1 Kings 17 13

1 Kings 17:13 kjv

And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

1 Kings 17:13 nkjv

And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.

1 Kings 17:13 niv

Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.

1 Kings 17:13 esv

And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son.

1 Kings 17:13 nlt

But Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you've said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what's left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son.

1 Kings 17 verses

1 Kings 17 13 Meaning

1 Kings 17:13 records Elijah's direct command to a starving widow, asking her to prioritize making him a small bread cake from her last meager supplies of flour and oil before preparing any for herself and her son. This instruction serves as a profound test of faith and immediate obedience, requiring her to trust in the prophet's word, and implicitly God's promise of provision, over her dire visible circumstances and the natural instinct for self-preservation.

1 Kings 17 13 Context

Chapter 17 of 1 Kings opens with Elijah's declaration of a severe drought upon Israel during the idolatrous reign of King Ahab. This was a divine judgment and a direct challenge to Baal, who was worshipped as the god of rain and fertility. Elijah was miraculously sustained by ravens by the Wadi Cherith until it dried up, signifying the continuation of God's judgment and preparing him for the next stage of God's provision. God then sent Elijah to Zarephath, a Sidonian city— ironically, in the very territory associated with Baal worship and Jezebel, Ahab’s wife. He was to be sustained by a widow. This detail highlights God's sovereignty reaching beyond Israel and His ability to use unlikely, marginalized individuals to accomplish His purposes and demonstrate His power. In 1 Kings 17:12, the widow expresses her desperate situation, having only a minuscule amount of flour and oil left, sufficient for only one last meal for herself and her son before they die of starvation. Elijah's subsequent command in verse 13 immediately follows this confession, setting up the ultimate test of her faith and willingness to obey God's prophet in the face of death.

1 Kings 17 13 Word analysis

• And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear;

  • And Elijah said: Establishes the authoritative voice of God's prophet. His words are commands directly from God, not suggestions.
  • Do not fear (אַל תִּירְאִי - ʾal tîrəʾî): This common biblical phrase directly confronts her natural, justifiable terror of imminent starvation. It is a powerful command, not an encouragement, that implies a divine counter-reality to her immediate perception, setting the stage for a promise of security and divine intervention.

• go and do as you have said,

  • go and do (לְכִי עֲשִׂי - ləḵî ʿaśî): Strong, imperative verbs, demanding immediate, active compliance. This is a call to physical action mirroring inner faith.
  • as you have said (כִּדְבָרֵךְ - kîḏəvārēḵ): Refers to her explanation in 1 Ki 17:12 of her exact, limited resources. Elijah acknowledges her grim reality not to negate it, but to show God's power to operate precisely within and transcend those very limits.

• but make me a small bread cake from it first, and bring it out to me;

  • make me (עֲשִׂי לִי - ʿaśî lî): The dative "me" is crucial. It places Elijah, and by extension God, at the absolute center of her remaining resources. This demands a complete surrender of self-interest, particularly in a life-or-death situation.
  • a small bread cake (עֻגָה קְטַנָּה - ʿuggāh qəṭannāh): uggah refers to a simple, round flatbread. qəṭannāh emphasizes its minuscule size, highlighting that the request, while small in quantity, demands everything she has, intensifying the test of faith.
  • from it: This specifically indicates her existing last portion, not from some imagined or hoped-for supply.
  • first (רִאשֹׁנָה - riʾšōnāh): This is the most significant and challenging word in the verse. It conveys absolute priority, precedence, and initial claim. It demands that she set aside all rational self-preservation and give to God (through His prophet) before even herself or her child. This embodies the principle of putting God first and expecting His subsequent provision.
  • and bring it out to me: Reinforces the immediacy and concreteness of the required action—physical delivery to Elijah.

• and afterward make some for yourself and for your son."

  • and afterward (וְאַחַר - wəʾaḥar): This establishes the divinely promised sequence. Her own provision, and her son's, will follow as a direct result of her prior act of obedience and trust. This is the promise that sweetens the bitter demand, demonstrating God’s ultimate care.
  • make some for yourself and for your son: Reassures her that her needs, and her son's, are not forgotten by God. This underscores the compassionate nature of God even within a demanding test, demonstrating His ultimate faithfulness to those who obey.

1 Kings 17 13 Bonus section

The story of Elijah and the Zarephath widow showcases God's care extending beyond the covenant nation of Israel, illustrating His global redemptive heart even in the Old Testament. The demand for the "first" cake reflects the Old Testament principle of firstfruits (Ex 22:29; Deut 26:1-11), where the initial and often best portion of one's produce or increase was given to God as an act of worship and trust in His future provision. The widow's situation underscores a truth found throughout scripture: God often waits until human resources are completely depleted before He steps in with supernatural provision, precisely to ensure that His glory is seen as the sole source of deliverance. This act also anticipates Christ's teaching about sacrificing what is necessary to follow Him, with the assurance that those who lose their lives for His sake will find them (Mt 10:39).

1 Kings 17 13 Commentary

Elijah's directive in 1 Kings 17:13 presents a stark choice between trusting human scarcity and relying on divine abundance. His command to the starving widow, to make him the first cake from her last bit of food, was not an act of selfishness but a radical test designed to cultivate and demonstrate extraordinary faith. In her moment of utter desperation, she was asked to perform an act of faith that flew in the face of all natural reasoning, offering her very last resource to God's prophet. This extreme demand underscored God's sovereignty and His ability to sustain life independent of apparent circumstances, directly challenging the false security people found in Baal, the supposed provider of rain and fertility. The widow's choice to obey became a powerful act of worship, transforming a seemingly irrational sacrifice into a tangible demonstration of faith that unlocked a miracle of ceaseless provision. This account powerfully illustrates that putting God and His kingdom priorities first leads to His miraculous care, revealing His glory and strengthening one's dependence on Him.