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1 Kings 17:13

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Kings 17:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said; but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it forth unto me, and afterward make for thee and for thy son.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said; but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it forth unto me, and afterward make for thee and for thy son.
1 Kings 17:13 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Kings 17

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
10So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand.
12And she said, As Jehovah thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said; but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it forth unto me, and afterward make for thee and for thy son.
14For thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, The jar of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that Jehovah sendeth rain upon the earth.
15And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat [many] days.
16The jar of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake by Elijah.
← 1 Kings 17:121 Kings 17:14 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Elijah said unto her, fear not, etc.] That she and her son should die, it would not be the case: go and do as thou hast said: mix her meal and her oil, and make a cake thereof, and bake it: but make thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son: which was not said from a selfish spirit of the prophet, but to try the faith of the woman; and besides, as Abarbinel observes, the prophet was not only hungry and thirsty through his journey, and so required to be served first, but it was for the sake of his sustenance, that the Lord would command a blessing on the meal and oil; wherefore, if she dressed it for herself and her son first, there would…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“But make, &c. - This he requires as a trial of her faith, and obedience, which he knew God would plentifully reward; and so this would be a great example to encourage others to the practice of the same graces. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 17:14”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“17:13-14 Despite the woman’s dwindling supplies (17:12), Elijah asked her to serve him before herself and her son. Like the poor widow who gave two small coins (Luke 21:1-4), this woman was asked to give all that she had to the Lord’s prophet. True faithfulness means placing God’s Kingdom ahead of personal concerns (Matt 6:33).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Fear not: Exo 14:13; Kg2 6:16; Ch2 20:17; Isa 41:10, Isa 41:13; Mat 28:5; Act 27:24 make me thereof: Gen 22:1, Gen 22:2; Jdg 7:5-7; Mat 19:21, Mat 19:22; Heb 11:17; Pe1 1:7 first: Pro 3:9; Mal 3:10; Mat 6:33, Mat 10:37 3 Kings (1 Kings) 17:14”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“In order, however, to determine with indisputable certainty whether this believing Gentile was the protectress assigned him by the Lord, Elijah comforted her, and at the same time desired her first of all to bake him a little cake משּׁם, i.e., of the last of the meal in the Kad and of the oil in the pitcher, and then to bake for herself and her son, adding this promise: Jehovah the God of Israel will not let the meal in the Kad and the oil in the pitcher fail, till He sends rain upon the earth again. And the widow did according to his word. She gave up the certain for the uncertain, because she trusted the word of the Lord, and received the reward of her believing confidence in the fact that…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification