What Is the Difference Between Elijah and Elisha?

Both of these men lived roughly during the same time period. One, in fact, learned from the other and took up the mantle of his job as a prophet. But it doesn’t help that both of them have extremely similar names in the English language.

Elijah and Elisha lived during the time of the kings of Israel. In fact, Elijah personally went head to head with one of the most evil royal couples in their history: Ahab and Jezebel. Both prophets completed miracles and called down God’s judgment on various evildoers (1 Kings 18, 2 Kings 2).

In this article, we’ll endeavor to explain the difference between these two prophets. We’ll show how they interacted with one another, and what Christians can learn from their lives.

Who Was Elijah?

Elijah’s story appears mostly in 1 Kings. He was a prophet during one of the most wicked times in Israel’s history, when worship of Baal was at an all-time high. 

In fact, one of the most famous stories from Elijah’s life comes from when he faces off with the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18. Both prophets attempt to show which of their gods has more power. The prophets of Baal call out to their false god to set alight their altars, but nothing happens. Elijah, to add salt to their wounds, asks them to cover his altar in water. They do so, and God sends down fire and consumes the drenched platform. 

To say Elijah and King Ahab and Queen Jezebel did not get along would understate their animosity. In fact, right after the 1 Kings 19 escapade, Jezebel threatens to kill Elijah, so he flees.

Elijah completes many miracles in his life. Some of these include causing the rain to stop for years (1 Kings 17:1) and resurrecting a woman’s son (1 Kings 17:22). 

The Bible compares Elijah with John the Baptist (Luke 1:17), both prophesying to wicked generations (and also because both appear to have eccentric attitudes). 

As we see in the narrative, Elijah takes on an assistant with a similar name: Elisha. At the end of Elijah’s ministry, he anoints Elisha and is taken up into heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2). Elijah technically does not die, and many have speculated if he is one of the two eyewitnesses who appears in Revelation 11. 

Who Was Elisha?

Elisha has a similar story to that of the disciples. His master prophet, Elijah, finds him working in the fields. When he casts his cloak on Elisha (essentially calls him to follow him, and symbolizes he will transfer his power to him in the future), Elisha drops what he’s doing and starts as an assistant to the prophet (1 Kings 19:19-21).

When Elijah leaves earth, Elisha is granted double Elijah’s power, explains this Got Questions article.

Although Elisha doesn’t appear to go head to head with any Israelite kings (in fact, he advises them, rather), he does dedicate his ministry to finishing what Elijah set out to do: getting rid of all Baal worship, which he accomplishes (2 Kings 10:28).

No doubt, like Elisha asks, he does receive a significant portion of Elijah’s power, doubled. Some miracles that happen during his life include parting the Jordan river in two (2 Kings 2:14) and the famous healing of the leper Namaan (2 Kings 5:14). His healing powers last even after he dies. When the Israelites throw a corpse into Elisha’s tomb, the man springs to his feet after touching Elisha’s bones (2 Kings 13:21). 

What Can We Learn from Elijah?

Elijah felt alone in this world and even said so (1 Kings 18:22). Often we may find ourselves being the only Christian in a situation. Maybe we don’t have any believing family members or don’t have anyone else in our workplace who claims to have a saving relationship with Christ.

Through Elijah’s example, we can know what it looks like to faithfully serve God, even in wicked places.

David Jeremiah also gives some examples of how we can learn from Elijah’s example on how to trust in God when faced with opposition. In the example of the prophets of Baal, he was outnumbered by the hundreds. Still, he exercised faith and his God won out the day.

Elijah also learned the importance of passing the mantle of a ministry. Scripture never tells us if he was disappointed that he didn’t eradicate Baal worship completely during his time on earth. But he entrusts Elisha to finish what he started. Maybe we have similar experiences. Perhaps we have encountered people to whom we’ve shared the love of Christ, but they never committed fully to a relationship with our Savior. And perhaps they have moved to another region and don’t keep in contact much.

However, we can trust that we set the groundwork for another Christian to continue witnessing to them in our stead.

What Can We Learn from Elisha?

Elisha shows us an example of humility and complete dedication to God’s handiwork. When called by Elijah, he completely abandons his trade and follows him. 

Perhaps God has done the same in our lives. Maybe he has called us into a vocation in which we have no experience, or he calls us away from our comfort zones. We can mimic Elisha’s example and go without hesitation to where God had called us.

We can also learn from Elisha what it looks like to carry on a legacy of a mentor or Christian who came before us. Before the New Testament discipleship existed, Elijah and Elisha showed a great example of how to teach someone in ministry and pass the mantle to them. 

We need mentors in our lives, older Christians who can instruct us and help us on our spiritual walk. 

Both of these prophets exemplified total dedication to God during one of the most evil times in Israel’s history. They learned the importance of passing on a legacy and humility. God granted both of them extraordinary power, and through their lives, they were able to eradicate Baal worship in the land and advise kings. 

We can learn from them the importance of trusting God during uncertainty. And we can also discover what a good mentor-student relationship looks like through their lives. 

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/digitalskillet

Hope Bolinger is an acquisitions editor at End Game Press, book editor for hire, and the author of almost 30 books. More than 1500 of her works have been featured in various publications. Check out her books at hopebolinger.com for clean books in most genres, great for adults and kids. Check out her editing profile at Reedsy.com to find out about hiring her for your next book project.