1 Kings 17 14

1 Kings 17:14 kjv

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.

1 Kings 17:14 nkjv

For thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.' "

1 Kings 17:14 niv

For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.'?"

1 Kings 17:14 esv

For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"

1 Kings 17:14 nlt

For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!"

1 Kings 17 verses

1 Kings 17 14 Meaning

This verse declares a direct promise from the Lord, the God of Israel, given through the prophet Elijah to the widow of Zarephath. It assures her that her small amount of flour and oil, essential for survival, will miraculously not diminish or run out until the drought that gripped the land, sent by God Himself, finally comes to an end with the Lord sending rain. It highlights God's unfailing provision and sovereign control over creation.

1 Kings 17 14 Context

This verse is the divine promise delivered by Elijah to the impoverished widow of Zarephath in Sidonian territory. Elijah had fled to Zarephath at the Lord's command after the Brook Cherith dried up, due to the severe famine that gripped the land of Israel as a direct consequence of Elijah's prophecy (1 Kgs 17:1). Upon encountering the widow, she was gathering sticks to prepare her final meal for herself and her son, expecting to die shortly after. Elijah had first requested water and then a small portion of bread. The widow's desperate response about her meager, last ingredients sets the stage for God's incredible assurance. This specific promise not only addresses their immediate survival but also profoundly counters the false belief in Baal, the supposed god of rain and fertility, whom King Ahab and Queen Jezebel promoted. Zarephath, being in Jezebel's homeland of Sidon, underscores the power of Yahweh to provide even in the heart of Baal-worshiping territory. The miracle sustains them throughout the drought, highlighting Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over natural phenomena and His steadfast faithfulness to those who obey and trust Him.

1 Kings 17 14 Word analysis

• For thus says the Lord: (Hebrew: כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, ko amar Yahweh) – Establishes divine authority and direct pronouncement. This is not Elijah's idea, but a revelation from the one true God, setting it apart as an immutable promise. It directly attributes the subsequent miracle to God.
• the God of Israel: (Hebrew: אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, Elohei Yisrael) – Identifies the speaker specifically as the covenant-keeping God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This distinguishes Him from local pagan deities, particularly Baal, whom Jezebel and Ahab served. Even in pagan territory (Zarephath was in Sidon), He remains the sovereign God.
• The jar of flour: (Hebrew: כַּד קֶמַח, kad qemach) – A simple, common earthenware container for flour. "Qemach" is basic grain flour. The emphasis is on the small, visible amount they possessed.
• shall not be spent: (Hebrew: לֹא תֵכַל, lo tekhal) – From the root כָּלָה (kalah), meaning "to be finished, consumed, come to an end." The negation ("lo") signifies that it will not run out, implying a continuous, unending supply from what was initially a limited quantity. This highlights the miraculous, supernatural nature of the provision.
• nor shall the jug of oil: (Hebrew: צַפַּחַת שֶׁמֶן, tzappachat shemen) – "Tzappachat" refers to a small jug or flask. "Shemen" (oil) was vital for cooking, lamps, and medicinal purposes in that culture. Again, the quantity mentioned implies a very limited amount, accentuating the wonder of its unending flow.
• become empty: (Hebrew: לֹא יֶחְסַר, lo yechsar) – From the root חָסַר (chasar), meaning "to lack, diminish, fail." The negation indicates that it will not lessen or fall short, serving as a parallel assurance to "shall not be spent." The promise is dual, covering both essential staples.
• until the day the Lord sends rain: (Hebrew: עַד הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִתֵּן יְהוָה גֶּשֶׁם, ad ha-yom asher-yiten Yahweh geshem) – "Ad" (until) marks a specific, divinely ordained duration. This provision is not for eternity, but precisely for the duration of the famine. "Geshem" (rain), especially a heavy, drenching rain, signals the end of the drought. It further underscores God's control over nature, directly opposing the belief that Baal brings rain.
• upon the earth: (Hebrew: עַל־פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה, al-pnei ha-adamah) – Lit. "upon the face of the ground." This indicates the widespread cessation of the drought, affecting the whole affected region, not just the widow's home.

Words-group analysis:

• "For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel": This opening phrase establishes the unimpeachable divine authority behind the promise, affirming the speaker's identity and power against any rival claims, particularly from Baal worship which was prevalent. It’s a guarantee from the Creator.
• "The jar of flour shall not be spent, nor shall the jug of oil become empty": This double-pronged assurance, specific to the two most fundamental food items, demonstrates the complete and continuous nature of God's supernatural provision. It implies an inexhaustible source beyond natural laws, directly meeting an urgent and life-threatening need.
• "until the day the Lord sends rain upon the earth": This sets a precise divine boundary and purpose for the miracle. The provision is not random but divinely timed for the duration of the famine, highlighting God's complete sovereignty over both creation (sending rain) and human sustenance. It reiterates that Yahweh, not Baal, controls the heavens and the harvest.

1 Kings 17 14 Bonus section

• Polemics Against Baal: The very setting of Zarephath in Sidon, Jezebel’s homeland and a heartland of Baal worship, makes this miracle a direct theological confrontation. Baal was the Canaanite god of storm, rain, and fertility. By providing rain's ultimate return and daily food supply during a drought, Yahweh asserts His unchallenged supremacy over what was considered Baal's primary domain. This miracle shows Baal is impotent, while the God of Israel is all-powerful.
• Divine Initiative and Human Faith: God orchestrates this entire situation. He sends Elijah, tests the widow, and provides the supernatural solution. The miracle is a testament to God's pre-emptive and sustaining grace. However, the widow's obedience in acting on the seemingly impossible command from Elijah was the catalyst for experiencing the continuous provision. Her act of faith, in her extreme poverty, served as a profound example for both Elijah and the audience.
• Foreshadowing New Testament Ministry: This account prefigures Jesus's ministry of miraculous provision, such as feeding the five thousand (John 6) or two thousand (Mark 8), demonstrating a continuity of God's character and power. It also sets a precedent for God caring for the vulnerable, particularly widows, a theme echoed in the New Testament (Jas 1:27).
• Symbolism of Flour and Oil: Flour and oil were not luxury items but staples, representing the most basic needs for life and sustenance in ancient Israel. Their miraculous preservation symbolizes God's complete attention to fundamental necessities. Oil also had ritualistic significance for anointing, subtly hinting at the divine consecration or special blessing on the household.

1 Kings 17 14 Commentary

1 Kings 17:14 is a powerful declaration of God's unwavering faithfulness and omnipotent provision in the face of desperate scarcity. It directly counters human despair with divine certainty, transforming a widow's final meal into an endless supply for the duration of a severe drought. The promise, delivered by Elijah from "the God of Israel," serves as a direct polemic against the pervasive worship of Baal, whose supposed dominion over rain and fertility is demonstrably shown to be false, as Yahweh alone orchestrates the heavens and provides for His people. This miracle, performed in Gentile territory, further reveals God's universal compassion and readiness to intervene for those who exercise faith and obedience, even outside the direct covenant nation of Israel. It required a profound act of faith and obedience from the widow to use her last meal for Elijah first (1 Kgs 17:13), but in doing so, she unlocked a continuous supply that sustained her, her son, and the prophet. The phrase "until the day the Lord sends rain" not only assures provision but also highlights God's sovereignty over natural cycles and the eventual end of His judgment upon the land.