1 Kings 17 3

1 Kings 17:3 kjv

Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

1 Kings 17:3 nkjv

"Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.

1 Kings 17:3 niv

"Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan.

1 Kings 17:3 esv

"Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.

1 Kings 17:3 nlt

"Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River.

1 Kings 17 verses

1 Kings 17 3 Meaning

This verse conveys a direct divine command from the Lord to the prophet Elijah following his declaration of a devastating drought over Israel. It instructs Elijah to leave his current location, travel eastward, and find concealment by a specific natural watercourse, the brook Cherith, located on the eastern side of the Jordan River. This hiding is for Elijah's safety from King Ahab's anticipated wrath and serves as a period of secluded dependence on God's provision amidst the coming famine.

1 Kings 17 3 Context

First Kings 17:3 occurs immediately after Elijah's prophetic confrontation with King Ahab, where Elijah declared a severe drought (1 Ki 17:1). This drought was a direct challenge to Baal, the Canaanite god of rain, storms, and fertility, whom Ahab and Queen Jezebel promoted aggressively throughout Israel. The verse marks God's protective action towards His prophet in anticipation of Ahab's inevitable wrath and the widespread distress caused by the drought. It signals a shift from Elijah's public declaration to a period of divine provision and solitary dependence, removing him from the center of conflict to a hidden place. Historically, Israel under Ahab had plunged into deep idolatry, leading to a spiritual crisis that the drought and Elijah's ministry were meant to address.

1 Kings 17 3 Word analysis

• Go from here (לֵךְ מִזֶּה - lekh mizzeh):

  • "Lekh" is an imperative, a direct command, emphasizing immediate departure.
  • "Mizzeh" means "from this place," referring to his current location, likely near Samaria or wherever he delivered the prophecy to Ahab. It signals an urgent, divinely ordained removal from a place of danger to one of safety.

• and turn eastward (וּפָנִיתָ קֵדְמָה - uphaniyta qedmah):

  • "Uphaniyta" is "and you shall turn" or "face."
  • "Qedmah" means "eastward" or "towards the east." This specific geographical direction is strategic, moving him away from the main centers of population and King Ahab's immediate reach. The east often symbolically suggests a path towards the wilderness or less populated areas.

• and hide yourself (וְנִסְתַּרְתָּ - wənistartā):

  • This is a reflexive verb, meaning "hide yourself." It signifies active concealment and protection.
  • The purpose is twofold: physical safety from King Ahab's likely search and anger, and a period of spiritual preparation and utter dependence on God away from the distractions and dangers of society. It highlights God's sovereignty even in seeming retreat.

• by the brook Cherith (אֶל־נַחַל כְּרִית - ʾel-naḥal Keriyt):

  • "Naḥal" (נַחַל) denotes a wadi, a seasonal stream or dry riverbed that flows only during rain. This contrasts sharply with the impending drought, making God's provision here even more remarkable.
  • "Keriyt" (כְּרִית) comes from the root karat (כָּרַת), meaning "to cut off," "to cut down," or "to separate." The name itself could symbolize a "cutting off" or "secluded" place, perfect for Elijah's isolated retreat. It represents a location where God would "cut off" his ordinary means of sustenance and force a profound reliance on Him.

• which is east of the Jordan (אֲשֶׁר עַל־פְּנֵי הַיַּרְדֵּן - ʾasher `al-pənê ha-Yarden):

  • "Asher `al-pənê" means "which is over against" or "to the east of," explicitly locating the wadi.
  • "Ha-Yarden" is the Jordan River. This geographical marker further specifies the location, placing it across the river from the central part of Israel and potentially beyond the primary areas of Ahab's direct and immediate control, solidifying Elijah's separation.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Go from here and turn eastward and hide yourself": This sequence demonstrates God's immediate, specific, and protective guidance for His servant. It transitions Elijah from his bold public prophecy into a private, dependent state, showcasing divine sovereignty over both the grand pronouncements and the intimate details of a prophet's life. This immediate call to "go and hide" underscores the seriousness of Ahab's potential retaliation.
  • "by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan": This phrase emphasizes God's precise provision and the nature of Elijah's forthcoming test. The highly specific geographical location (a seasonal brook in a desolate area east of the Jordan) indicates that God had a meticulously planned place of refuge. The brook's name, "Cherith" (meaning "cutting off"), prophetically indicates that this place would be one of severe isolation, "cutting Elijah off" from conventional human and material support, compelling him to rely entirely on the Lord's extraordinary provision through ravens and the diminishing water supply, thereby strengthening his faith.

1 Kings 17 3 Bonus section

• The instruction to hide directly contrasts with Elijah's boldness in standing before Ahab, demonstrating the different phases and methods of God's leading for His servants—sometimes public confrontation, sometimes quiet retreat and dependence.
• This specific hiding place also places Elijah outside the formal boundaries of Israel proper (across the Jordan), further emphasizing his separation from the defiled kingdom and highlighting the international reach of God's judgment and grace, as seen later with the widow of Zarephath.
• The detail of "east of the Jordan" anticipates a significant motif in Israelite history where this region often served as a place of refuge, separation, or preparation for critical events (e.g., Moses' viewing of the promised land from there, John the Baptist's ministry).
• Cherith is not a land of plenty but a barren wadi, designed by God to strip Elijah of all human-centered confidence and build his reliance purely on God's supernatural power and word.

1 Kings 17 3 Commentary

1 Kings 17:3 reveals the sovereign God's immediate and strategic care for His prophet following a perilous declaration against a wicked king. Having boldly announced the cessation of rain and dew, thereby directly challenging Baal and the idolatrous rule of Ahab, Elijah becomes a prime target. The divine instruction to "go from here and... hide yourself" is a proactive measure to preserve God's messenger and ensure the continuation of His prophetic word. The selection of "the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan," is deeply significant. "Cherith," related to "cutting off," signifies a place of radical isolation where Elijah is deliberately separated from human society, normal supply chains, and political threats. This seclusion forces him into a state of absolute dependency on God alone, testing and strengthening his faith.

Cherith becomes Elijah's "wilderness school," preparing him for future, even greater confrontations and demonstrating God's faithfulness in sustaining life in extraordinary ways—first through ravens bringing food and then through the dwindling waters of the wadi. This period teaches Elijah, and through him, Israel, that God, not Baal, controls the natural elements and is the sole source of life and sustenance, even in famine. It highlights that God often prepares His servants in obscurity before deploying them in prominent roles, teaching humility, reliance, and unswerving obedience to His precise instructions, no matter how unusual.For practical application, this verse encourages trust in God's specific guidance in difficult times, understanding that apparent "retreats" can be strategic periods of divine provision and preparation, and fostering an obedient spirit to seemingly illogical commands from God, knowing He always has a greater purpose.