1 Kings 17 17

1 Kings 17:17 kjv

And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.

1 Kings 17:17 nkjv

Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him.

1 Kings 17:17 niv

Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing.

1 Kings 17:17 esv

After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.

1 Kings 17:17 nlt

Some time later the woman's son became sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he died.

1 Kings 17 verses

1 Kings 17 17 Meaning

This verse describes a sudden and devastating turn of events for the widow of Zarephath: the severe illness and subsequent death of her only son, with whom the prophet Elijah is residing. The statement "no breath left in him" serves as a definitive confirmation of the boy's demise, removing any ambiguity about his state and setting the stage for a dramatic display of divine power over death through Elijah's intercession. It underscores the profound personal tragedy within the household and highlights the reality of human mortality even amidst divine provision and miraculous sustenance.

1 Kings 17 17 Context

The events of 1 Kings chapter 17 establish Elijah as Yahweh's prophet in direct confrontation with the idolatry pervasive in Israel under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Following Elijah's declaration of a severe drought, God provides for him miraculously at the Wadi Cherith, and then sends him to Zarephath. There, Elijah encounters a destitute widow whose last meal is about to be consumed by her and her son, before they die. Yahweh, through Elijah, then supernaturally sustains them with never-ending flour and oil for "many days" during the famine. Verse 17 directly follows this period of sustained miraculous provision. This abrupt and deeply personal tragedy—the death of her only son—shifts the narrative focus from communal physical sustenance to an intimate test of faith and a demonstration of God's power over life and death itself, challenging the pagan belief in Baal as the bringer of fertility and life.

1 Kings 17 17 Word analysis

• After these things (אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה - ʼachar haddevarim haʼelleh): This common Hebrew transitional phrase signals a significant shift or a new development in the narrative, following a period or sequence of prior events. Here, it contrasts the period of abundant provision with the sudden onset of crisis, underscoring that God's miraculous care does not necessarily exempt His people or those near His servants from facing severe tribulations.
• the son (בֶּן - ben): This term highlights his identity as the only child of the widow, emphasizing the irreplaceable nature of his loss. In ancient Israelite society, a son was crucial for a widow's long-term security, inheritance, and continuation of her lineage; his death meant utter destitution and the extinguishing of her hopes.
• of the woman, the mistress of the house (הָאִשָּׁה בַּעֲלַת הַבַּיִת - ha'ishshah ba'alat habbayit): The phrase "mistress of the house" identifies her as the legal owner or head of the household where Elijah resided. This detail connects the tragedy directly to Elijah's sanctuary and stresses the intimacy of the relationship affected by the crisis.
• became sick (חָלָה - chalah): To fall ill, to be weak. This word describes the onset of a natural ailment, portraying the boy's death as a physical process that requires divine intervention, rather than a magical occurrence.
• And his sickness was so severe (וַיְהִי חָלְיוֹ חָזָק מְאֹד - vayehi kholyoh khazaq me'od): "Severe" (חָזָק מְאֹד - khazaq me'od) literally means "very strong" or "very powerful." This adverbial phrase intensifies the description of the boy's illness, indicating its extreme, life-threatening nature. It unequivocally states that the sickness was not trivial but intensely grave, leading directly and inevitably to his demise.
• that there was no breath left in him (וְלֹא נִשְׁמָה בּוֹ נְשָׁמָה - velo nishmah bo neshamah): This definitive declaration confirms the boy's death beyond doubt. Neshamah (נְשָׁמָה) translates to "breath," "spirit," or "soul." Critically, this is the same word used in Gen 2:7, describing God breathing "the breath of life" (nishmat chayyim) into Adam. Its absence signifies the absolute cessation of life, marking a genuine, irrefutable death and highlighting that life itself, symbolized by breath, ultimately belongs to and comes from God. This also implicitly contrasts Yahweh's power with Baal, who could not control the neshamah.

Words-group analysis:

• "After these things the son of the woman...became sick.": This juxtaposition demonstrates that even in a context of active divine miracle and blessing (the unceasing flour and oil), human frailty and suffering, even death, can abruptly intrude. It serves as a stark reminder that God's presence does not insulate believers from the common experiences of the fallen world, but rather provides the context for His power to be demonstrated in profound ways.
• "his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.": This phrase constitutes an unambiguous medical diagnosis of death, crucial for setting up the subsequent resurrection. The specific mention of the cessation of "breath" (neshamah) strongly connects to the creation narrative where God gives life by imparting breath. Its removal thus indicates a divine withdrawal of life, which only God can restore, powerfully setting up the next miracle as an ultimate demonstration of Yahweh's sovereign authority over life and death itself, challenging any pagan deity's supposed domain.

1 Kings 17 17 Bonus section

• Polemics against Baal Worship: The drought earlier in 1 Kings 17 demonstrated Yahweh's sovereignty over rain and fertility, directly undermining Baal, who was worshipped as the storm and fertility god. The death of the son, and more critically, his subsequent resurrection, elevate this polemic. Baal was believed to bring life and prosperity, but here, in a household receiving divine provision from Yahweh, death intrudes. Only Yahweh, through His prophet, can restore life (the neshamah), showcasing Baal's ultimate powerlessness over true life.
• A Test of Faith and Understanding: For the widow, the son's death immediately prompts her to accuse Elijah of recalling her sins and bringing calamity upon her (1 Kings 17:18). This reveals a common ancient understanding that illness and death were often direct divine punishments. The miracle that follows aims not just to restore life but also to refine her understanding of God's character and power, moving her beyond a transactional faith to a deeper recognition of God's authority and Elijah's genuine prophethood.
• Preparation for Mount Carmel: This dramatic personal miracle of life restoration within Elijah's own lodging serves as a powerful preamble to the even larger public confrontation with Baal's prophets on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18. Having demonstrated God's power over life itself on a personal scale, Elijah is poised to publicly demonstrate Yahweh's unmatched power over fire and nature, validating his ministry and message to the nation of Israel.

1 Kings 17 17 Commentary

1 Kings 17:17 introduces the dramatic and heartbreaking death of the Zarephath widow's only son, creating an immediate and profound crisis that overshadows the earlier blessing of miraculous provision. The detail describing the "severe" illness and the ultimate cessation of "breath" serves a crucial theological purpose: it eliminates any doubt that the boy was genuinely dead. This stark reality provides the necessary foundation for the miracle that follows, emphasizing that Elijah is not merely healing but actively restoring life, an act reserved for God alone. The crisis deeply tests the faith of the widow and places Elijah in a vulnerable position, prompting an intense interaction with God for the restoration of life. This narrative powerfully underscores Yahweh's ultimate sovereignty not only over natural phenomena like rain and famine (as seen with the drought) but more significantly, over the very boundaries of life and death, providing a compelling polemic against the impotence of Baal, who could not offer such power. It foreshadows future resurrections in the Old and New Testaments, illustrating God's consistent character as the source and restorer of life.