1 Kings 17:16
The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This isn't just a miracle of endless food; it's a demonstration that God's promises, spoken through His prophets, are utterly reliable and sustaining. The very words of the Lord, declared by Elijah, are what empowered the flour and oil to never run out, showing that divine speech carries divine power. It reveals how deeply God is invested in His own spoken word to provide for those who trust Him.
Elijah has just arrived in Zarephath, a Gentile town, during a severe famine. He asks a widow for water and food, and she explains she only has a handful of flour and a little oil left to feed herself and her son before they die. Elijah boldly promises her that her provisions won't run out if she first makes him a small cake from her meager supply.
Imagine a world where the pantry never runs bare, even in the hardest times. This wasn't a fantasy for Elijah and the widow; it was a divine reality.
The miracle here isn't just about endless food; it's about God's faithfulness displayed in the ordinary.
The Everyday Sustained
The text specifically mentions the 'jar of flour' and the 'jug of oil'—staples for daily life. God didn't just conjure exotic feasts; He sustained the very basics of survival.
The Source of Supply
This supernatural abundance wasn't random. It was directly tied to 'the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.' God's promises and His prophets are the conduits of His provision.
This miracle didn't happen in a vacuum. It was the fruit of radical faith and obedience from both Elijah and the widow.
The continuation of the miracle was contingent upon obedience.
Elijah's Trust
Elijah was a man sent by God, and his prophetic word carried divine authority. His obedience in speaking God's promise set the stage.
The Widow's Sacrifice
Crucially, the widow had to act on Elijah's word. Her willingness to give her last bit of food, trusting that more would come, was the key. This wasn't passive receiving; it was active faith.
A Divine Partnership
God's power meets human obedience. The flour and oil remained because of God's power, but that power was unleashed through the act of faith initiated by Elijah and completed by the widow's sacrifice.
Understand the original words
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
In biblical usage, refers to Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God of Israel who revealed Himself to Moses. He is the self-existent, eternal, and sovereign Creator who actively intervenes in human history.
Eliyahu · Hebrew Proper Noun
A prophet of Israel sent by God to confront the apostasy of the Northern Kingdom, particularly under King Ahab. He serves as a mediator of God's word and power, demonstrating Yahweh’s supremacy over Baal.
This miracle occurs during a severe, divinely sent drought intended to punish Israel's widespread idolatry under King Ahab, highlighting God's power over nature and His provision even in judgment.
c. 870 BC
Ahab's wicked reign begins
Ahab, son of Omri, becomes king of Israel. He marries Jezebel and promotes Baal worship, greatly displeasing the Lord.
c. 870 BC
Elijah prophesies drought
The prophet Elijah confronts Ahab, declaring that there will be no dew or rain except by his word, due to Israel's idolatry.
c. 870 BC
Elijah flees to Cherith
Following God's command, Elijah hides by the Wadi Cherith, where he is miraculously fed ravens.
c. 870 BC— this verse
Elijah goes to Zarephath
The drought intensifies, and God sends Elijah to the Phoenician town of Zarephath to be sustained by a widow.
c. 869 BC
This passage shows a similar miraculous provision of oil for a widow, highlighting God's power to multiply resources through His servants in times of need.
Matthew 14:13-21Jesus feeds thousands from a small amount of food, demonstrating God's abundant provision and power to multiply, echoing the miracle of Elijah.
John 6:1-14Another account of Jesus miraculously feeding a large crowd with very little, emphasizing God's ability to sustain and provide beyond human capacity.
Deuteronomy 8:3This verse reminds us that God provides spiritual nourishment (His word) as essential for life, connecting to how Elijah's provision was a physical manifestation of God's faithful word.
This isn't just a miracle of endless food; it's a demonstration that God's promises, spoken through His prophets, are utterly reliable and sustaining. The very words of the Lord, declared by Elijah, are what empowered the flour and oil to never run out, showing that divine speech carries divine power. It reveals how deeply God is invested in His own spoken word to provide for those who trust Him.
Elijah has just arrived in Zarephath, a Gentile town, during a severe famine. He asks a widow for water and food, and she explains she only has a handful of flour and a little oil left to feed herself and her son before they die. Elijah boldly promises her that her provisions won't run out if she first makes him a small cake from her meager supply.
Elijah has just arrived in Zarephath, a Gentile town, during a severe famine. He asks a widow for water and food, and she explains she only has a handful of flour and a little oil left to feed herself and her son before they die. Elijah boldly promises her that her provisions won't run out if she first makes him a small cake from her meager supply.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about 1 Kings 17:16 is available in the Sola app.
Widow's son is raised
The widow's son falls sick and dies. Elijah prays, and God restores the boy's life, confirming Elijah's prophetic authority to the widow.
c. 867 BC
Confrontation at Mount Carmel
After three years of drought, Elijah calls for a showdown between God and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, resulting in God's victory.
"The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah." — This isn't just a miracle of endless food; it's a demonstration that God's promises, spoken through His prophets, are utterly reliable and sustaining. The very words of the Lord, declared by Elijah…
