Skip to content
mannafest.faith
Read

1 Kings 17:12

in 1 Kings 17

But she replied, “As surely as the LORD your God lives, I have no bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Look, I am gathering a couple of sticks to take home and prepare a meal for myself and my son, so that we may eat it and die.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And she said, As Jehovah thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

KJV

And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

⋯

This verse in 1 Kings 17

Commentary

11 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

A handful of meal in a barrel - The word כד cad is to be understood as implying an earthen jar; not a wooden vessel, or barrel of any kind. In the East they preserve their corn and meal in such vessels; without which precaution the insects would destroy them. Travellers in Asiatic countries abound with observations of this kind. The word cruse, צפחת tsappachath, says Jarchi, signifies what in our tongue is expressed by bouteille, a bottle. Jarchi was a French rabbin.

This site's exposition

Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread

on 1 Kings 17:11-12

Elijah's request for bread tests the widow before she can test him, though she has told him only that she gathers sticks for a last meal. Her answer names her stock exactly, an handful of meal in a barrel and a little oil in a cruse, enough by her own reckoning for one meal before she and her son die of the famine. Wesley notes the famine's effects reached beyond Israel into Tyre and Sidon, since both regions depended on Israel's grain, so her poverty is the drought's own doing before Elijah asks anything further of her.

This site's exposition

a handful of flour in a jar

Adam Clarke describes the jar as an earthen vessel of the kind used in the East to keep flour safe from insects. Her oath takes up the words Elijah spoke to Ahab at verse 1. She names the LORD as his God.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers3 voices

A commentator

Augustine of Hippo

SERMON 124.3 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

Let us further see where blessed Elijah found that widow, dearly beloved. She had gone out to get water and to pick up sticks of wood. Let us now consider what the water and the wood signify. We know that both are very pleasing and necessary for the church, as it is written: "He is like a tree planted near running water." In the wood is shown the mystery of the cross, in the water the sacrament of baptism. Therefore, she had gone out to gather two sticks of wood, for thus she replied to blessed Elijah when he asked her for food: "As the Lord lives, I have nothing but a handful of meal and a little oil in a cruse; and behold, I am going out to gather two sticks that I may make food for me and my son … and we will eat it and die." The widow typified the church, as I said above; the widow's son prefigured the Christian people. Thus, when Elijah came, the widow went out to gather two sticks of wood. Notice, brothers, that she did not say three or four, nor only one stick; but she wanted to gather two sticks. She was gathering two sticks of wood because she received Christ in the type of Elijah; she wanted to pick up those two pieces because she desired to recognize the mystery of the cross. Truly, the cross of our Lord and Savior was prepared from two pieces of wood, and so that widow was gathering two sticks because the church would believe in him who hung on two pieces of wood. For this reason that widow said, "I am gathering two sticks that I may make food for me and my son, and we will eat it and die." It is true, beloved; no one will merit to believe in Christ crucified unless he dies to this world. For if a person wishes to eat the body of Christ worthily, he must die to the past and live for the future.

A commentator

Caesarius of Arles

Commentary (church-history corpus) · Written before 542.

proposed

Let us further see where blessed Elijah found that widow, dearly beloved. She had gone out to get water and to pick up sticks of wood. Let us now consider what the water and the wood signify. We know that both are very pleasing and …

A commentator

Ephrem the Syrian

ON THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS 17:2 · Written before 373.

proposed

When Elijah reached the gate of Zarephath, he met a woman and immediately realized, through the Holy Spirit, that she was the widow about whom God had talked to him. She was there and looked at him. It seems to me that Elijah had asked …

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

For though the famine was chiefly in the land of Israel, yet the effects of it were in Tyre and Sidon, which were fed by the corn of that land. But what a poor supporter was this likely to be? who had no fuel, but what she gathered in the streets, and nothing to live upon herself, but an handful of meal and a little oil!
And she said, as the Lord thy God liveth,....
3 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Her mind was brought to her condition, and she complained not of the hardship she was brought to, nor quarrelled with the divine Providence for withholding rain, but accommodated herself to it as well as she could. Such as are of this temper in a day of trouble are best prepared for honour and relief from God.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

Meeting, at his entrance into the town, the very woman who was appointed by divine providence to support him, his faith was severely tested by learning from her that her supplies were exhausted and that she was preparing her last meal for herself and son.
As the Lord thy God liveth - The words do not prove that the woman was an Israelite, or a worshipper of the true God; any Phoenician, recognizing in Elijah’s appearance the garb and manner of a Jehovistic prophet, might have thus addressed him: Baal-worshippers would have admitted Yahweh to be “a” living God. The woman does not say “as the Lord my God liveth.” That we may eat it and die - Phoenicia always depended for its cereal supplies on the harvests of Palestine (1Ki 5:9 note); and it is evident that the famine was afflicting the Phoenicians at this time no less than the Israelites.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

On the verses either side of this one

A small cake first. There is a Midrash Aggdah in Bereishis Rabboh. The Midrash cited by Rashi is not found in our texts of Midrash Rabboh on this verse. (why he wanted it first) on [the verse], “And Leah said, ‘Unexpected success has come.’” 10 Bereishis:11.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on I Kings 17:13:1, via Sefaria, The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

27 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַתֹּ֗אמֶרand she said

    vatomerH559 →5305 times

  • חַי־[by] [the] life

    chai-H2416 →498 times

  • יְהוָ֤הof Yahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙God your

    ʾeloheikhaH430 →2601 times

  • אִם־if

    ʾim-H518 →1069 times

  • יֶשׁ־there

    yesh-H3426 →

  • לִ֣יto me

    li

  • מָע֔וֹג[is] food

    maogH4580 →

  • כִּ֣יthat

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • אִם־except

    ʾim-H518 →1069 times

  • מְלֹ֤א[the] fullness of

    melo'H4393 →

  • כַף־a palm of

    khaf-H3709 →192 times

  • קֶ֙מַח֙flour

    kemachH7058 →14 times

  • בַּכַּ֔דin <the> jar

    bakadH3537 →18 times

  • וּמְעַט־and a little of

    umeat-H4592 →

  • שֶׁ֖מֶןoil

    shemenH8081 →193 times

  • בַּצַּפָּ֑חַתin <the> jug

    batzapachatH6835 →7 times

  • וְהִנְנִ֨יand here I

    vehiniH2005 →316 times

  • מְקֹשֶׁ֜שֶׁת[am] gathering

    mekosheshetH7197 →

  • שְׁנַ֣יִםtwo

    shenayimH8147 →768 times

  • עֵצִ֗יםwood<s>

    ʾetzimH6086 →328 times

  • וּבָ֙אתִי֙and I will go

    uvatiH935 →2568 times

  • וַעֲשִׂיתִ֙יהוּ֙and I will prepare it

    vaasitihuH6213 →2628 times

  • לִ֣יfor myself

    li

  • וְלִבְנִ֔יand for son my

    velivniH1121 →4930 times

  • וַאֲכַלְנֻ֖הוּand we will eat it

    vaakhalnuhuH398 →810 times

  • וָמָֽתְנוּ׃and we will die

    vamatenuH4191 →839 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

2 Kings 4:2“How can I help you?” asked Elisha. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”9 worksMatthew 15:33–34The disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could we find enough bread to feed such a large crowd?”6 worksHaggai 1:6You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but never get warm. You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.”5 works1 Kings 17:1Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD lives—the God of Israel before whom I stand—there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”4 worksEzekiel 12:18–19“Son of man, eat your bread with trembling, and drink your water with quivering and anxiety.3 worksGenesis 21:16Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, “I cannot bear to watch the boy die!” And as she sat nearby, she lifted up her voice and wept.3 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Jeremiah 14:18If I go out to the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I enter the city, I see those ravaged by famine! For both prophet and priest travel to a land they do not know.’”2 worksLamentations 4:9Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.2 worksJeremiah 4:2and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”2 works1 Samuel 14:39As surely as the LORD who saves Israel lives, even if it is my son Jonathan, he must die!” But not one of the troops said a word.2 worksJoel 1:15–16Alas for the day! For the Day of the LORD is near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty.2 works1 Samuel 14:45But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die—he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for with God’s help he has accomplished this today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.2 works2 Samuel 15:21But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!”2 works1 Samuel 26:10David added, “As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.2 works1 Samuel 20:21Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ Now, if I expressly say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them,’ then come, because as surely as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger.2 works1 Samuel 25:26Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and avenging yourself with your own hand. May your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal.2 worksJeremiah 5:2Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ they are swearing falsely.”2 worksEcclesiastes 5:17Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Kings 17:1

    Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD lives—the God of Israel before whom I stand—there will be neither dew nor rain in…

    it leads to

    • Luke 4:25–26

      But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all…

    • James 5:17

      Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

    • Luke 1:17

      And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to…

    • 1 Kings 22:14

      But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”

    • 2 Kings 3:14

      Then Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not for my regard for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at…

  • Through

    Genesis 21:16

    Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, “I cannot bear to watch the boy die!” And as she sat nearby, she lifted up her voice and…

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 49:15

      “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!

    • Judges 2:4

      When the angel of the LORD had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people lifted up their voices and wept.

    • 1 Samuel 24:16

      When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud

Where this verse is studied

On this page

Studies1

About 1 Kings

Elijah Raises the Son of the Widow of Zarephath — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Elijah Raises the Son of the Widow of Zarephath — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
1 Kings: the study guide →Read 1 Kings 17 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, SERMON 124.3; Caesarius of Arles, Commentary (church-history corpus); Ephrem the Syrian, ON THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS 17:2; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 1 Kings 17 →