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.

But {G2532} unto {G4314} none {G3762} of them {G846} was {G3992} Elias {G2243} sent {G3992}, save {G1508} unto {G1519} Sarepta {G4558}, a city of Sidon {G4605}, unto {G4314} a woman {G1135} that was a widow {G5503}.

but Eliyahu was sent to none of them, only to a widow in Tzarfat in the land of Tzidon.

Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Zarephath in Sidon.

and unto none of them was Elijah sent, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

Luke 4:26 is part of Jesus' impactful sermon in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth. Here, Jesus uses an Old Testament example to illustrate God's sovereign choice and His willingness to extend grace beyond the expected boundaries of Israel, challenging the narrow-mindedness of his audience.

Context

After reading from the prophet Isaiah and declaring its fulfillment in himself (Luke 4:16-21), the people of Nazareth initially marveled but then questioned his authority due to his humble origins (Luke 4:22). Jesus responds by stating the proverb, "No prophet is accepted in his own country" (Luke 4:24). To further drive home his point about God's divine election and the often-unpopular nature of true prophecy, Jesus cites two specific instances from Israel's history where God's miraculous provision bypassed many suffering Israelites and went instead to Gentiles. Luke 4:26 refers to the first of these examples: the prophet Elijah (KJV: Elias).

Key Themes

  • God's Universal Grace: This verse highlights that God's favor and miraculous intervention are not confined to any one nation or people group. Despite many widows in Israel suffering during a severe famine, God sent Elijah to a Gentile widow in Sarepta. This demonstrates God's sovereign choice and universal compassion.
  • Challenging Religious Exclusivity: Jesus' audience, accustomed to thinking of themselves as exclusively favored by God, would have found this example provocative. It directly challenged their nationalistic and religious assumptions, revealing God's work extended beyond their expectations.
  • Faith Beyond Boundaries: The Gentile widow's faith, as recorded in 1 Kings 17, was instrumental in her receiving God's provision through Elijah, irrespective of her ethnic background.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Elias" is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew prophet "Elijah." "Sarepta" (Greek: Sarepta) is the same city known as Zarephath in the Old Testament, located near Sidon (Greek: Sidōn), a prominent Phoenician city outside the traditional borders of Israel. This geographical detail underscores that the recipient of God's blessing was distinctly a Gentile.

Significance and Application

Luke 4:26 serves as a powerful reminder that God's plans and blessings transcend human-made divisions of race, nationality, or social status. For believers today, it encourages a broader understanding of God's mission, emphasizing that in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Gentile. It also foreshadows the future expansion of the Gospel to all nations, a core theme throughout the New Testament. This verse challenges us to avoid spiritual pride and to recognize that God often works in unexpected ways and through unexpected people, extending His grace to all who respond in faith.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

  • 1 Kings 17:24

    And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou [art] a man of God, [and] that the word of the LORD in thy mouth [is] truth.

  • Matthew 11:21

    Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

  • 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.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back