1 Kings 17:18
1 Kings 17:18 in Multiple Translations
“O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?”
And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? thou art come unto me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son!
And she said to Elijah, What have I to do with you, O man of God? have you come to put God in mind of my sin, and to put my son to death?
“What are you doing to me, man of God?” the woman asked Elijah. “Have you come to remind me about my sins and cause my son to die?”
And she said vnto Eliiah, What haue I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come vnto me to call my sinne to remembrance, and to slay my sonne?
And she saith unto Elijah, 'What — to me and to thee, O man of God? thou hast come unto me to cause mine iniquity to be remembered, and to put my son to death!'
She said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, you man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son!”
And she said to Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come to me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
And she said to Elias: What have I to do with thee, thou man of God? art thou come to me that my iniquities should be remembered, and that thou shouldst kill my son?
So the woman went to Elijah and said to him, “You are a prophet; so why have you done this to me? Have you come here to punish me for my sins by causing my son to die?”
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Kings 17:18
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1 Kings 17:18 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Kings 17:18
Study Notes — 1 Kings 17:18
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Kings 17:18 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 17:18
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 17:18
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:18
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:18
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:18
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:18
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 17:18
- Barnes' Notes on 1 Kings 17:18
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:18
- Sermons on 1 Kings 17:18
Context — Elijah Raises the Widow’s Son
18“O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?”
19But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20Then he cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, by causing her son to die?”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke 5:8 | When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.” |
| 2 | John 2:4 | “Woman, why does this concern us?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” |
| 3 | 2 Kings 3:13 | Elisha, however, said to the king of Israel, “What have we to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and of your mother!” “No,” replied the king of Israel, “for it is the LORD who has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab.” |
| 4 | Luke 4:34 | “Ha! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” |
| 5 | 2 Samuel 16:10 | But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’” |
| 6 | Ezekiel 21:23–24 | It will seem like a false omen to the eyes of those who have sworn allegiance to him, but it will draw attention to their guilt and take them captive. Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have drawn attention to your guilt, exposing your transgressions, so that your sins are revealed in all your deeds—because you have come to remembrance—you shall be taken in hand. |
| 7 | Mark 5:7 | And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!” |
| 8 | 1 Samuel 16:4 | So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?” |
| 9 | Job 13:23 | How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin. |
| 10 | Genesis 42:21–22 | Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” And Reuben responded, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!” |
1 Kings 17:18 Summary
This verse shows a woman who is hurting and looking for answers, blaming the prophet Elijah for her son's death, thinking that God is punishing her for her past sins, as seen in 1 Kings 17:18. She is afraid that Elijah's presence has brought judgment upon her household. However, as believers, we can trust that God is good and just, as seen in Psalm 37:3-7 and Romans 8:28, and that He desires to bring healing and restoration, rather than punishment. We can learn from the woman's mistake and instead seek God's guidance and forgiveness, rather than shifting blame or making excuses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the woman blame Elijah for her son's death?
The woman blamed Elijah because she believed that his presence had brought judgment upon her household, as seen in 1 Kings 17:18, reminding her of her past iniquity, similar to how the prophet Nathan confronted David about his sin in 2 Samuel 12:7-10.
What did the woman mean by 'remind me of my iniquity'?
The woman was acknowledging that she was aware of her past sins and was afraid that God was punishing her through her son's death, as the Bible teaches that God is just and will punish sin, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:15 and Jeremiah 30:11.
Is it common for people to blame God or His servants when tragedy strikes?
Yes, it is common for people to question God's sovereignty and blame His servants when faced with difficult circumstances, as seen in the example of Job's friends in the book of Job, chapters 4-31, and the apostle Paul's encouragement to trust in God's goodness despite suffering, in Romans 8:28.
How does this verse relate to the concept of spiritual accountability?
This verse highlights the importance of spiritual accountability, as the woman recognized Elijah as a 'man of God' and held him accountable for her spiritual well-being, much like the apostle Paul's instruction to the church in 1 Corinthians 12:21-24 to care for one another spiritually.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I shift blame or make excuses when faced with difficulties, rather than taking responsibility and seeking God's guidance?
- How can I, like the woman, acknowledge my past sins and seek forgiveness, as encouraged in 1 John 1:9 and Psalm 51:1-2?
- In what ways can I demonstrate trust in God's sovereignty, even when faced with tragedy or hardship, as seen in the examples of Job and the apostle Paul?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of spiritual accountability and seeking guidance from God's servants, as seen in the relationship between Elijah and the widow?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 17:18
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 17:18
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:18
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:18
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:18
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:18
Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 17:18
Barnes' Notes on 1 Kings 17:18
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:18
Sermons on 1 Kings 17:18
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Sense of the Holy by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the challenge of expressing and understanding the divine. He emphasizes that what Isaiah saw and experienced was beyond human comprehension a |
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Finishing the Course - 03 the Ministry of the Holy Spirit by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being free from the opinions of men and instead being open to the influence of the Holy Spirit. He highlights how in the Ol |
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The Touch of God - Slovakia Conference 2003 (Slovakian/english) by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being a man of prayer and brokenness. He shares his own journey of spiritual laziness and how he had to make a decision to |
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The Greatness of God (Isaiah 6) - Part 2 by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in the preaching of the gospel. He acknowledges that preaching alone cannot bring |
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Keys to Spiritual Growth - Part 3 by John MacArthur | This sermon emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth in the Christian life, highlighting the ongoing process of maturing in faith. It stresses the need for believers to contin |
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The Greatness of God (Isaiah 6) - Part 3 by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of recognizing the greatness of Christ and the impending judgment day. He describes a scene where the greatest creatures in e |
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The Vision of God by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on Isaiah chapter 6, where Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord asking who will go and be sent by Him. The speaker emphasizes the need for servant |






