1 Kings 17:11

KJV

And as she was going to fetch [it], he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

KJV (with Strong's)

And as she was going {H3212} to fetch {H3947} it, he called {H7121} to her, and said {H559}, Bring {H3947} me, I pray thee, a morsel {H6595} of bread {H3899} in thine hand {H3027}.

Complete Jewish Bible

As she was going to get it, he called after her, "Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand."

Berean Standard Bible

And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread.”

American Standard Version

And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In 1 Kings 17:11, the prophet Elijah, under divine instruction during a severe famine, issues a profoundly challenging request to the impoverished widow of Zarephath. Having just asked for water, he now escalates his plea, demanding "a morsel of bread" from a woman who, as revealed in the preceding narrative, is on the very brink of starvation, preparing what she believes will be her final meal. This audacious demand serves as a pivotal test of faith, setting the stage for a miraculous demonstration of God's sovereign provision and the transformative power of radical obedience.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the narrative of Elijah's ministry during a devastating drought and famine, prophesied by him in [1 Kings 17:1](/1-kings/17-1 "1 Kings 17:1 - Elijah's Prophecy of Drought"). Following God's command to go to the Gentile city of Zarephath, where a widow was appointed to sustain him ([1 Kings 17:9](/1-kings/17-9 "1 Kings 17:9 - God directs Elijah to Zarephath")), Elijah encounters her gathering sticks. Her immediate confession in [1 Kings 17:12](/1-kings/17-12 "1 Kings 17:12 - The Widow's Desperate Confession") reveals her dire circumstances: she is preparing her last handful of flour and oil for herself and her son before they die. Elijah's initial request for water in [1 Kings 17:10](/1-kings/17-10 "1 Kings 17:10 - Elijah's First Request for Water") is quickly followed by this demand for bread, which directly confronts her despair and limited resources, serving as the critical turning point that precedes God's miraculous intervention.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The famine gripping Israel was a divine judgment for the widespread Baal worship promoted by King Ahab and Jezebel, as detailed in [1 Kings 16](/1-kings/16 "1 Kings 16 - Ahab's Wicked Reign"). Zarephath, a Phoenician city, was outside Israelite territory, highlighting God's sovereign care extending beyond His covenant people, even to Gentiles. In ancient Near Eastern societies, widows were among the most vulnerable, dependent on family or community charity for survival. Elijah's request for food from such a person was culturally audacious, pushing the boundaries of hospitality, especially given the extreme scarcity. However, it also underscored the profound spiritual crisis in Israel, where even the king could not provide, forcing reliance on God's unconventional methods.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in [1 Kings 17](/1-kings/17 "1 Kings 17 - Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath"). Firstly, it exemplifies **Divine Providence**, demonstrating God's ability to sustain His servants and fulfill His purposes through seemingly impossible means, even using the destitute to provide for His prophet. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **The Test of Faith**, as Elijah's request demands that the widow look beyond her dire circumstances and trust in the word of the prophet, and by extension, in God's capacity to provide miraculously. This challenge to her human logic and resources is a recurring motif in biblical narratives where God often calls for seemingly impossible acts of faith. Lastly, it sets the stage for **Radical Obedience**, as the widow's eventual compliance, despite her despair, leads directly to the continuous, miraculous provision of flour and oil, detailed in [1 Kings 17:13-16](/1-kings/17-13 "1 Kings 17:13-16 - The Miraculous Provision").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Morsel (Hebrew, פַּת _pat_):** This word denotes a small piece, a crumb, or a fragment, often specifically referring to a piece of bread. Its use here emphasizes the seemingly insignificant nature of the request in terms of quantity, yet it represents everything the widow had. For Elijah to ask for even a "morsel" from someone preparing her last meal underscores the profound test of faith involved, as it was not a request for abundance, but for the very last, most precious resource.
* **I pray thee (Hebrew, נָא _na_):** This is a particle of entreaty or appeal, often translated as "please" or "I beg you." While Elijah speaks with prophetic authority, the inclusion of _na_ softens the command, indicating a polite yet firm request. It suggests that Elijah is not merely demanding, but appealing to her, inviting her participation in God's plan rather than coercing her. This nuance highlights the invitation to faith, not just a dictate.
* **In thine hand (Hebrew, בְּיָדֵךְ _b'yadek_):** This phrase emphasizes the personal and immediate nature of the request. It's not just a general request for bread, but for *her* to bring it *personally*. This direct interaction underscores the individual nature of the test and the personal act of obedience required from the widow. It implies a direct, tangible act of giving from her own possession, making the sacrifice and the subsequent miracle deeply personal.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And as she was going to fetch [it]":** This clause indicates the widow's initial compliance with Elijah's first request for water, demonstrating her willingness to extend hospitality even in her desperate state. It sets the immediate scene, showing her in motion, heading towards the water source.
* **"he called to her, and said":** Elijah's second, more demanding request interrupts her initial task. The act of "calling to her" implies a direct, authoritative, and perhaps urgent summons, drawing her attention back to him for a further, more significant instruction.
* **"Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand":** This is the core of the verse, a seemingly simple yet profoundly challenging command. It is a request for food, but specifically a "morsel," highlighting the minimal quantity yet maximal sacrifice. The inclusion of "I pray thee" softens the tone, while "in thine hand" emphasizes the personal act of giving. This request directly confronts her stated poverty and sets the stage for the divine test of faith.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative in [1 Kings 17:11](/1-kings/17-11 "1 Kings 17:11 - Elijah's Request for Bread") masterfully employs several literary devices to heighten its impact. **Juxtaposition** is central, contrasting Elijah's audacious request for food with the widow's extreme poverty and stated despair. This stark contrast immediately highlights the miraculous nature of the subsequent events. There is also a strong element of **Irony**, as the powerful prophet of God, who has just been miraculously fed by ravens, now seeks sustenance from a destitute Gentile widow. This reversal of expected roles underscores God's unconventional methods and His ability to work through the weak and marginalized. Furthermore, the request itself functions as a **Test**, not just of the widow's faith, but also of the reader's understanding of divine power and human limitations. The narrative implicitly uses **Foreshadowing**, as Elijah's seemingly impossible demand hints at the extraordinary provision that God is about to unleash, transforming scarcity into abundance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The audacious request of Elijah in 1 Kings 17:11 serves as a profound theological statement on God's nature and His interaction with humanity. It reveals that God often calls His people to step into faith precisely at the point of their greatest perceived lack, demonstrating that His power is made perfect in weakness. This is not about human self-sufficiency, but about divine sufficiency. The "morsel of bread" represents a sacrificial act of obedience, where giving from scarcity opens the door to supernatural provision. It teaches that true faith trusts God's economy over human logic, recognizing that what seems impossible to us is merely an opportunity for God to display His glory. This narrative challenges believers to consider what "last morsel" God might be asking them to surrender, not to deplete them, but to initiate a flow of divine blessing.

* [Luke 4:25-26](/luke/4-25 "Luke 4:25-26 - Jesus references the Widow of Zarephath")
* [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God will supply all your needs")
* [2 Corinthians 8:12](/2-corinthians/8-12 "2 Corinthians 8:12 - Giving from what you have")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The story of the widow of Zarephath and Elijah's audacious request in 1 Kings 17:11 offers a timeless challenge to our understanding of resources, faith, and obedience. In a world that often prioritizes accumulation and self-preservation, this narrative calls us to consider the radical counter-cultural act of giving from our perceived lack. It encourages us to re-evaluate our definition of "enough" and to trust that God's economy operates on principles far beyond our natural understanding. When faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges or limited resources, this story prompts us to ask whether God might be inviting us into a deeper level of trust, where our "morsel" becomes the catalyst for His miraculous provision. It's a powerful reminder that true security is found not in what we possess, but in the boundless faithfulness of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you holding onto your "last morsel," fearing scarcity?**
* **What seemingly impossible request might God be making of you today, challenging your perceived limitations?**
* **How does this story encourage you to trust God for unconventional provision in your own circumstances?**
* **What act of radical obedience, however small, might God be calling you to undertake?**

### FAQ
**Why did Elijah ask for bread when he knew the widow was starving?**

Answer: Elijah's request was not born of ignorance or cruelty, but was a divinely orchestrated test of faith and a catalyst for a miracle. God often calls for faith that goes beyond human logic and comfort to demonstrate His power and trustworthiness. By asking for the "morsel of bread," Elijah was inviting the widow to participate in God's plan, to trust His word through His prophet over her dire circumstances and the grim reality of famine. This act of giving from her absolute last was the necessary step for God to unleash His supernatural provision, proving that He is able to supply all needs, even when human resources are exhausted. It was a test of her willingness to obey and trust, which ultimately led to her and her son's sustained survival during the famine, as detailed in [1 Kings 17:13-16](/1-kings/17-13 "1 Kings 17:13-16 - The Widow's Jar Never Ran Dry").

**What is the significance of Elijah specifying "in thine hand"?**

Answer: The phrase "in thine hand" emphasizes the personal, immediate, and tangible nature of the request. It wasn't merely a request for bread to appear, or for someone else to bring it, but for *her* to personally deliver it. This detail underscores the individual act of obedience and sacrifice required from the widow. It made her a direct participant in the unfolding divine drama, transforming a passive recipient of charity into an active agent of faith. This personal involvement heightened the test and, consequently, the impact of the miraculous provision that followed, making her act of faith a concrete and visible demonstration of trust in God's word, as seen in her subsequent obedience in [1 Kings 17:15](/1-kings/17-15 "1 Kings 17:15 - The Widow's Obedience").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, particularly Elijah's audacious request for a "morsel of bread," finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. Just as Elijah, God's prophet, asked for what little the widow had to demonstrate divine provision, so too does Jesus, the ultimate Prophet and Son of God, often call for sacrificial giving and faith in scarcity. We see this echoed in the feeding of the five thousand, where Jesus takes a boy's meager lunch of "five barley loaves and two small fish" ([John 6:9](/john/6-9 "John 6:9 - The Boy's Lunch")) and miraculously multiplies it to feed a multitude, with "twelve baskets full of fragments" remaining ([John 6:13](/john/6-13 "John 6:13 - Leftover Fragments")). This demonstrates that God's economy operates not on human abundance, but on divine multiplication of what is faithfully offered. Ultimately, Jesus Himself is the "bread of life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")), who offered His very life—His "morsel"—as the ultimate sacrifice on the cross, providing spiritual sustenance for all who believe, ensuring that those who come to Him "shall never hunger" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Never Hunger")). The widow's faith, though a Gentile, foreshadows the universal scope of God's grace, extended to all nations through Christ's redemptive work, fulfilling the promise of a table prepared in the wilderness of human need.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.

Genesis 24:18

And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

Genesis 24:19

And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw [water] for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

Hebrews 13:2

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Matthew 10:42

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold [water] only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Genesis 18:5

And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

1 Kings 18:4

For it was [so], when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)