The Meaning of 1 Kings 19:2 Explained

1 Kings 19:2

KJV: Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

YLT: and Jezebel sendeth a messenger unto Elijah, saying, 'Thus doth the gods, and thus do they add, surely about this time to-morrow, I make thy life as the life of one of them.'

Darby: And Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah saying, So do the gods to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time!

ASV: Then Jezebel send a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then Jezebel  sent  a messenger  unto Elijah,  saying,  So let the gods  do  [to me], and more  also, if I make  not thy life  as the life  of one  of them by to morrow  about this time. 

What does 1 Kings 19:2 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 19:1-8 - Exaltation And Depression
When the priests had been executed, the quick ear of the prophet detected the hurrying rain-clouds. Note the contrast between Ahab and the prophet. The one ascended from the Kishon gorge to eat and drink in his pavilion until the darkened heavens made him drive-post-haste to Jezreel; the other went up to pray! which do we care for most-to eat and drink or to pray? God help us! The answer that our hearts utter is far from satisfactory. But what praying was this! So humble, so intense, so expectant. Six times the servant came down from the spur, saying, "There is nothing," and a seventh time he was sent back to watch the Mediterranean sky-line-this time, not in vain!
But why that sudden change to despair? Was it the overstrain of that day on Carmel, which induced a terrible reaction? Was it that swift run from Carmel to Jezreel, in front of Ahab's fiery steeds? Was it that threat of Jezebel? She, at least, was neither awed nor checkmated by the massacre of her favorite priests. Did he lose sight of God in that dark hour? Elijah was but mortal! His feet had almost gone; his steps had well-nigh slipped, Psalms 73:2. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Kings 19

1  Elijah, threatened by Jezebel, flees to Beersheba
4  In the desert, being weary of his life, he is comforted by an angel
9  At Horeb God appears unto him, sending him to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha
19  Elisha, taking leave of his friends, follows Elijah

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 19:2 mean?

And sent Jezebel a messenger to Elijah saying so let do [to me] the gods and also more if about this time By tomorrow I do make not your life as the life of one of them
וַתִּשְׁלַ֤ח אִיזֶ֙בֶל֙ מַלְאָ֔ךְ אֶל־ אֵלִיָּ֖הוּ לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּֽה־ יַעֲשׂ֤וּן אֱלֹהִים֙ וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִפ֔וּן כִּֽי־ כָעֵ֤ת מָחָר֙ אָשִׂ֣ים אֶֽת־ נַפְשְׁךָ֔ כְּנֶ֖פֶשׁ אַחַ֥ד מֵהֶֽם

וַתִּשְׁלַ֤ח  And  sent 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
אִיזֶ֙בֶל֙  Jezebel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִיזֶבֶל  
Sense: queen of Israel, wife of Ahab, daughter of Ethbaal.
מַלְאָ֔ךְ  a  messenger 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַלְאָךְ  
Sense: messenger, representative.
אֵלִיָּ֖הוּ  Elijah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵלִיָּה 
Sense: the great prophet of the reign of Ahab.
לֵאמֹ֑ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
כֹּֽה־  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
יַעֲשׂ֤וּן  let  do  [to  me] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֱלֹהִים֙  the  gods 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְכֹ֣ה  and  also 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
יוֹסִפ֔וּן  more 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
כָעֵ֤ת  about  this  time 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
מָחָר֙  By  tomorrow 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מָחָר  
Sense: tomorrow, in time to come, in the future.
אָשִׂ֣ים  I  do  make 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
נַפְשְׁךָ֔  your  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
כְּנֶ֖פֶשׁ  as  the  life 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
אַחַ֥ד  of  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
מֵהֶֽם  of  them 
Parse: Preposition-m, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.