The Meaning of 1 Kings 19:6 Explained

1 Kings 19:6

KJV: 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.

YLT: and he looketh attentively, and lo, at his bolster a cake baken on burning stones, and a dish of water, and he eateth, and drinketh, and turneth, and lieth down.

Darby: And he looked, and behold, at his head was a cake, baked on hot stones, and a cruse of water. And he ate and drank, and lay down again.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 1 Kings 19:6 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 19:6 mean?

And he looked and there [was] by his head A cake [baked] on coals and a jar of water so he ate and drank and again and lay down
וַיַּבֵּ֕ט וְהִנֵּ֧ה מְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֛יו עֻגַ֥ת רְצָפִ֖ים וְצַפַּ֣חַת מָ֑יִם וַיֹּ֣אכַל וַיֵּ֔שְׁתְּ וַיָּ֖שָׁב וַיִּשְׁכָּֽב

וַיַּבֵּ֕ט  And  he  looked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָבַט  
Sense: to look, regard.
וְהִנֵּ֧ה  and  there  [was] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
מְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֛יו  by  his  head 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מְרַאֲשֹׁות 
Sense: place at the head, dominion, head place adv.
עֻגַ֥ת  A  cake 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֻגָה  
Sense: disc or cake (of bread).
רְצָפִ֖ים  [baked]  on  coals 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: רֶצֶף  
Sense: hot stone, glowing stone or coal, flame, firebolt, spark.
וְצַפַּ֣חַת  and  a  jar 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: צַפַּחַת  
Sense: jar, jug (for liquids).
מָ֑יִם  of  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
וַיֹּ֣אכַל  so  he  ate 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
וַיֵּ֔שְׁתְּ  and  drank 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
וַיָּ֖שָׁב  and  again 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
וַיִּשְׁכָּֽב  and  lay  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַב  
Sense: to lie down.