Keraia
1 Kings 17

1 Kings 17:14

The Widow of Zarephath · 1 Kings 17:8–16
Read 1 Kings 17

Translations

Modern
…for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain upon the face of the earth.’”
Traditional
For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.
Literal
For thus says YHWH, God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be used up, and the jug of the oil shall not run dry, until the day of YHWH giving rain on the face of the earth.’”
Latin
Hæc autem dicit Dominus Deus Israël: Hydria farinæ non deficiet, nec lecythus olei minuetur, usque ad diem in qua Dominus daturus est pluviam super faciem terræ.

Original

Hebrew
English
…for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain upon the face of the earth.’”

Notes

1 Kings 17:13–14

Even though the woman had few supplies (1 Kings 17:12), Elijah asked her to serve him before herself and her son. Like the poor widow who gave two small coins (Luke 21:1–4), this woman was asked to give everything she had to God's prophet. True faithfulness means putting the kingdom of God before personal needs (Matthew 6:33).

1 Kings 17:9–16

Elijah’s faith faced another test. At Kerith Brook, God directly provided for him. When those supplies stopped, Elijah had to rely on a foreign woman's reaction to a divine test. The story has four parts:

  1. The setting (1 Kings 17:8–10a).

  2. Elijah’s test for the widow (1 Kings 17:10b–14).

  3. The woman’s obedience (1 Kings 17:15).

  4. God’s reward (1 Kings 17:15–16).

1 Kings 17:1–19:21

The prophet Elijah's work was closely tied to his spiritual growth. Elijah challenged Israel's interest in Baal, the Canaanite storm god. During this conflict, Elijah saw God's power and support, unlike Baal's weakness. This was shown in Elijah's contest with Baal's prophets on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:1–46). After fleeing from Jezebel, God renewed Elijah's mission at Mount Sinai (1 Kings 19:1–18). Elijah's mission was finished by his successor, Elisha (1 Kings 19:19–21).

Theme notes and profiles

Ahab Elijah Jezebel Prophets in 1 Kings

Events

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Bread Cruse Elijah Famine Kings, Books of First and Second Oil Ordain, Ordination Resurrection

Topics

Barrel: An Earthen Jar Blessing: Temporal, from God: To the Widow of Zerephath Christian Minister: God's Care of Christian Minister: Hospitality to Woman of Zarephath to Elijah Elijah the Tishbite, a Gileadite and Prophet, Called Elias Elijah: Miracles of Increases the Oil of the Widow of Zarephath Faith: Widow of Zarephath in Feeding Elijah Hospitality: Rewarded: Widow of Zarephath's Hospitality: The Widow of Zarephath to Elijah Miracles Wrought Through Servants of God: Elijah: Meal and Oil Multiplied Miracles: Catalogue of Increases the Widow's Meal and Oil Oil used for Food Poor: Kindness to To the Widow of Zarephath Prophecy: Miscellaneous, Fulfilled: The Drought, Foretold by Elijah Select Readings: Elijah's Miraculous Preserv Ation Self-Denial: The Widow of Zarephath, in Sharing with Elijah the Last of Her Sustenance Self-Denial: Widow of Zarephath Widows: Great Liberality In Women: Widow of Zarephath, Who Fed Elijah During the Famine Zarephath: Elijah Performs Two Miracles In