1 Kings 17 6

1 Kings 17:6 kjv

And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

1 Kings 17:6 nkjv

The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.

1 Kings 17:6 niv

The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

1 Kings 17:6 esv

And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

1 Kings 17:6 nlt

The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.

1 Kings 17 verses

1 Kings 17 6 Meaning

God miraculously sustained His prophet Elijah during the declared drought by orchestrating the delivery of bread and meat twice daily by ravens, while providing water from the local brook. This demonstrates God's sovereign control over creation and His faithful provision for His chosen servant even under dire circumstances.

1 Kings 17 6 Context

Chapter 17 of 1 Kings opens with Elijah's sudden appearance and bold declaration of a multi-year drought, directly challenging Baal, the Canaanite god of rain and fertility. This prophecy of severe judgment (1 Kgs 17:1) leads immediately to God commanding Elijah to hide by the Cherith brook (1 Kgs 17:3-4). Verse 6 describes God's direct and supernatural provision for Elijah during this initial period of hiding. The drought and the ensuing famine test both the people's faith and the power of Baal. God's provision for Elijah through unprecedented means, using 'unclean' animals as deliverers, serves as a powerful demonstration of Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over nature and His supreme power in contrast to the impotent false gods. This miraculous sustenance at Cherith was a crucible for Elijah, fostering deep dependence and preparing him for future challenges, especially the dramatic confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.

1 Kings 17 6 Word analysis

• And (וְ / ve): A simple conjunction connecting God's command to Elijah in the previous verse with its direct fulfillment, emphasizing the immediate and obedient nature of God's agents.
• the ravens (הָעֹרְבִים / hāʿorvîm): Literally "the black ones." Ravens are listed as unclean birds under Mosaic Law (Lev 11:15, Deut 14:14), making their use as providers a remarkable sign of God's transcendence over conventional norms and His complete dominion over all creation. Their natural scavenging instinct to eat meat is miraculously subverted; instead, they deliver it. This choice directly counters Baal worship, asserting Yahweh's authority even over animals supposedly outside divine "control" or of negative omen.
• brought (מְבִאִים / məvî'îm): A present participle in Hebrew, indicating continuous action. This was not a one-time event, but a sustained, daily provision, highlighting the consistency of God's care.
• him (לוֹ / lō): Referring specifically to Elijah, underscoring God's personal and intimate care for His prophet.
• bread (לֶחֶם / lechem): The staple food, signifying basic sustenance. It denotes a fundamental human need met by divine intervention.
• and meat (וּבָשָׂר / ûvāśār): Often used for "flesh" or "meat." The inclusion of meat indicates more than just survival rations; it points to a complete and sustaining meal, vital during a widespread famine. This might also subtly mock Baal, as cultic meats were often consumed in pagan worship; here, Yahweh provides.
• in the morning (בַּבֹּקֶר / ba-bōqer): Establishes a regular time for the provision. This consistent timing, along with the evening delivery, mirrors the rhythm of God's provision of manna in the wilderness and the daily Temple sacrifices, suggesting divine order even in a solitary, hidden place.
• and bread and meat (וְלֶחֶם וּבָשָׂר / ve-lechem u-vasar): The repetition underscores the duality and completeness of the daily provisions. It was a consistent, ample supply.
• in the evening (וּבָעֶרֶב / u-vāʿerev): Completes the twice-daily provision, emphasizing the consistency, sufficiency, and miraculous nature of God's sustenance.
• and he drank (וַיִּשְׁתֶּה / wa-yishte): Simple verb denoting a basic physiological action, showing the immediacy of the provision and Elijah's natural use of it.
• from the brook (מִן הַנַּחַל / min ha-nachal): Refers to the "brook Cherith" (mentioned in 1 Kgs 17:3). A "nachal" is often a wadi, a seasonal stream dependent on rainfall. In a time of severe drought, its eventual drying up (1 Kgs 17:7) is natural, serving as the next step in God's leading of Elijah. It signifies complete reliance on God for all necessities.

Words-group Analysis

• "the ravens brought him bread and meat": This powerful phrase highlights the audacious nature of God's provision. It is miraculous not only because ravens (normally scavengers for themselves) deliver food, but also because they deliver wholesome food and do not consume it. This action directly challenges the notion of limited divine power, asserting Yahweh's absolute dominion over even the seemingly insignificant or "unclean" elements of His creation. It’s a polemic against the regional deity Baal, who was supposed to be the bringer of fertility and abundance, but here, in a land suffering famine caused by Yahweh, Yahweh provides uniquely and directly.
• "in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening": This emphasizes the routine, reliable, and comprehensive nature of God's care. It speaks to sufficiency and diligence in provision, not mere survival. This pattern echoes the manna given to Israel in the wilderness, signifying a direct divine commitment to meeting daily needs.

1 Kings 17 6 Bonus section

• The divine command for Elijah to hide by Cherith (1 Kgs 17:3) was crucial for Elijah's personal spiritual development. This period of isolation and complete dependency fostered unwavering trust in God before he would engage in public confrontations. It was a school of faith.
• The fact that God commands ravens, typically known for being selfish scavengers (Job 38:41), to feed Elijah emphasizes God's power to bend even the deepest natural inclinations of creatures to His will. This elevates the miracle far beyond mere happenstance.
• Some rabbinic interpretations suggest "ravens" (`orevim) could refer to people from the town of Oreb or even Arab merchants. However, the consistent scriptural usage of `orevim as "ravens" and the miraculous context strongly favor the literal bird interpretation, which amplifies the extraordinary nature of God's provision.
• This specific act of providing daily food from seemingly impossible sources prefigures Jesus' teaching about God's provision (Matt 6:25-34), using birds as examples of God's care, reinforcing the long-standing biblical theme of divine faithfulness to those who seek His kingdom.

1 Kings 17 6 Commentary

This verse beautifully illustrates God's unassailable sovereignty and profound care for His servants, particularly amidst His own declared judgment. In a land plagued by drought, symbolizing Yahweh's supremacy over Baal, Elijah is provided for in the most unconventional yet unmistakable ways. The very agents of God's provision, the ravens, are animals considered unclean and typically associated with scavenging and death according to the Law. Their obedience to God, subverting their natural instincts to serve rather than consume, showcases Yahweh's absolute control over every facet of His creation. The consistency of "bread and meat" delivered twice daily underscores God's meticulous and abundant faithfulness, a provision not merely for survival but for well-being. This passage reinforces the truth that God is never constrained by human expectations or limitations; He will achieve His purposes and sustain His faithful in ways beyond understanding, affirming His omnipotence against any false deity and solidifying Elijah's trust in preparation for the greater challenges ahead.