Trinity/After Pentecost · The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
1 Kings 17:17-24
The Widow of Zarephath
September 20, 2026
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
Enduring Word Bible Commentary 1 Kings Chapter 17 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik on Elijah raising the widow's son and her confession that he is a man of God.
1 Kings 17:17 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators from the start of the reading on the boy's death and revival.
1 Kings 17 Commentary Precept Austin
A verse by verse study with word notes on Elijah's prayer stretched over the child.
1 Kings 17:8-24 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary that carries through to the widow recognizing the word of the Lord.
Commentary on 1 Kings 17:17-24 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary on the God who turns despair and mourning into hope, the Ordinary 10 reading.
Background & Word Study
1 Kings Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on the books of Kings and the Elijah cycle.
1 Kings 17:17 Interlinear BibleHub
Hebrew word by word, useful for Elijah's cry and the return of the boy's life breath (nephesh).
I Kings 17 Sefaria
The Hebrew text with Jewish commentaries for the whole chapter.
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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