1 Kings 17:6

KJV

And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the ravens {H6158} brought {H935} him bread {H3899} and flesh {H1320} in the morning {H1242}, and bread {H3899} and flesh {H1320} in the evening {H6153}; and he drank {H8354} of the brook {H5158}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the stream.

Berean Standard Bible

The ravens would bring him bread and meat in the morning and evening, and he would drink from the brook.

American Standard Version

And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
First Kings 17:6 vividly illustrates God's miraculous and meticulous provision for His prophet Elijah during a severe drought and famine in Israel. Sent by divine command to the secluded brook Cherith, Elijah experienced daily sustenance through an extraordinary means: ravens, considered unclean birds, faithfully delivered bread and meat twice a day, while he drank from the dwindling brook. This verse stands as a powerful testament to God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His unwavering faithfulness to His obedient servants, even in the most desolate and humanly impossible circumstances.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is nestled within the opening narrative of Elijah's prophetic ministry, immediately following his bold declaration to King Ahab that there would be no rain or dew except by his word ([1 Kings 17:1](/1_kings/17-1 "1 Kings 17:1 - Elijah's Prophecy of Drought")). God then commands Elijah to hide by the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan ([1 Kings 17:3](/1_kings/17-3 "1 Kings 17:3 - God Commands Elijah to Cherith")), promising provision. The account at Cherith ([1 Kings 17:2-7](/1_kings/17-2 "1 Kings 17:2-7 - Elijah at Brook Cherith")) serves as a crucial period of isolation and absolute dependence for Elijah, preparing him for greater acts of faith and demonstrating God's power before his public confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel in [1 Kings 18](/1_kings/18 "1 Kings 18 - Elijah and the Prophets of Baal"). The eventual drying up of the brook in [1 Kings 17:7](/1_kings/17-7 "1 Kings 17:7 - The Brook Dries Up") naturally transitions the narrative to God's next command for Elijah to go to Zarephath, where he would be sustained by a widow.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of 1 Kings 17 unfold during the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, a period marked by intense syncretism and the aggressive promotion of Baal worship in Israel. Ahab, influenced by Jezebel, had built a temple for Baal in Samaria ([1 Kings 16:32](/1_kings/16-32 "1 Kings 16:32 - Ahab Builds a Temple for Baal")), directly challenging the worship of Yahweh. The drought prophesied by Elijah was not merely a natural phenomenon but a divine judgment against Israel's apostasy, specifically targeting Baal, who was worshipped as the god of rain, storms, and fertility. In this context, God's provision for Elijah through ravens and a brook highlights His supremacy over Baal and demonstrates that Yahweh, not Baal, controls the natural elements and sustains life. The use of ravens, considered unclean birds under Mosaic Law ([Leviticus 11:15](/leviticus/11-15 "Leviticus 11:15 - Unclean Birds")), further underscores the extraordinary nature of God's intervention, transcending human categories of purity and convention.
* **Key Themes:** First Kings 17:6 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Kings and broader biblical theology. The most prominent is **Divine Provision**, showcasing God's ability to sustain His servants even in the most dire circumstances, often through unexpected means. This directly contrasts with the impotence of Baal, who could not provide rain for his worshippers. Another key theme is **God's Sovereignty over Creation**, as He commands not only the elements (drought) but also animals (ravens) to fulfill His purposes, demonstrating His absolute control over all aspects of the natural world. The narrative also emphasizes **Obedience and Trust**, as Elijah's immediate and unwavering obedience to God's command to hide is met with faithful, daily sustenance. This period at Cherith serves as a spiritual crucible, deepening Elijah's reliance on God before more public confrontations. Lastly, the passage highlights **God's Care for His Servants**, assuring believers that God meticulously watches over and provides for those who faithfully serve Him, even when human resources and hope are exhausted, echoing the sentiment found in [Psalm 37:25](/psalm/37-25 "Psalm 37:25 - The Righteous Not Forsaken").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ravens (Hebrew, _‘orevim'_):** The Hebrew word `עֹרְבִים` (pronounced _‘orevim'_), plural for raven, is highly significant. Ravens were considered ceremonially unclean birds according to Mosaic Law ([Leviticus 11:15](/leviticus/11-15 "Leviticus 11:15 - Unclean Birds") and [Deuteronomy 14:14](/deuteronomy/14-14 "Deuteronomy 14:14 - Unclean Birds")). Moreover, ravens are typically scavengers, not known for their generosity or for carrying food to humans. Their use here emphasizes the miraculous and counter-intuitive nature of God's provision. It demonstrates God's absolute control over all creation, even those creatures considered impure or unlikely agents, highlighting His ability to work outside human expectations and conventions.
* **Bread (Hebrew, _lechem'_):** The Hebrew word `לֶחֶם` (pronounced _lechem'_) refers broadly to food, but specifically to bread, which was a staple in the ancient Near East. Its inclusion alongside "flesh" indicates a complete and balanced diet. The provision of bread signifies basic sustenance, a daily necessity, underscoring the consistent and fundamental nature of God's care.
* **Flesh (Hebrew, _basar'_):** The Hebrew word `בָּשָׂר` (pronounced _basar'_) refers to meat or flesh. The provision of meat, especially twice a day, signifies not just bare survival but a robust and adequate diet, particularly during a severe famine. This detail amplifies the miraculous nature of God's provision, as meat would have been a luxury and incredibly scarce during such a time, further highlighting the divine abundance even in desolation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning":** This clause immediately establishes the miraculous nature of God's provision. The ravens, typically scavengers and ritually unclean, act as divine delivery agents. The phrase "in the morning" indicates the regularity and timeliness of the provision, ensuring Elijah's immediate needs were met at the start of each day. This highlights God's faithfulness and meticulous care.
* **"and bread and flesh in the evening":** The repetition of "bread and flesh" and the addition of "in the evening" emphasize the consistency and completeness of the daily provision. Elijah received two full meals a day, morning and evening, ensuring he was fully sustained throughout the day and night. This detail underscores the reliability of God's supply, which was not a one-time event but a continuous, daily miracle.
* **"and he drank of the brook":** This final clause completes the picture of Elijah's sustenance. While the ravens provided food, the brook Cherith provided water, a critical necessity during a drought. The brook's presence, though temporary (as it would later dry up in [1 Kings 17:7](/1_kings/17-7 "1 Kings 17:7 - The Brook Dries Up")), signifies God's comprehensive provision for all of Elijah's physical needs in his secluded location.

#### Literary Devices
First Kings 17:6 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. The most prominent is **Irony**, seen in God's choice of ravens—birds considered unclean and typically associated with scavenging—to provide sustenance for His prophet. This choice subverts expectations and underscores God's ability to work through unconventional and even ritually "impure" means, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over all creation and His transcendence of human categories. **Repetition** of "bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening" emphasizes the consistent, reliable, and abundant nature of God's daily provision, reinforcing the theme of divine faithfulness. The entire scene functions as a **Symbolism** of divine care and protection, illustrating that God sustains His servants even in the midst of widespread famine and opposition, contrasting sharply with the impotence of Baal, who cannot provide for his own worshippers. Furthermore, the narrative employs **Foreshadowing**, as this initial period of miraculous provision prepares Elijah for future acts of faith, such as the sustenance of the widow of Zarephath and the raising of her son, demonstrating God's ongoing power to sustain life in the face of death and scarcity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
First Kings 17:6 is a profound theological statement about God's character and His relationship with His people. It demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty, not only over the forces of nature (bringing drought) but also over every creature, even those considered unlikely or unclean, to accomplish His purposes. This passage powerfully illustrates God's meticulous care for His obedient servants, assuring them that He will provide for their needs even in the most desperate circumstances, thereby challenging any reliance on human ingenuity or false gods. It stands as a testament to divine faithfulness, showing that God is reliable in His promises and will sustain those who trust Him fully, preparing Elijah for greater displays of God's power.

* [Psalm 37:25](/psalm/37-25 "Psalm 37:25 - The Righteous Not Forsaken")
* [Matthew 6:26](/matthew/6-26 "Matthew 6:26 - Consider the Birds of the Air")
* [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God Will Supply All Your Needs")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of Elijah at the brook Cherith, sustained by ravens, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. In a world often characterized by scarcity, uncertainty, and a pervasive sense of self-reliance, this passage calls us back to radical dependence on God. It reminds us that our provision does not ultimately come from our jobs, our savings, or our human networks, but from the sovereign hand of God, who can use the most unexpected means to meet our needs. When we face periods of "drought" in our own lives—financial hardship, emotional barrenness, spiritual dryness, or relational strain—this story encourages us to seek God's specific instructions, to obey them even when they seem illogical or isolating, and to trust that He will provide, often in ways that defy our expectations. It cultivates a posture of daily faith, recognizing that God's faithfulness is "new every morning" ([Lamentations 3:23](/lamentations/3-23 "Lamentations 3:23 - God's Great Faithfulness")).

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you currently experiencing a "drought" or a sense of scarcity?**
* **What specific "brook Cherith" might God be calling you to, a place of quiet dependence away from your usual sources of security?**
* **Are you open to God providing for you in unconventional or even "unclean" ways, challenging your preconceived notions of how He should work?**
* **How does Elijah's daily experience of provision encourage you to cultivate a deeper, moment-by-moment trust in God's faithfulness?**

### FAQ

**Why did God use ravens, which were considered unclean, to feed Elijah?**

Answer: God's choice of ravens, which were ceremonially unclean birds under Mosaic Law ([Leviticus 11:15](/leviticus/11-15 "Leviticus 11:15 - Unclean Birds")), serves several theological purposes. First, it powerfully demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty over all creation, including animals that were typically scavengers and considered impure. He is not bound by human categories or ritual laws; His power transcends them. Second, it highlights the miraculous nature of the provision, making it undeniable that only divine intervention could compel such creatures to act in this manner. Third, it may have served to further isolate Elijah from human society, forcing him into complete dependence on God alone, rather than relying on any "clean" human source. This unconventional method underscores God's ability to provide in ways that are beyond human understanding and expectation, emphasizing His omnipotence over the false gods like Baal, who were believed to control nature.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The miraculous provision for Elijah at the brook Cherith, sustained by ravens, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Elijah's experience of daily, supernatural sustenance in a time of famine foreshadows Jesus, who is the ultimate "Bread of Life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")), providing spiritual nourishment that truly satisfies. Just as God meticulously cared for Elijah's physical needs, Jesus consistently demonstrated His power to provide for the physical needs of His disciples and the crowds, multiplying loaves and fish to feed thousands ([Matthew 14:13-21](/matthew/14-13 "Matthew 14:13-21 - Feeding of the Five Thousand")). Moreover, Elijah's complete dependence on God at Cherith mirrors Christ's perfect dependence on His Father throughout His earthly ministry, even to the point of death on the cross. The ravens, typically unclean, bringing sustenance to Elijah, can be seen as a subtle prefigurement of Christ's mission to bring salvation and spiritual life not just to the "clean" people of Israel, but to all nations, including Gentiles, whom the Jews often considered "unclean" ([Acts 10:28](/acts/10-28 "Acts 10:28 - Peter's Vision and Gentiles")). Ultimately, the story of Cherith assures us that God, who provided for Elijah, will certainly provide for those who are "in Christ," for if He did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things ([Romans 8:32](/romans/8-32 "Romans 8:32 - God Gave Up His Son"))? Jesus is the ultimate and eternal provision, satisfying our deepest hunger and thirst, and through Him, we are assured of God's unfailing care.

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

Psalms 78:23

Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,

Psalms 78:24

And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.

Matthew 6:31

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Matthew 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Psalms 78:15

He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave [them] drink as [out of] the great depths.

Psalms 78:16

He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

Matthew 14:19

And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to [his] disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.