King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And it shall be, [that] thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
Complete Jewish Bible:
You are to drink from the stream, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there."
Berean Standard Bible:
And you are to drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
American Standard Version:
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink{H8354} of the brook{H5158}; and I have commanded{H6680} the ravens{H6158} to feed{H3557} thee there.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Kings 17:9
- Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which [belongeth] to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
Matthew 4:4
- But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Psalms 147:9
- He giveth to the beast his food, [and] to the young ravens which cry.
Job 38:41
- Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
1 Kings 19:5
- And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise [and] eat.
1 Kings 19:8
- And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
Psalms 33:8
- Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 1 Kings 17:4
1 Kings 17:4 is a verse set within the historical context of the divided monarchy in ancient Israel, during the reign of King Ahab, who is infamous for promoting the worship of the Canaanite god Baal. The verse is part of the narrative concerning the prophet Elijah, who abruptly appears in the biblical account to confront Ahab and pronounce a severe drought as judgment for the king's idolatry and the moral decay of the nation.
In this specific verse, God is giving Elijah instructions on how he will be sustained during the upcoming drought. The themes present include God's provision and care for His servants, even in the midst of dire circumstances. The imagery of the ravens, often seen as unclean birds, being agents of divine sustenance underscores the miraculous nature of God's provision. It also serves to highlight the theme of God's sovereignty over all creation, as He commands even the animals to serve His purposes.
The verse emphasizes the trust that God's prophets must have in His word, as Elijah is told to rely on an unusual and seemingly unreliable source of food and water—a brook and the ravens. This passage is emblematic of the broader biblical theme that God will meet the needs of those who are faithful to Him, often in ways that defy human expectations and underscore His omnipotence and faithfulness.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H8354
There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁתָה
Transliteration: shâthâh
Pronunciation: shaw-thaw'
Description: a primitive root; to imbibe (literally or figuratively); [idiom] assuredly, banquet, [idiom] certainly, drink(-er, -ing), drunk ([idiom] -ard), surely. (Prop. intensive of שָׁקָה.) - Strong's Number: H5158
There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נַחַל
Transliteration: nachal
Pronunciation: nakh'-al
Description: or (feminine) נַחְלָה; (Psalm 124:4), or נַחֲלָה; (Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28), from נָחַל in its original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine); brook, flood, river, stream, valley. - Strong's Number: H6680
There are 475 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָוָה
Transliteration: tsâvâh
Pronunciation: tsaw-vaw'
Description: a primitive root; (intensively) to constitute, enjoin; appoint, (for-) bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order. - Strong's Number: H6158
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֹרֵב
Transliteration: ʻôrêb
Pronunciation: o-rabe'
Description: or עוֹרֵב; from עָרַב; a raven (from its dusky hue); raven. - Strong's Number: H3557
There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כּוּל
Transliteration: kûwl
Pronunciation: kool
Description: a primitive root; properly, to keep in; hence, to measure; figuratively, to maintain (in various senses); (be able to, can) abide, bear, comprehend, contain, feed, forbearing, guide, hold(-ing in), nourish(-er), be present, make provision, receive, sustain, provide sustenance (victuals).