1 Kings 19:20 Meaning: Called Mid-Plow
Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me please kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” He said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?”
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?
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?
and he forsaketh the oxen, and runneth after Elijah, and saith, `Let me give a kiss, I pray thee, to my father and to my mother, and I go after thee.' And he saith to him, `Go, turn back, for what have I done to thee?'
And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and I will follow thee. And he said to him, Go back again; for what have I done to thee?
Meaning in one sentence
What did Elijah mean by 'Go back again'? Understand Elisha's call, the test of his heart, and what it means to leave the old life behind.
Context
This verse sits in the middle of a turning point. Elijah has just met God at Horeb, where he learned he was not alone and that his work would continue through others. God sent him to anoint Elisha as prophet in his place. So Elijah left the mountain and found Elisha plowing a field with twelve yoke of oxen. That many oxen meant Elisha came from a wealthy family. Elijah walked over and threw his cloak across Elisha’s shoulders, a sign that the prophetic calling was being passed on. Elisha understood immediately. He left the oxen standing, ran after Elijah, and asked for a moment to kiss his parents goodbye. Elijah’s answer is brief and puzzling: “Go back again; for what have I done to you?”
Key Words
Three Hebrew words shape this moment. The first is vayya’azov (וַ/יַּעֲזֹב), “he left.” This is the same root used for “forsake.” Elisha did not just set down his tools; he abandoned his work, his livelihood, his future as a landowner. The break was real.
Second, vayyaratz (וַ/יָּ֙רָץ֙), “he ran.” He did not walk or finish his row. He sprinted after Elijah. The urgency says something about how Elisha received the call: he did not stop to calculate the cost.
Third, Elijah says shuv (שׁ֔וּב), “turn back.” This word often carries a spiritual weight in the Old Testament, like returning to God. Here it sounds like permission, but it also tests the heart. Will Elisha turn back for good, or turn back only to say goodbye and then return? The ambiguity is intentional. Elijah leaves the decision with Elisha and, more importantly, with God.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians read Elijah’s reply in different ways. Some hear a test. Gill and others suggest Elijah wanted to see whether Elisha’s heart had truly been touched by God. If the call was only human, Elisha would go home and stay there. If it was divine, he would come back.
Others see permission with a warning. The Cambridge Bible and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown read it as “Go, but remember it is God who calls you, not I. Do not let affection keep you from obeying Him.” Barnes goes further, calling it a cold reply that sees a divided heart. Elisha’s next action, however, shows he understood it as a brief leave. He burns his plow and oxen, making the break complete. All traditions agree: the call was real, and Elisha’s response was wholehearted.
A common misunderstanding
Some read Elijah’s “Go back again” as a rejection or a sign that Elisha failed the test. In fact, the next verse shows Elisha did exactly that: he went back, said his goodbyes, and then burned his plowing equipment to show he was not returning to his old life. Elijah’s words were not a dismissal; they were a way of saying, “Make sure this is really from God, not from me.” Elisha proved it was.
Living This Out
Most of us receive God’s calls while we are doing something ordinary. You might be at your desk, in the carpool line, or finishing a project when you sense a nudge to change direction or serve in a new way. Like Elisha, you may want to tie up loose ends first. That is not wrong. But the test is whether the goodbyes become a way of holding on. This week, if you feel a pull toward something that costs you, pay attention to what you are running to, not just what you are leaving. The call is not about losing your old life; it is about finding a deeper one.
Main takeaway: God’s call often comes in the middle of ordinary work, and responding fully means leaving the old life behind without looking back.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Elisha was plowing with his oxen when Elijah called him to follow God. He left the oxen right there and ran. He asked to kiss his parents goodbye, and then he came back and followed. When God calls us, we can say goodbye quickly and then go with Him.
For ages 9, 12
Elisha was a rich farmer with twelve pairs of oxen. When Elijah threw his cloak on him, it was like God saying, “Come, be a prophet.” Elisha asked to kiss his parents, but then he did something dramatic. He killed the oxen, burned the plow, and cooked the meat to feed everyone. He made a complete break with his old life. Following God sometimes means leaving good things behind, but He always has something better ahead.
Questions People Ask
Why did Elisha want to kiss his parents before following Elijah?
In ancient Israel, kissing was a common way of saying goodbye, especially when a departure might be permanent. Elisha knew that becoming Elijah's apprentice would mean leaving his family and his farm. His request was natural and respectful, not a sign of hesitation. The test was whether he would actually come back after the goodbye.
Was Elijah being rude or sarcastic when he said 'Go back again'?
Most commentators do not read it as rudeness. Elijah was giving Elisha space to make his own choice. The call was from God, not from Elijah. By saying 'what have I done to you?' Elijah reminded him that no human pressure was involved. Elisha understood this and proved his commitment by burning his plow.
What does the phrase 'what have I done to you?' mean in this context?
Elijah is saying 'I have not forced you into anything. The call came from God through the mantle. If you follow, follow because God has touched your heart, not because of anything I said or did.' It is a way of testing whether Elisha's response is genuine and from God.
Why did Elisha kill the oxen and burn the plow?
That was a decisive break with his old life. By slaughtering the oxen and using the wooden plow as fuel to cook the meat, Elisha made it impossible to go back to farming. He fed the people with the meat, turning a private farewell into a public celebration. It showed that he was fully committed to following Elijah and serving God.
Does this verse mean Christians should leave their families to follow God?
Not necessarily in a physical sense. The point is about priorities. Jesus said similar things (Luke 9:61-62) about not looking back once you put your hand to the plow. For Elisha, leaving family was part of his specific call as a prophet. For most Christians, the call is about loving God first while still honoring family. The heart of this verse is about wholeheartedness, not abandonment.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study