Pentecost Season · Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year B
1 Kings 17:10-16
The Widow of Zarephath
November 7, 2027
Overview & Insights
“The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord.” (1 Kings 17:16)
We have lacked a prophet to address the house of Omri, but now a prophet bursts onto the scene with a vengeance. His announcement of doom on this house will, however, be delayed until 1 Kings 21:21–24. His first task is to tackle the problem of the Baal-worship that Ahab has introduced into Israel (16:31–32), so as to demonstrate beyond all doubt that Baal is no more a god in any real sense than Jeroboam’s calves are. Chapter 17 provides the context in which the climactic demonstration of this truth will take place (18:16–40): the divinely ordained drought of 17:1. It also prepares us for the demonstration by showing us that it is the LORD, and not Baal (nor any other “god”), who controls both life and death, both fertility and infertility. It is thus the LORD, and not any other, who is God—as Elijah’s name (Hb. ʾēlîyāhû , “the LORD is God”) itself proclaims.
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Commentary
Commentary on 1 Kings 17:8-16 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary exegesis of the widow of Zarephath, covering the day's verses on the same Sunday.
1 Kings 17: Elijah and the Widow Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse by verse evangelical commentary on the chapter.
1 Kings Commentaries Precept Austin
A deep gathering of word studies and cross references on Elijah and the widow.
1 Kings 17:10 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregates classic commentaries on the meeting at Zarephath in one place.
1 Kings 17, Expository Notes StudyLight
Thomas Constable's expository notes on the widow whose flour and oil did not fail.
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) Agape Bible Study
A Catholic study of the day's readings, tying the widow of Zarephath to the widow in the Gospel.
Background & Word Study
1 Kings 17 in Hebrew Sefaria
The Hebrew text with English alongside and traditional Jewish commentary links.
1 Kings 17:10 Hebrew Interlinear BibleHub
Hebrew word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers for close study.
Enter the Bible: 1 Kings Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on 1 Kings and the Elijah cycle.
Books of 1-2 Kings Overview BibleProject
An animated overview of Kings and its account of the prophets.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What happens at Zarephath?
Elijah asks a starving widow for bread; trusting the Lord’s word, she feeds him first, and her flour and oil do not run out through the famine (1 Kings 17:8–16), a sign of God’s provision.
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