and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus highlights Elijah was sent to a Gentile widow in Sidon, not to an Israelite in need, implying that God's favor and miracles aren't limited to just "us" and can extend to those outside our immediate circle. This emphasizes that the miraculous power and saving grace displayed in Scripture often reach beyond expected boundaries, challenging any notion of exclusive divine entitlement.
and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just read from Isaiah in his hometown synagogue, proclaiming a year of favor, and the crowd initially marvels. However, as he continues, implying God's grace extends beyond their nation, their admiration turns to anger, and they drive him out, intending to throw him off a cliff. Jesus, passing through them unharmed, heads to Nazareth where this passage about Elijah being sent to a Gentile widow in Zarephath is recalled to highlight how God's mercy isn't limited to the chosen people, even when facing rejection.
When Jesus pointed to Elijah's mission, he wasn't just telling a story. He was making a profound statement about God's heart.
Jesus highlights that the prophet Elijah was sent not to his own people, but to a foreigner, a widow in Zarephath, a Sidonian city. This was a Gentile (non-Jewish) area.
A Deliberate Choice
This wasn't an accident. God's purposes, even in the Old Testament, extended beyond the nation of Israel. Elijah's mission to this Gentile widow shows God's deliberate inclusion of those outside the covenant community.
A Lesson for the Hearers
For Jesus' audience in Nazareth, this was a challenging truth. They felt entitled to God's blessings, yet Jesus reminded them that God's favor could, and did, reach out to others.
Who does God choose to bless and use? It's often not who we expect. This story reveals God's pattern.
The woman Elijah was sent to was a widow. In that society, widows were often among the most vulnerable and marginalized.
Vulnerability and Faith
Despite her difficult circumstances – widowed, likely impoverished, and a foreigner – this woman demonstrated remarkable faith. She obeyed Elijah's difficult commands, sharing her last bit of food and oil.
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God Seeks Responders
This highlights a crucial aspect of God's work: He often seeks out those with humble and responsive hearts, regardless of their social standing, nationality, or past. Her faith, not her status, made her receptive to God's provision through Elijah.
Jesus' reference to Elijah's mission to a Gentile widow in Zarephath immediately before his rejection in Nazareth underscores his point: God's grace and salvation are not limited to the chosen people, a truth his own community refused to accept.
c. 870 BC
Elijah's Ministry Begins
During a severe drought in the northern kingdom of Israel, the prophet Elijah is called by God to confront King Ahab and the Baal worshippers. He flees Israel and is instructed by God to go to Zarephath.
c. 870 BC— this verse
Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath
Elijah encounters a widow in Zarephath, a Phoenician town outside of Israel, and asks her for water and bread. Despite her limited resources, she obeys his command, and through Elijah's prophetic ministry, her flour and oil are miraculously replenished, saving her and her son from starvation.
c. 870 BC
Son's Resurrection
The widow's son falls gravely ill and dies. Elijah prays intensely to God, and the child is miraculously brought back to life, demonstrating God's power over death even to a foreigner.
Late 1st century BC - Early 1st century AD
Roman Rule in Judea
The region of Judea, including Nazareth, is under Roman occupation. This political context often bred resentment and a longing for a Messiah who would liberate Israel.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching and performing miracles throughout Galilee. His growing reputation draws crowds and attracts the attention of his hometown, Nazareth.
c. AD 27-30
Rejection at Nazareth
Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth and reads from the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue, proclaiming himself the fulfillment of Scripture. When he highlights God's work among Gentiles through Elijah and Elisha, the congregation becomes enraged and attempts to throw him off a cliff.
This passage is the Old Testament account directly referenced by Jesus, detailing Elijah's mission to Zarephath and the widow there.
Romans 11:11This New Testament passage speaks to a similar theme of Israel's stumbling leading to salvation for the Gentiles, echoing Jesus' point about God's outreach beyond the expected people.
Acts 10:34Peter's declaration that God shows no favoritism and accepts people from every nation shows the early church grappling with and understanding the inclusive nature of God's salvation, a principle Jesus highlights here.
Matthew 15:21-28This account of Jesus interacting with the Syrophoenician (Canaanite) woman demonstrates a similar instance where Jesus extended healing and favor to a non-Israelite, mirroring Elijah's mission.
jfbLuke 4:26: "But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow."
26, 27. save … saving—"but only." (Compare Mr 13:32, Greek.)Sarepta—"Zarephath" (1Ki 17:9), a heathen village between Tyre and Sidon. (See Mr 7:24.)
jfbLuke 4:14-32: "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about."
Lu 4:14-32. Jesus Entering on His Public Ministry, Makes a Circuit of Galilee—Rejection at Nazareth.Note.—A large gap here occurs, embracing the important transactions in Galilee and Jerusalem which are recorded in Joh 1:29-4:54, and which occurred before John's imprisonment (Joh 3:24); whereas the transactions here recorded occurred (as appears from M…
Jesus highlights Elijah was sent to a Gentile widow in Sidon, not to an Israelite in need, implying that God's favor and miracles aren't limited to just "us" and can extend to those outside our immediate circle. This emphasizes that the miraculous power and saving grace displayed in Scripture often reach beyond expected boundaries, challenging any notion of exclusive divine entitlement.
Jesus has just read from Isaiah in his hometown synagogue, proclaiming a year of favor, and the crowd initially marvels. However, as he continues, implying God's grace extends beyond their nation, their admiration turns to anger, and they drive him out, intending to throw him off a cliff. Jesus, passing through them unharmed, heads to Nazareth where this passage about Elijah being sent to a Gentile widow in Zarephath is recalled to highlight how God's mercy isn't limited to the chosen people, even when facing rejection.
Jesus has just read from Isaiah in his hometown synagogue, proclaiming a year of favor, and the crowd initially marvels. However, as he continues, implying God's grace extends beyond their nation, their admiration turns to anger, and they drive him out, intending to throw him off a cliff. Jesus, passing through them unharmed, heads to Nazareth where this passage about Elijah being sent to a Gentile widow in Zarephath is recalled to highlight how God's mercy isn't limited to the chosen people, even when facing rejection.
"and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow." — Jesus highlights Elijah was sent to a Gentile widow in Sidon, not to an Israelite in need, implying that God's favor and miracles aren't limited to just "us" and can extend to those outside our imm…
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Last reviewed October 2026