Elijah and the Widow
The jar that never ran out
In this story, a boy dies and is brought back to life.
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
Elijah announced a drought, and God fed him by a stream with bread and meat brought by ravens. Then God sent him to a poor widow in Zarephath who had only a handful of flour and a little oil left, and when she shared it with Elijah, her flour and oil did not run out until the rain came. Later, when her son died, Elijah cried out to the LORD, and God brought the boy back to life.
Where it is in the Bible: 1 Kings 17
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Elijah: A prophet known as Elijah the Tishbite, from the land of Gilead (17:1). A prophet is someone God sends to speak God's message.
- Ahab: The king of Israel. He worshiped the false god Baal.
- A widow: A poor woman in the town of Zarephath. Her husband has died.
- Her son: The widow's only child.
- The LORD: God. LORD in capital letters stands for God's personal name. Jewish readers traditionally don't say it aloud, out of respect.
Setting
- A stream called Cherith, east of the Jordan River. Then Zarephath, a town on the coast near Sidon, outside Israel.
When
- About 2,900 years ago, at the start of a long drought.
Before the Story
Ahab was Israel's king. He did more evil than all the kings before him. He married Jezebel, a princess from Sidon, and built a temple to Baal (16:30-32).
People prayed to Baal for rain. Many believed Baal controlled the storms and the crops.
Here's what you know: The God of Israel is the one who gives rain, and he is about to show it.
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. No rain | 17:1-7 | Elijah announces a drought, and ravens feed him |
| 2. A handful of flour | 17:8-12 | Elijah meets a widow with almost nothing |
| 3. The jar that didn't run out | 17:13-16 | God provides flour and oil every day |
| 4. "Your son is alive" | 17:17-24 | The widow's son dies, and God brings him back |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 4No Rain
Elijah told King Ahab, "As surely as the LORD lives—the God of Israel before whom I stand—there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!" (17:1).
Then God told Elijah to go and hide by a stream called Cherith.
God said, "I have commanded the ravens to feed you there" (17:4). Ravens are big black birds.
Every morning and evening, ravens brought Elijah bread and meat. He drank from the stream.
But with no rain, the stream dried up.
Scene 2 of 4A Handful of Flour
Then God told Elijah to go to Zarephath. "Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you" (17:9).
Zarephath was outside Israel, in Jezebel's home country.
At the town gate, Elijah saw a widow gathering sticks.
He asked her for a little water, and then a piece of bread.
"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" (17:12).
She was gathering sticks to make one last meal for herself and her son. After that, they would starve.
Scene 3 of 4The Jar That Didn't Run Out
"Do not be afraid," Elijah said to her (17:13).
He told her to make a small loaf for him first, then some for herself and her son.
Because God had promised: "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" (17:14).
So she did what Elijah said.
And there was food every day for Elijah, the woman, and her family. The flour never ran out. The oil never ran dry.
Scene 4 of 4"Your Son Is Alive"
Later, the widow's son got sick. He got worse and worse, until he stopped breathing.
The widow cried out to Elijah. She wondered if God was punishing her for her sins.
"Give me your son," Elijah said (17:19).
He carried the boy upstairs and laid him on his own bed.
Elijah cried out to the LORD. He asked why this had happened to the widow who had taken him in.
Three times he stretched out over the child and prayed, "O LORD my God, please let this boy's life return to him!" (17:21).
"And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah, and the child's life returned to him, and he lived" (17:22).
Elijah carried him down to his mother. "Look, your son is alive," he said (17:23).
The woman said, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is truth" (17:24).
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Neither dew nor rain" (17:1) | The LORD, not Baal, controls the rain. |
| "I have commanded the ravens to feed you" (17:4) | God can provide in surprising ways. |
| "Only a handful of flour" (17:12) | The widow had almost nothing left. |
| "Do not be afraid" (17:13) | God's word comes with a promise. |
| "The jar of flour will not be exhausted" (17:14) | God provided day by day, through the whole drought. |
| "The LORD listened to the voice of Elijah" (17:22) | God heard Elijah's prayer and gave the boy life. |
Back Then
Widows were among the poorest people. With no husband, a widow often had no way to earn money.
Sidon was Baal's homeland. God sent Elijah to be fed by a foreign widow right in the land where Baal was worshiped.
The drought lasted more than three years. It ended when Elijah faced the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (18:1, 18:41-45).
Literal Reader Alert
Did the boy die because his mother sinned? She feared so. The Bible doesn't say that. When someone dies, it is not a punishment for something they or their family did.
Did Elijah make the boy alive? God did. Elijah prayed, and "the LORD listened" (17:22).
Why did God send Elijah to a foreigner? God cares about people everywhere. Jesus pointed to this story to show that God's kindness reaches outsiders (Luke 4:25-26).
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The widow | Hopeless | She had only enough for one last meal (17:12) |
| The widow | Trusting | She did what Elijah said (17:15) |
| The widow | Grieving | Her son died (17:18) |
| Elijah | Desperate | He cried out to God for the boy (17:20-21) |
| The widow | Amazed | Her son was alive (17:24) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What do you have only a little of? Tap one.
Money
The widow had a handful of flour. God provided every day.
Hope
"Do not be afraid." God is near people who are running out.
Someone is sick
Elijah cried out to God. You can too.
I can share
The widow shared her last bread. God made it enough.
You Might Have Heard
"God only helps people who have a lot of faith."
What's true: God loves when people trust him.
What the story is mainly about: The widow was a foreigner, poor, and ready to give up. God sent his prophet to her anyway. He provided every day, and he raised her son. God's kindness reaches people at the end of their rope.
Where Jesus is: Jesus told this story in his hometown synagogue (Luke 4:25-26). And at the gate of a town called Nain, Jesus met another widow whose only son had died. He gave him back to his mother (Luke 7:15).
Good News
The widow had a handful of flour and a little oil. God made it last.
"The jar of flour was not exhausted and the jug of oil did not run dry" (17:16).
God gives daily bread, even in hard times. And he is stronger than death. In Jesus, he came to give life to the world.
God fed a poor widow day after day and gave her son back to life. He provides for people at the end of their rope.
Big Idea
God fed Elijah and a poor widow with flour and oil that never ran out, and raised her son. God provides for people at the end of their rope.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther often pointed to God's daily provision for the poor widow. He said God's people can trust him for daily bread, even when the jar looks almost empty.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year B, it reads 1 Kings 17:8-16 in November (Lectionary 32), next to the widow's offering. In Year C, it reads 1 Kings 17:17-24 in June (Lectionary 10), next to Jesus raising the widow's son at Nain.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
The jar of flour was not exhausted and the jug of oil did not run dry
How did that feel?
You finished Elijah and the Widow.
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Lectionary 32 Year BFirst reading, 1 Kings 17:8–16
- Lectionary 10 Year CFirst reading, 1 Kings 17:17–24
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Elijah and the Widow, explained in plain words. A poor widow has one handful of flour left. God makes it last. About 9 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/elijah-and-the-widow/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church