1 Kings 17:14

For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day [that] the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.

For thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of Israel {H3478}, The barrel {H3537} of meal {H7058} shall not waste {H3615}, neither shall the cruse {H6835} of oil {H8081} fail {H2637}, until the day {H3117} that the LORD {H3068} sendeth {H5414} rain {H1653} upon {H6440} the earth {H127}.

For this is what ADONAI the God of Isra'el, says: 'The pot of meal will not get used up, nor will there fail to be oil in the jug, until the day ADONAI sends rain down on the land.'"

for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: โ€˜The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain upon the face of the earth.โ€™โ€

For thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, The jar of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that Jehovah sendeth rain upon the earth.

Commentary

1 Kings 17:14 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, highlighting God's miraculous provision during a severe famine in Israel. It serves as a divine guarantee for the widow's sustenance, contingent on her obedience and trust in the prophet Elijah's word.

Context

This verse comes amidst a dramatic period in Israel's history. The prophet Elijah had declared a severe drought, a divine judgment against King Ahab and Queen Jezebel's widespread idolatry, particularly the worship of Baal. God then sent Elijah to Zarephath, a town in Sidon (outside Israel), to be sustained by a widow. Upon meeting her, Elijah found her preparing her last meal for herself and her son, expecting to die afterward. In 1 Kings 17:13, Elijah instructs her to first make him a small cake from her meager supplies, promising that God would then ensure her provision. Verse 14 is the divine confirmation of that promise, directly from "the LORD God of Israel."

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision: The verse powerfully demonstrates God's ability to provide supernaturally for His people, even in the most desperate circumstances. The "barrel of meal" and "cruse of oil" represent basic, essential sustenance, emphasizing God's care for daily needs.
  • Faith and Obedience: The miracle was predicated on the widow's act of faith and obedience to Elijah's seemingly impossible request. Her willingness to give her last to God's prophet unlocked the continuous supply. This echoes principles found in Hebrews 11:6 regarding faith.
  • God's Sovereignty: The famine was a demonstration of God's control over nature, and this verse likewise shows His power to suspend natural limitations to fulfill His purposes. The provision would last "until the day that the LORD sendeth rain," indicating God's ultimate control over the end of the drought.
  • Prophetic Authority: The promise comes through Elijah, underscoring the authority and reliability of God's word spoken through His chosen messengers.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrases "barrel of meal" (Hebrew: kad qemach - ื›ึทึผื“ ืงึถืžึทื—) and "cruse of oil" (Hebrew: tsappachat shemen - ืฆึทืคึทึผื—ึทืช ืฉึถืืžึถืŸ) refer to common household containers for flour and oil. The terms emphasize the humble, yet essential, nature of the provision. The word "waste" (Hebrew: yikleh - ื™ึดื›ึฐืœึถื”), meaning "to be consumed" or "to fail," stresses that the supply would not diminish or run out, ensuring continuous sufficiency rather than a one-time abundance.

Practical Application

This powerful declaration from God offers immense encouragement for believers facing scarcity, uncertainty, or seemingly insurmountable challenges today. It reminds us that:

  • God is faithful to provide for those who trust Him, often in unexpected ways and through unconventional means (Philippians 4:19).
  • Obedience, even when it seems illogical or requires great sacrifice, can be the key to experiencing God's miraculous provision.
  • God's provision is often sufficient for each day, teaching us to depend on Him daily rather than hoarding or worrying about the future. His timing is perfect, providing "until the day" His larger plan unfolds.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 15:36 (13 votes)

    And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake [them], and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

  • Matthew 15:38 (13 votes)

    And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

  • Matthew 14:17 (9 votes)

    And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

  • Matthew 14:20 (9 votes)

    And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

  • 2 Kings 4:42 (9 votes)

    And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.

  • 2 Kings 4:44 (9 votes)

    So he set [it] before them, and they did eat, and left [thereof], according to the word of the LORD.

  • 2 Kings 3:16 (8 votes)

    And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.