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.

Arise {H6965}, get {H3212} thee to Zarephath {H6886}, which belongeth to Zidon {H6721}, and dwell {H3427} there: behold, I have commanded {H6680} a widow {H490} woman {H802} there to sustain {H3557} thee.

"Get up; go to Tzarfat, a village in Tzidon; and live there. I have ordered a widow there to provide for you."

“Get up and go to Zarephath of Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”

Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Sidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain thee.

Commentary

In 1 Kings 17:9, God gives the prophet Elijah a new, specific directive following his time of provision by ravens at the Brook Cherith. This verse highlights God's precise and miraculous care for His servant during a severe famine, demonstrating His ability to provide even in the most unexpected ways and places.

Context

This divine command comes at a crucial juncture in Elijah's ministry. After prophesying a severe drought to King Ahab in 1 Kings 17:1, Elijah was instructed by God to hide by the Brook Cherith, where he was miraculously fed by ravens (1 Kings 17:6). However, with the ongoing famine, the brook eventually dried up. God's instruction to go to Zarephath, a town in Phoenicia belonging to Zidon (the homeland of the pagan Queen Jezebel), was counter-intuitive and required immense faith from Elijah. It demonstrated God's sovereignty extends beyond the borders of Israel and His ability to provide even in seemingly hostile or unlikely territories.

Key Themes

  • Divine Providence and Sustenance: The verse powerfully illustrates God's active involvement in sustaining His servants. Despite a widespread famine, God had a specific plan for Elijah's continued provision, assuring him, "behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee."
  • Unconventional Means of Provision: God chose a seemingly vulnerable and unlikely source—a poor widow in a pagan land—to provide for His prophet. This challenges human logic and expectations, emphasizing that God's resources are not limited by human limitations or conventional wisdom. It foreshadows the miraculous supply of flour and oil that would follow.
  • Obedience and Trust: Elijah's immediate obedience to this unusual command from God is central. His willingness to "Arise, get thee to Zarephath" without question demonstrates deep trust in God's word, even when the path is uncertain or uncomfortable.
  • God's Care for the Vulnerable: While providing for Elijah, God simultaneously orchestrated a miracle that would benefit the widow, highlighting His compassion for the poor and marginalized, a recurring theme throughout Scripture (e.g., Deuteronomy 10:18).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "I have commanded" (Hebrew: tsavah) is significant. It implies a divine decree or authoritative ordination. It's not merely a suggestion or a hope, but a declaration of God's sovereign will and arrangement. This indicates that the widow's willingness to provide for Elijah would be divinely influenced or already part of God's pre-ordained plan, underscoring God's absolute control over circumstances and even human hearts.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • Trust in God's Faithfulness: When facing personal "famines" or difficult circumstances, we are called to trust that God knows our needs and has a plan for our provision, even if it's not immediately apparent.
  • Embrace Unconventional Solutions: God's ways are often beyond our understanding. We should be open to His leading, even when it seems illogical, uncomfortable, or requires us to step out of our comfort zones.
  • The Power of Obedience: Elijah's story is a powerful reminder that obedience to God's specific commands, even the seemingly strange ones, unlocks divine blessings and provision.
  • God Uses Everyone: God can use anyone, regardless of their status or perceived ability, to accomplish His purposes and demonstrate His glory. The widow of Zarephath became an instrument of God's miraculous provision.
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

  • Luke 4:26

    But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, [a city] of Sidon, unto a woman [that was] a widow.

  • Obadiah 1:20

    And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel [shall possess] that of the Canaanites, [even] unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which [is] in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.

  • 1 Kings 17:4

    And it shall be, [that] thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:7

    But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

  • Matthew 15:21

    ¶ Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

  • Matthew 15:22

    And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

  • Romans 4:17

    ¶ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
← Back