1 Kings 17 9

1 Kings 17:9 kjv

Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

1 Kings 17:9 nkjv

"Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you."

1 Kings 17:9 niv

"Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food."

1 Kings 17:9 esv

"Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you."

1 Kings 17:9 nlt

"Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you."

1 Kings 17 verses

1 Kings 17 9 Meaning

This verse details a new divine command to the prophet Elijah following the drying up of the Brook Cherith. God instructs Elijah to leave his hiding place and go to Zarephath, a city in Sidon, where a specific widow has been "commanded" by God to sustain him. This marks a significant shift in Elijah's provision, from supernatural raven-feeding to human hospitality, demonstrating God's continued care and testing of faith in unlikely circumstances, even amongst Gentiles.

1 Kings 17 9 Context

1 Kings chapter 17 opens with Elijah's bold prophecy of a severe drought, directly challenging the Baal-worshipping apostasy propagated by King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. God then instructs Elijah to hide by the Brook Cherith, where he is supernaturally fed by ravens. The drought, however, progresses, causing the brook to dry up. This particular verse (1 Ki 17:9) marks a turning point as God redirects Elijah to a new, unexpected source of sustenance, shifting from miraculous provision through nature (ravens) to miraculous provision through human means, in a location hostile to Israel's God. The city, Zarephath, is strategically important, being in Sidon, the homeland of Jezebel and a stronghold of Baal worship, thereby intensifying the polemic against Baal's claimed power over rain and provision.

1 Kings 17 9 Word analysis

• "Arise" (קוּם - qum): This Hebrew imperative often signals a prompt, decisive action or a new initiative. It conveys a sense of urgency and direct command, often preceding a significant change in direction or mission for the commanded individual.
• "Go" (הָלַךְ - halakh): Another imperative, indicating a physical movement to a specified destination. Paired with "arise," it underscores immediate and obedient action. It is a recurring command from God to His servants throughout the Bible (e.g., Abraham, Moses).
• "Zarephath" (צָרְפַת - Tsarefat): Meaning "smelting shop" or "refinery," suggesting a place of purification or refining. Geographically, it was a Phoenician city between Sidon and Tyre. Its location in Sidon, homeland of Jezebel, highlights the surprising nature of God's provision and a powerful demonstration of His sovereignty over territories dominated by rival gods, directly challenging Baal's regional authority.
• "which belongs to Sidon": Emphasizes Zarephath's location in pagan territory, demonstrating God's universal reach and willingness to provide through unexpected sources, even those outside the covenant community of Israel. This further highlights the depth of Israel's apostasy.
• "dwell there" (וְיָשַׁבְתָּ־שָׁם - ve’yashavta-sham): Indicates a settled residence for a period, not merely a transient visit. This implies sustained provision and a long-term presence, demonstrating trust in God's ongoing care in a foreign land.
• "for I have commanded" (כִּי־צִוִּיתִי - ki tsiviti): The perfect tense verb "commanded" signifies a divine decree that has already been issued and stands as a done deal. It assures Elijah that God has prepared the way and made arrangements. The divine fiat ensures the seemingly impossible will occur.
• "a widow there" (אִשָּׁה אַלְמָנָה־שָׁם - ishah almanah-sham): This is a crucial detail. Widows in ancient society were among the most vulnerable, without a male provider. Their reliance was often on charity or meager resources. God's choice of a poor, Gentile widow, instead of a wealthy Israelite family, is profoundly counter-cultural and polemical. It underscores that God’s power and provision transcend social status, national boundaries, and material wealth, focusing instead on faith and obedience. It highlights God's compassion for the needy and His ability to work through the weakest vessels.
• "to sustain you" (לְכַלְכְּלֶךָ - lekhalchlekha): From the root meaning "to nourish," "to provide for." This refers to basic necessities like food and water. This contrasts with the previous angelic or ravenous feeding, establishing a more relational, human form of provision that also tests both Elijah's and the widow's faith and obedience.

1 Kings 17 9 Bonus section

The location, Zarephath, being Phoenician (part of Sidon) and outside Israel's territory, highlights a significant theological point: God's concern and saving activity are not exclusively limited to Israel. This subtly foreshadows the New Testament concept of God's redemptive plan encompassing the Gentiles, even though Old Testament focus is primarily on Israel. This incident served as a stark counter-narrative to Ahab and Jezebel's efforts to completely assimilate Israel into Phoenician Baal worship; here, Yahweh demonstrates His power in Phoenician territory, using a Phoenician to sustain His prophet, reversing the flow of influence. It also showcases divine irony: the prophet fleeing from a Baal-worshipping queen finds refuge and sustenance from a seemingly insignificant person in Baal's very stronghold, a place where Baal should logically control rain and fertility but fails to provide for his own adherents.

1 Kings 17 9 Commentary

1 Kings 17:9 presents a divine directive characterized by its precision, authority, and challenging nature. God commands Elijah, recently sustained by ravens at Cherith, to embark on a new mission: to relocate to Zarephath in Sidon, a city steeped in Baal worship. The remarkable aspect of this command is that Elijah is to be sustained by a "widow" – a highly vulnerable individual in ancient society, and crucially, a Gentile widow from the very land associated with Jezebel, Israel's spiritual antagonist. This challenges several conventional assumptions: God’s capacity to provide anywhere, even in a hostile territory; His preference to work through the seemingly weak rather than the strong; and His sovereignty extending beyond the chosen people to include Gentiles in His divine economy.

This verse sets the stage for God to perform a profound miracle of sustained provision (the multiplying flour and oil, 1 Ki 17:10-16) and a miracle of resurrection (raising the widow’s son, 1 Ki 17:17-24), further affirming His exclusive power over life and sustenance, in direct opposition to the impotent claims of Baal. Jesus Himself references this specific event in Luke 4:25-26, highlighting God’s sovereign choice to bless outside Israel when Israel itself was spiritually deaf. It demonstrates that divine obedience, no matter how unusual the command, unlocks supernatural provision and allows God to glorify Himself in the most unexpected ways, transforming desperate situations into demonstrations of His unfailing faithfulness.