1 Kings 17:4
1 Kings 17:4 in Multiple Translations
And you are to drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
The water of the stream will be your drink, and by my orders the ravens will give you food there.
You can drink from the brook, and I have ordered ravens to bring you food you there.”
And thou shalt drinke of the riuer: and I haue comanded the rauens to feede thee there.
and it hath been, from the brook thou dost drink, and the ravens I have commanded to sustain thee there.'
You shall drink from the brook. I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
And there thou shalt drink of the torrent: and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
You will be able to drink water from the brook, and you will be able to eat what the crows bring to you, because I have commanded them to bring food to you.”
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Kings 17:4
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
1 Kings 17:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/הָיָ֖ה
מֵ/הַ/נַּ֣חַל
תִּשְׁתֶּ֑ה
וְ/אֶת
הָ/עֹרְבִ֣ים
צִוִּ֔יתִי
לְ/כַלְכֶּלְ/ךָ֖
שָֽׁם
וְ/הָיָ֖ה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-Perf-3ms
מֵ/הַ/נַּ֣חַל
nachal
H5158
Brook
Prep | Art | N-ms
תִּשְׁתֶּ֑ה
shâthâh
H8354
to drink
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
וְ/אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
Conj | DirObjM
הָ/עֹרְבִ֣ים
ʻôrêb
H6158
raven
Art | N-mp
צִוִּ֔יתִי
tsâvâh
H6680
to command
V-Piel-Perf-1cs
לְ/כַלְכֶּלְ/ךָ֖
kûwl
H3557
to sustain
Prep | V-l-Inf-a | Suff
שָֽׁם
shâm
H8033
there
Adv
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Kings 17:4
וְ/הָיָ֖ה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-Perf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
מֵ/הַ/נַּ֣חַל
nachal
H5158
"Brook"
Prep | Art | N-ms
The Hebrew word for a brook or stream, often referring to a small river or valley, is used in the Bible to describe natural landscapes, such as the Brook Kidron in 2 Samuel 15:23. It can also refer to a narrow valley or a shaft of a mine, emphasizing the idea of a flowing body of water.
Definition: palm-tree Another name of shi.chor (שִׁיחוֹר "Shihor" H7883G)
Usage: Occurs in 123 OT verses. KJV: brook, flood, river, stream, valley. See also: Genesis 26:17; 1 Kings 18:5; Psalms 18:5.
תִּשְׁתֶּ֑ה
shâthâh
H8354
"to drink"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to drink, and it's used in many ways, like drinking from a cup or feasting. It's also used to describe being drunk or taking part in a big celebration. We see it in stories like the Last Supper in Matthew 26:27.
Definition: 1) to drink 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to drink 1a1a) of drinking cup of God's wrath, of slaughter, of wicked deeds (fig) 1a2) to feast 1b) (Niphal) to be drunk Aramaic equivalent: she.tah (שְׁתָה "to drink" H8355)
Usage: Occurs in 193 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] assuredly, banquet, [idiom] certainly, drink(-er, -ing), drunk ([idiom] -ard), surely. (Prop. intensive of H8248 (שָׁקָה).) See also: Genesis 9:21; 2 Kings 19:24; Psalms 50:13.
וְ/אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
Conj | DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
הָ/עֹרְבִ֣ים
ʻôrêb
H6158
"raven"
Art | N-mp
A raven is a dark-colored bird, first mentioned in the Bible as the bird Noah released from the ark in Genesis 8:7. The word is used to describe its dusky hue. It is a symbol of God's care in the Bible.
Definition: raven
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: raven. See also: Genesis 8:7; Job 38:41; Psalms 147:9.
צִוִּ֔יתִי
tsâvâh
H6680
"to command"
V-Piel-Perf-1cs
To command or give orders, as seen in the Bible when God gives charge to his people. It can also mean to appoint or ordain someone for a task. This word is used in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: 1) to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order 1a)(Piel) 1a1) to lay charge upon 1a2) to give charge to, give command to 1a3) to give charge unto 1a4) to give charge over, appoint 1a5) to give charge, command 1a6) to charge, command 1a7) to charge, commission 1a8) to command, appoint, ordain (of divine act) 1b) (Pual) to be commanded
Usage: Occurs in 475 OT verses. KJV: appoint, (for-) bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order. See also: Genesis 2:16; Leviticus 10:13; Deuteronomy 12:11.
לְ/כַלְכֶּלְ/ךָ֖
kûwl
H3557
"to sustain"
Prep | V-l-Inf-a | Suff
This Hebrew word means to sustain or support something, like holding it in or keeping it going, and is used in various senses, such as nourishing or enduring, as seen in Psalm 55:22.
Definition: 1) to seize, contain, measure 1a)(Qal) to measure, calculate 1b) (Pilpel) to sustain, maintain, contain 1b1) to sustain, support, nourish 1b2) to contain, hold in, restrain 1b3) to support, endure 1c) (Polpal) to be supplied 1d) (Hilpil) to contain, hold, hold in, endure 1d1) to contain 1d2) to sustain, endure
Usage: Occurs in 36 OT verses. KJV: (be able to, can) abide, bear, comprehend, contain, feed, forbearing, guide, hold(-ing in), nourish(-er), be present, make provision, receive, sustain, provide sustenance (victuals). See also: Genesis 45:11; 2 Chronicles 2:5; Psalms 55:23.
שָֽׁם
shâm
H8033
"there"
Adv
The Hebrew word sham means there or then, often used to describe a location or point in time. It can also mean thither or thence, indicating movement or direction. This word is used frequently in the Bible to provide context and clarify the setting of a story.
Definition: 1) there, thither 1a) there 1b) thither (after verbs of motion) 1c) from there, thence 1d) then (as an adverb of time) Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)
Usage: Occurs in 732 OT verses. KJV: in it, [phrase] thence, there (-in, [phrase] of, [phrase] out), [phrase] thither, [phrase] whither. See also: Genesis 2:8; Exodus 21:33; Deuteronomy 19:4.
Study Notes — 1 Kings 17:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Kings 17:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 17:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 17:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:4
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:4
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:4
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 17:4
- Barnes' Notes on 1 Kings 17:4
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:4
- Sermons on 1 Kings 17:4
Context — The Ravens Feed Elijah
2Then a revelation from the LORD came to Elijah:
3“Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan.
4And you are to drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
5So Elijah did what the LORD had told him, and he went and lived by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan. 6The ravens would bring him bread and meat in the morning and evening, and he would drink from the brook.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 17:9 | “Get up and go to Zarephath of Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” |
| 2 | Psalms 147:9 | He provides food for the animals, and for the young ravens when they call. |
| 3 | Job 38:41 | Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God as they wander about for lack of food? |
| 4 | 1 Kings 19:5–8 | Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” And he looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. A second time the angel of the LORD returned and touched him, saying, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. And strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. |
| 5 | Matthew 4:4 | But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” |
| 6 | Psalms 33:8–9 | Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. |
| 7 | Matthew 4:11 | Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him. |
| 8 | Job 38:8–13 | Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket, when I fixed its boundaries and set in place its bars and doors, and I declared: ‘You may come this far, but no farther; here your proud waves must stop’? In your days, have you commanded the morning or assigned the dawn its place, that it might spread to the ends of the earth and shake the wicked out of it? |
| 9 | Job 34:29 | But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation, |
| 10 | Amos 9:3–4 | Though they hide themselves atop Carmel, there I will track them and seize them; and though they hide from Me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them. Though they are driven by their enemies into captivity, there I will command the sword to slay them. I will fix My eyes upon them for harm and not for good.” |
1 Kings 17:4 Summary
This verse, 1 Kings 17:4, shows us that God cares for His people and provides for their needs, just like He provided for Elijah by the brook. Elijah was told to drink from the brook and that God had commanded the ravens to bring him food, demonstrating God's power and care. This reminds us that, just like Elijah, we can trust in God's plan and provision for our lives, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:26. By trusting in God, we can find comfort and strength, knowing that He will provide for us, as promised in Philippians 4:19.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the brook in 1 Kings 17:4?
The brook represents God's provision and care for Elijah, as seen in 1 Kings 17:4, where God commands Elijah to drink from it, similar to how God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness, as mentioned in Exodus 17:6.
How did the ravens know to feed Elijah?
According to 1 Kings 17:4, God had commanded the ravens to feed Elijah, demonstrating God's sovereign power over creation, as also seen in Job 38:41, where God feeds the ravens.
Is this verse teaching us to rely on nature or animals for our needs?
No, this verse is teaching us to rely on God's provision, as stated in Matthew 6:26, where Jesus teaches that God feeds the birds, and in 1 Kings 17:4, God uses the ravens to feed Elijah, demonstrating His care and provision.
What can we learn from Elijah's obedience in this verse?
Elijah's obedience, as seen in 1 Kings 17:5, demonstrates trust in God's plan, as also taught in Proverbs 3:5-6, where we are encouraged to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding.
Reflection Questions
- How does this verse encourage me to trust in God's provision for my life?
- What are some ways I can apply the principle of obedience, as seen in Elijah's life, to my own walk with God?
- How does the image of the ravens feeding Elijah challenge my understanding of God's sovereignty and power?
- In what ways can I, like Elijah, find comfort and strength in God's promise to provide for me, as stated in Philippians 4:19?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 17:4
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook,.... The water of that was to be his drink: and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there; whereby he should be provided with food to eat; by
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 17:4
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there , [ haa`orªbiym (H6158); Septuagint, tois koraxin].
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:4
i.e. I have decreed or appointed. Or, I shall command, i.e. effectually move them, by instincts and inclinations which I shall put into them, which shall be as forcible with them as a law or command is to men. God is said to command both brute creatures, as , and senseless things, as ,12 Psa 78:23 45:12, when he causeth them to do the things which he intends to effect by them. I have commanded the ravens; which he names, and chooseth for this work; partly to succour the prophet’ s faith against human infirmity, by the credibility of the thing; there being many ravens in those parts, and those delighting to reside near brooks of water; and that sort of creatures being apt and accustomed to seek provisions, and to carry them away to the places of their abode; and partly to show his care and power in providing for the prophet by those creatures, which are noted for their greediness in monopolizing provision to themselves, and for their malignity and unnaturalness towards their own young; that by this strange and noble experiment he might be taught to trust God in those many and great difficulties to which he was likely to be exposed. Object. The ravens were unclean, . Answ. They were unclean for meat, but not for the touch. But howsoever, that ceremonial law was overruled by necessity, and by the Lawgiver’ s dispensation.
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:4
1 Kings 17:4 And it shall be, [that] thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.Ver. 4. Thou shalt drink of the brook.] Adam’ s ale (water) he had, and food cooked by the angels, likely; though the Rabbis tell us - but who told them? - that the ravens pillaged it out of king Ahab’ s kitchen. And I have commanded the ravens,] i.e., I have prepared them, and put this instinct into them. All creatures are ready to serve the saints. God hath taken the best of them, and bound them over to cater for his people. Peter Martyr observeth, that the ravens especially did owe the Lord this service, for the benefit which they singularly above other fowls enjoy by his providence when they are young; according to Job 38:41 Psalms 147:9.
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:4
(4) The ravens.—Of the accuracy of this rendering, which is that of almost all the ancient versions and of Josephus, there can be little doubt. The singularly prosaic interpretations, substituted for this striking and significant record of miracle by some ancient and modern writers (adopting slight variations of the Hebrew vowel points)—such as “Arabs,” “merchants,” “inhabitants of a city Orbi or the rock Oreb”—seem to have arisen simply from a desire to get rid of what seemed a strange miracle, at the cost (be it observed) of substituting for it a gross improbability; for how can it be supposed that such regular sustenance by human hands of the persecuted prophet could have gone on in the face of the jealous vigilance of the king? But it is idle to seek to explain away one wonder in a life and an epoch teeming with miracles. It is notable, indeed, that the critical period of the great Baal apostasy, and of the struggle of Elijah and Elisha against it, is the second great epoch of recorded miracle in the Old Testament—the still more critical epoch of Moses and Joshua being the first. It is hardly less idle to determine that this or that miracle is so improbable, as to introduce any difficulty of acceptance which does not apply to miracles in general.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:4
Verse 4. I have commanded the ravens to feed thee] Thou shalt not lack the necessaries of life; thou shalt be supplied by an especial providence. See more on this subject at the end of the chapter. 1Kg 17:24.
Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 17:4
4. thou shalt drink of the brook] The drought had not yet dried it up, but soon it would do so. I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there] Just as in 1 Kings 13:28 the appetite of the lion which had slain the false prophet was supernaturally checked, so that he tare neither the corpse nor the ass, so here the greedy birds were to bring into the valley enough food to suffice for the prophet’s wants as well as for their own. Their nests would be in the caves among which Elijah would find his best hiding-place. Many attempts have been made to explain away this verse by putting different vowel points to the word òøáéí to interpret it as (1) merchants. This some Jews favoured as the raven was an unclean bird. But it is answer sufficient to this, that Elijah was not told to eat the ravens. (2) Arabians, interpreting it of travelling caravans from whom the prophet obtained what he needed to live on. But caravans keep as far away as they can from wild torrent-beds.
Barnes' Notes on 1 Kings 17:4
The ravens - This is the translation of most of the ancient versions; others, omitting the points, which are generally allowed to have no authority, read “Arabians;” others, retaining the present
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 17:4
4. I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there — This plain and positive statement defies all attempts to explain the facts stated in 1 Kings 17:6 on nationalistic or naturalistic principles.
Sermons on 1 Kings 17:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Finn-01 Elijah the Prophet by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker shares his personal journey of seeking philosophical answers and being pursued by God. He emphasizes the power of a word spoken in authority and how it |
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Manifest Presence of God - Part 12 by Walter Beuttler | Walter Beuttler delves into Revelation 3:20-21, emphasizing the importance of attentiveness to the Lord's knock on the door of our hearts, signaling His desire for communion with u |
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I Have Commanded the Ravens . . by F.B. Meyer | F.B. Meyer emphasizes the importance of being where God desires us to be, using the example of Elijah who remained faithful whether in solitude or in the presence of others. He rea |
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God Helps Those Who Are Weak by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen preaches about God's nature of helping the weak and helpless, emphasizing that God is the God of widows, orphans, and strangers. He highlights how God makes us weak to s |
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(Secrets of Victory) 11. God Helps Those Who Are Weak by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen preaches on God's nature of helping the weak and helpless, emphasizing that God is the God of widows, orphans, and strangers. He highlights how God makes us weak to show |
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Jerusalem Conference Address by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker shares his personal experience of being called by God to deliver a message in an unscheduled manner. He expresses the fear and trembling he feels before |
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True Faith by Albu van Eeden | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the mystery of God selecting a vessel to use. He emphasizes that God not only wants to save us but also desires to use us for His purposes. |