֽלִיָּֽהוּ׃
And it was so when Elijah
elijah, the name of the famous prophet and of two other israelites
#4
וַיָּ֤לֶט
it that he wrapped
to wrap up
#5
פָּנָיו֙
his face
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#6
בְּאַדַּרְתּ֔וֹ
in his mantle
something ample (as a large vine, a wide dress)
#7
וַיֵּצֵ֕א
and went out
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
#8
וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֖ד
and stood
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
#9
פֶּ֣תַח
in the entering in
an opening (literally), i.e., door (gate) or entrance way
#10
הַמְּעָרָ֑ה
of the cave
a cavern (as dark)
#11
וְהִנֵּ֤ה
lo!
#12
אֵלָיו֙
near, with or among; often in general, to
#13
ק֔וֹל
And behold there came a voice
a voice or sound
#14
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר
unto him and said
to say (used with great latitude)
#15
מַה
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
#16
לְּךָ֥
H0
#17
פֹ֖ה
this place (french ici), i.e., here or hence
#18
אֵֽלִיָּֽהוּ׃
And it was so when Elijah
elijah, the name of the famous prophet and of two other israelites

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

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