1 Kings 17:12

And she said, [As] the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I [am] gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

And she said {H559}, As the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} liveth {H2416}, I have {H3426} not a cake {H4580}, but an handful {H4393}{H3709} of meal {H7058} in a barrel {H3537}, and a little {H4592} oil {H8081} in a cruse {H6835}: and, behold, I am gathering {H7197} two {H8147} sticks {H6086}, that I may go in {H935} and dress {H6213} it for me and my son {H1121}, that we may eat {H398} it, and die {H4191}.

She answered, "As ADONAI your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a pot and a little oil in the jug. Here I am, gathering a couple sticks of wood, so that I can go and cook it for myself and my son. After we have eaten that, we will die."

But she replied, “As surely as the LORD your God lives, I have no bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Look, I am gathering a couple of sticks to take home and prepare a meal for myself and my son, so that we may eat it and die.”

And she said, As Jehovah thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

Commentary

Context

First Kings 17:12 captures a moment of profound despair during a severe famine that afflicted Israel, sent by God as judgment for the nation's idolatry, particularly under King Ahab and Jezebel. The prophet Elijah had previously declared this drought (1 Kings 17:1). After being miraculously fed by ravens, God directs Elijah to Zarephath, a pagan Phoenician town outside Israel, to be sustained by a widow. This verse is her heartbreaking response to Elijah's request for water and bread, revealing the dire reality of her situation.

Key Themes

  • Profound Despair and Hopelessness: The widow's words, "that we may eat it, and die," vividly portray a woman who has reached the absolute end of her resources and hope. She anticipates imminent death for herself and her son, highlighting the devastating impact of the famine on ordinary people.
  • Extreme Scarcity: Her description of having "not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse" emphasizes the absolute bare minimum, illustrating the severity of the famine and setting the stage for God's extraordinary intervention. This is her last meal, gathered from her last remaining provisions.
  • Acknowledgment, Not Necessarily Faith: The phrase "As the LORD thy God liveth" is a solemn oath, acknowledging Elijah's God as a living deity. While she recognizes Yahweh's existence, her initial statement does not indicate personal faith in Him, but rather the gravity of her situation and the truthfulness of her words to the prophet of this God.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "As the LORD thy God liveth" (Hebrew: Chai Yahweh Eloheka) is a powerful oath, common in ancient Near Eastern culture. It signifies the speaker's earnestness and the truth of their declaration by invoking the living God. For the widow of Zarephath, a Gentile, it shows her awareness of Elijah's God, even if she did not yet worship Him as her own. This acknowledgement, however, is a vital step toward her later faith and participation in God's miraculous provision.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a stark reminder of human desperation in the face of overwhelming circumstances. It sets the stage for God's extraordinary intervention, demonstrating His ability to provide even when human resources are utterly depleted and hope is lost. For us today, it challenges us to consider where our hope lies in times of extreme need. The widow's initial despair is a powerful contrast to the subsequent demonstration of God's faithfulness, reminding believers that God often steps in when all human options are exhausted (see 1 Kings 17:16). It teaches us about God's compassionate care, even for those outside the covenant nation, and the importance of trusting His provision even when it seems impossible (compare with Jesus' teachings on not worrying about tomorrow in Matthew 6:25-34).

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 15:33

    And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

  • Matthew 15:34

    And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

  • 1 Kings 17:1

    ¶ And Elijah the Tishbite, [who was] of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, [As] the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

  • 2 Kings 4:2

    And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

  • 2 Kings 4:7

    Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

  • Genesis 21:16

    And she went, and sat her down over against [him] a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against [him], and lift up her voice, and wept.

  • Ezekiel 12:18

    Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;
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