And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?

1 KINGS 17:20KJV
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1 Kings 17:20 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 17:20 mean?

1 Kings 17:20 shows the prophet Elijah crying out to God in distress, asking why God has allowed the death of the widow’s son in whose house Elijah is staying. Elijah is troubled and questions if God has brought harm to the widow who has shown him kindness by letting him stay with her.

In this verse, Elijah is speaking directly to the LORD, expressing his confusion and grief over the boy’s death. The setting is the widow’s home in Zarephath, where Elijah has been staying during a time of drought. Elijah’s words reveal both his close relationship with God and his deep concern for the suffering of the widow who has helped him.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 17:20

  • "cried" (קָרָא, qara): This word means to call out loudly or urgently. Elijah is not just praying quietly; he is passionately pleading with God, which shows the intensity of his emotion.
  • "evil" (רָעַע, ra‘a): This word often means harm, disaster, or calamity. Elijah is not accusing God of moral evil, but is asking why God has allowed misfortune to strike the widow.
  • "sojourn" (גּוּר, gur): This word means to live as a guest or foreigner. Elijah is reminding God that he is staying as a guest in the widow’s home, highlighting the kindness she has shown him and the unexpected nature of her suffering.
  • "slaying" (מוּת, muth): This word means to cause to die. Elijah is bluntly acknowledging the boy’s death and attributing it, in his prayer, to God’s allowance or action.

Why 1 Kings 17:20 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that biblical prophets always understood God’s actions; even Elijah, a major prophet, expresses confusion and distress when faced with suffering.
  • The verse emphasizes Elijah’s humanity and his compassion for the widow, showing that he deeply cares about the people he serves, not just his own mission.
  • 1 Kings 17:20 sets up the dramatic moment that follows, where Elijah will ask God to restore the boy’s life, highlighting both the reality of suffering and the hope of God’s intervention.