1 Kings 17 19

1 Kings 17:19 kjv

And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.

1 Kings 17:19 nkjv

And he said to her, "Give me your son." So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed.

1 Kings 17:19 niv

"Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed.

1 Kings 17:19 esv

And he said to her, "Give me your son." And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed.

1 Kings 17:19 nlt

But Elijah replied, "Give me your son." And he took the child's body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed.

1 Kings 17 verses

1 Kings 17 19 Meaning

In 1 Kings 17:19, Elijah takes decisive action in response to the Zarephath widow's anguish over her dead son. He commands her to hand the child over, then physically takes the lifeless body from her embrace. Subsequently, he carries the boy to his private room in the upper story of the house, placing him gently upon his own bed. This sequence sets the stage for the miraculous restoration of life, demonstrating Elijah's compassionate resolve and his preparation for God's divine intervention.

1 Kings 17 19 Context

The events of 1 Kings 17:19 occur during the reign of King Ahab in Israel, a period marked by profound spiritual apostasy and widespread Baal worship. Elijah, a prophet of Yahweh, directly challenges this apostasy by pronouncing a severe drought on the land, demonstrating Yahweh's sole authority over natural phenomena, which Baal was wrongly believed to control. Before this verse, Elijah has been miraculously sustained by God through ravens at Kerith (vv. 2-7) and later by a poor widow in Zarephath, whose meager flour and oil supply supernaturally did not run out (vv. 8-16). The death of the widow's son is an unforeseen crisis that tests the faith of both the widow and Elijah. The mother, overwhelmed by grief and fear, misunderstands Elijah's presence, accusing him of bringing her sin to remembrance and causing her son's death (v. 18). Verse 19 directly follows her bitter lament, showcasing Elijah's immediate and purposeful response, setting the scene for a miracle that would prove Yahweh's authority not just over rain, but over life and death itself, directly confronting the claims of Baal's dominion over fertility and life.

1 Kings 17 19 Word analysis

• And he said unto her, Give me thy son.

  • וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyomer): "And he said." The verb indicates a quick, direct response from Elijah, immediately following the widow's distress.
  • אֵלֶיהָ (ʾēleyhā): "unto her." Highlights the directness of Elijah's address to the distraught mother.
  • תְּנִי (těnī): "Give!" This is an imperative, indicating a firm, almost commanding request from Elijah, showing his authoritative posture and his readiness to act decisively for God.
  • לִי (lī): "to me." Specifies that the son is to be given into Elijah's personal charge.
  • אֶת־בְּנֵךְ (ʾet-běnēkh): "thy son." Emphasizes the intensely personal nature of the mother's loss and what Elijah is specifically asking for.

• And he took him out of her bosom,

  • וַיִּקָּחֵהוּ (vayyiqāḥēhū): "And he took him." A strong, active verb implying a deliberate, decisive action on Elijah's part, rather than merely receiving. It signifies taking firm hold.
  • מֵחֵיקָהּ (mēḥêqāh): "from her bosom/lap." The "bosom" (ḥêq) here represents the closest, most intimate, and often grieving embrace of the mother for her child. Elijah's action is a physical and symbolic separation, allowing for divine intervention.

• and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.

  • וַיַּעֲלֵהוּ (vayyaʿălēhū): "and carried him up/brought him up." Indicates the physical effort and the act of elevating the child to a higher, more secluded space.
  • עַל־הָעֲלִיָּה (ʿal-hāʿălîyāh): "upon/to the upper chamber/loft." This "loft" or aliyah (derived from the root ʿālāh, "to go up") was typically an elevated room, often used for privacy, contemplation, and prayer, distinguishing it from the common living area.
  • אֲשֶׁר הוּא יֹשֵׁב שָׁם (ʾăšer hūʾ yōšēḇ šām): "where he abode/was staying there." Confirms that the upper chamber was Elijah's personal, private space within the widow's house.
  • וַיַּשְׁכִּיבֵהוּ (vayyaškīvēhū): "and he laid him down." A causative verb, showing Elijah deliberately placed the boy in a horizontal position.
  • עַל־מִטָּתוֹ (ʿal-miṭṭāṯō): "upon his own bed." Signifies Elijah's deep personal commitment and the consecration of his most private space for the impending divine miracle.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Give me thy son": This audacious request by Elijah, in the face of profound grief, is not just a demand but an invitation for the mother to relinquish control and trust God through His prophet, indicating a transition from human despair to divine intervention.
  • "Took him out of her bosom": This forceful, yet compassionate, act highlights a critical moment of relinquishment. Elijah separates the deceased child from the mother's intense, grieving hold, which is a necessary step before God's life-giving power can be displayed, illustrating that God often acts when human capacity reaches its limits.
  • "Carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed": This phrase describes Elijah's careful and intentional handling of the body, creating a sacred, private space for prayer and intercession. The aliyah (upper chamber) suggests a place set apart for intimate encounter with God, and laying the child on his "own bed" signifies profound personal investment and faith, dedicating his personal space for divine action.

1 Kings 17 19 Bonus section

• The Hebrew term aliyah (loft/upper chamber) found here carries significant biblical resonance. It often represents a place of seclusion, prayer, and direct encounter with God, similar to where disciples gathered for Pentecost in the New Testament (Acts 1-2). This choice of location implies Elijah's intent to engage in private, intense prayer.
• Elijah's actions underscore a theme common in biblical narratives of healing and resurrection: the agent of God often physically engages with the afflicted (e.g., Jesus taking Jairus's daughter's hand, Peter kneeling and praying over Dorcas). This intimate interaction personalizes the miracle and conveys profound compassion.
• This resurrection account is exceptional as one of only two documented instances in the Old Testament where a prophet is God's instrument for raising someone from the dead, both linked to Elijah and Elisha. It highlights the unique spiritual authority granted to these prophets during a time of extreme apostasy in Israel.

1 Kings 17 19 Commentary

Elijah's actions in 1 Kings 17:19 are pivotal, demonstrating his resolute faith and profound empathy. Upon hearing the widow's distressed accusation, he doesn't engage in debate but takes swift, purposeful command of the situation. His request, "Give me thy son," underscores his reliance on God's ability to transcend death, directly contrasting with Baal's impotence. Physically removing the boy from the mother's grieving embrace ("out of her bosom") is an act of separation, preparing her heart and the scene for God's power. By carrying the child to his private upper room (aliyah) and placing him on his own bed, Elijah transforms a place of personal retreat into a sanctuary for divine manifestation. This meticulous attention to detail and personal involvement reflects not only the prophet's compassion but also his profound reverence for the work God is about to perform, setting an example of total dedication and trust in Yahweh's sovereign power over life and death. This event directly confronts the Canaanite belief in Baal's power, firmly establishing Yahweh as the one true Giver of life.