1 Kings 17 8

1 Kings 17:8 kjv

And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

1 Kings 17:8 nkjv

Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

1 Kings 17:8 niv

Then the word of the LORD came to him:

1 Kings 17:8 esv

Then the word of the LORD came to him,

1 Kings 17:8 nlt

Then the LORD said to Elijah,

1 Kings 17 verses

1 Kings 17 8 Meaning

After the Cherith Brook dried up, indicating the conclusion of one phase of divine provision, the Word of the LORD came directly to Elijah, commanding him to move from Israelite territory to Zarephath, a town in Phoenicia, which belonged to Sidon. God explicitly stated that He had already ordained for a specific widow there to provide sustenance for Elijah during the severe famine. This verse highlights God's ongoing, sovereign care for His prophet, His ability to command even the unlikely (a Gentile widow) to fulfill His purposes, and the continuation of His prophetic word in challenging circumstances.

1 Kings 17 8 Context

This verse marks a critical transition in Elijah's ministry and God's ongoing provision during the severe drought and famine that Yahweh, through Elijah, brought upon Israel. Prior to this, Elijah had been commanded to hide by the Cherith Brook, east of the Jordan, where he was supernaturally fed by ravens and drank from the brook. However, 1 Kings 17:7 indicates that the brook dried up because the famine intensified. This verse (1 Kings 17:8) immediately follows this, demonstrating God's constant watch over His prophet. He does not leave Elijah to starve but redirects him to a new place of provision.

Historically, this occurs during the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel in Israel, a period notorious for the widespread introduction and fervent promotion of Baal worship, especially from Jezebel's native Sidon. The famine was a direct judgment from Yahweh against Baal worship, as Baal was supposedly the god who brought rain and fertility. God's sending Elijah to a Gentile town like Zarephath, near Jezebel's hometown of Sidon, underscores His universal sovereignty and demonstrates His ability to sustain His prophet even in the heartland of Baal worship, thereby directly confronting and humiliating Baal's impotence.

Word Analysis

• וַיְהִי (vayhî): "And it happened / And the word came." This common Hebrew conjunction-verb starts a new narrative segment, signifying a new development or instruction from God. It highlights divine initiative.
• דְּבַר יְהוָה (devār Yahweh): "The word of the LORD." This is a significant prophetic formula throughout the Old Testament, denoting direct, authoritative, and revelatory communication from God to His chosen servant. It underscores the divine origin and binding nature of the command that follows. It's not Elijah's idea but God's.
• אֵלָיו (ēlāv): "to him." Specifies that the divine message was directly intended for Elijah, emphasizing a personal and specific call.
• לֵאמֹר (lēʼmōr): "saying / as follows." A common introductory particle to signal direct speech or the exact words God spoke.
• קוּם (qūm): "Arise! / Get up!" An imperative verb. It denotes immediate, decisive action. It implies a change in posture, readiness, and swift execution of a new directive. Often signifies moving from a state of rest or waiting to action.
• לֵךְ (lēḵ): "Go!" An imperative verb. A direct command to depart, indicating movement and direction. Combined with qum, it emphasizes prompt and active obedience.
• צָרְפַתָה (ṣarpāṯāh): "to Zarephath." This specific location is crucial. Zarephath (modern Sarafand) was a Phoenician coastal city, a significant detail as it places Elijah outside Israelite territory, specifically in Gentile lands associated with Baal worship. This demonstrates God's sovereignty extending beyond Israel and foreshadows grace for Gentiles.
• אֲשֶׁר לְצִידוֹן (asher leṣîḏôn): "which belongs to Sidon." Further geographic clarification. Sidon was a major Phoenician city and, significantly, Jezebel's hometown, the center of Baal worship introduced into Israel. God sends Elijah directly into the enemy's heartland, confirming His authority over even the lands supposedly under Baal's dominion.
• וְיָשַׁבְתָּ (vᵉyāšavtā): "and dwell / live there." The waw-consecutive perfect form indicates a continuous action. This was not a temporary visit but a command for Elijah to settle there for an indefinite period, indicating ongoing, long-term provision.
• שָׁם (šām): "there." Refers to Zarephath, reinforcing the specific destination for dwelling.
• הִנֵּה (hinnēh): "Behold! / Lo!" An interjection often used to draw attention to a new or surprising revelation. It signifies something important and pre-arranged is about to be declared, building anticipation and emphasizing certainty.
• צִוִּיתִי (ṣivîtî): "I have commanded." This is a perfect verb, meaning God had already given the command to the widow, indicating pre-ordination and certainty. It highlights God's sovereignty over circumstances and individuals, even before Elijah's arrival.
• אִשָּׁה אַלְמָנָה (ʾiššāh ʾalmānāh): "a widow woman." This specific descriptor is profound. Widows in ancient societies were among the most vulnerable and often destitute, completely dependent on the care of others. God commanding a "poor" widow (as seen in later verses) to provide for Elijah emphasizes divine power working through the weak and demonstrates God's unexpected ways of provision, confounding human logic. It also highlights God's special care for widows.
• לְכַלְכֶּלְךָ (leḵalkeleḵā): "to sustain you / to provide for you." The infinitive construct indicates the purpose: her commanded role is to be Elijah's provider. This reveals the core reason for God sending Elijah to Zarephath—not just for refuge, but for direct sustenance during the severe famine.

1 Kings 17 8 Commentary

1 Kings 17:8 encapsulates God's faithfulness, sovereignty, and specific direction over the life of His prophet during a national crisis. The direct communication, "The word of the LORD came to him," underscores divine initiative, not Elijah's seeking. The command "Arise! Go!," reflects God's urgent, continuous guidance for Elijah, moving him from one source of supernatural provision (ravens at Cherith) to another (a widow in Zarephath). This transition tests Elijah's obedience and faith, as it required him to leave a known, albeit drying, sanctuary for an unfamiliar place and an unconventional provider—a vulnerable Gentile widow in a territory devoted to Baal.

The choice of Zarephath, near Sidon, is a deliberate polemic against Baal worship. Yahweh, not Baal, controls the rain and thus famine, and He demonstrates His power by providing for His prophet even in the supposed stronghold of His adversary. The fact that God had "commanded" the widow beforehand shows His pre-arranged providence, highlighting His absolute control over human will and circumstances. This miraculous shift from inanimate ravens to a living, yet incredibly poor, human being magnifies God's power through human weakness and unexpected channels. It serves as a profound lesson in radical dependence on God's will and an early testament to God's grace extending beyond the boundaries of Israel.

Bonus Section

• The geographical move to Zarephath, being near Jezebel’s hometown of Sidon, serves as a direct, provocative challenge to Baal, who was supposed to control the weather and provision. Yahweh demonstrates His ultimate supremacy right on Baal’s home turf, during the very famine Baal was powerless to alleviate.
• This specific instance of God sending His prophet to a Gentile widow is significant because Jesus Himself later references it in Luke 4:26, highlighting God's sovereign right to extend grace and favor beyond ethnic boundaries, even to those not considered part of His covenant people. It anticipates the inclusion of Gentiles into God's plan of salvation.
• The progression from raven-feeding (purely miraculous, no human involvement in the provision itself) to widow-feeding (a human agent, requiring faith from both Elijah and the widow) illustrates a shift in God's testing. It moves from entirely passive reception to active faith and partnership, foreshadowing deeper communal dependence.
• The drying of the Cherith Brook was not a failure of God's provision but a divine signal for a new assignment, revealing God's dynamic leading that shifts with the completion of each phase of His plan. God closes one door of provision only to open another, further illustrating His moment-by-moment sovereignty.