1 Kings 17:21
Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
It's easy to rush past Elijah's repetition, but stretching himself three times over the boy and praying the same plea shows his desperate, raw faith in the face of death. This wasn't just a casual request; it was an intense, repeated wrestling with God, demonstrating a profound intimacy and refusal to give up, even when the odds seemed impossible.
Elijah has just prophesied drought and now, as he's staying with a widow in Zarephath, her son dies. This dramatic moment comes after Elijah has performed a miracle that sustained them through the famine, showing that God's power extends even to the most vulnerable. Elijah's desperate plea to God to bring the child back to life is the climax of this episode.
When life feels lost, where do we turn? Elijah's desperate plea reveals a God who holds the very breath of life.
This passage shows us Elijah, a prophet of God, facing the ultimate crisis: a child's death. In his anguish, he doesn't just passively mourn; he actively engages with God. He stretches himself on the child three times, a powerful, physical act of intercession. His prayer, “O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again,” is not a timid request but a bold demand rooted in his relationship with God. This isn't about Elijah's inherent power, but about God's sovereign ability to reverse death itself. It highlights that even in the face of what seems final, God's power is supreme.
Three times Elijah stretched himself, three times he cried out. What does this repetition teach us about wrestling in prayer?
Elijah’s actions are not a magic formula, but a demonstration of persistent, fervent prayer. The repetition – stretching himself three times and repeating his plea – signifies a deep commitment and refusal to give up. It shows a prophet who is willing to pour out his entire being, physically and emotionally, in intercession. This isn't just a casual whisper; it's a strenuous effort born out of love and desperation for the child's life. It calls us to understand that prayer can be intense, requiring our full engagement and unwavering persistence, especially when we are praying for the impossible.
Understand the original words
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew word often translated as 'soul' or 'life', referring to the inner life, breath, or the seat of emotions and vitality in a living being. It signifies the principle of life that distinguishes a living person from a corpse.
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The personal, covenantal name of the Creator God of Israel, revealed to Moses, signifying His self-existence, faithfulness, and eternal nature as the God who saves His people.
This event occurs during a severe, divinely-sent drought, highlighting God's power over natural forces and life itself, even in a foreign land.
c. 870 BC
Elijah prophesies drought
Elijah, an Israelite prophet, confronts King Ahab about Israel's widespread idolatry and proclaims a drought will occur.
c. 870 BC
Elijah flees to Zarephath
Following God's command, Elijah hides by the Cherith Ravine and later travels to the Phoenician city of Zarephath.
c. 870 BC— this verse
Widow's son dies
The widow of Zarephath, who had been miraculously providing for Elijah, discovers her only son has fallen gravely ill and died.
c. 870 BC
Elijah raises the boy
Elijah takes the dead child to his room, stretches himself upon the boy three times, and prays for his revival. The child returns to life.
c. 869 BC
Drought ends
This passage immediately follows, showing the complete restoration of the child's life and the mother's renewed faith in Elijah's prophetic word.
This story parallels Elijah's prayer, with Elisha also stretching himself upon a dead child and praying for his life to return, demonstrating a pattern of prophetic intercession for resurrection.
Jesus' prayer before raising Lazarus echoes Elijah's cry to the Father, highlighting the dependence on God's power for miraculous resurrection, not human effort alone.
Acts 20:9-12This account shows Eutychus being raised from the dead after falling from a window, demonstrating that life can be restored through prayer and divine intervention, similar to the accounts of Elijah and Elisha.
It's easy to rush past Elijah's repetition, but stretching himself three times over the boy and praying the same plea shows his desperate, raw faith in the face of death. This wasn't just a casual request; it was an intense, repeated wrestling with God, demonstrating a profound intimacy and refusal to give up, even when the odds seemed impossible.
Elijah has just prophesied drought and now, as he's staying with a widow in Zarephath, her son dies. This dramatic moment comes after Elijah has performed a miracle that sustained them through the famine, showing that God's power extends even to the most vulnerable. Elijah's desperate plea to God to bring the child back to life is the climax of this episode.
Elijah has just prophesied drought and now, as he's staying with a widow in Zarephath, her son dies. This dramatic moment comes after Elijah has performed a miracle that sustained them through the famine, showing that God's power extends even to the most vulnerable. Elijah's desperate plea to God to bring the child back to life is the climax of this episode.
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 17:21 is available in the Sola app.
After more than three years, the drought in Israel concludes following Elijah's confrontation with King Ahab and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
"Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again.”" — It's easy to rush past Elijah's repetition, but stretching himself three times over the boy and praying the same plea shows his desperate, raw faith in the face of death. This wasn't just a casual re…
