And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.

1 KINGS 17:21KJV
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1 Kings 17:21 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 17:21 mean?

1 Kings 17:21 describes the prophet Elijah stretching himself over a dead child three times and earnestly praying to the LORD, asking God to return the child's soul to him. This verse shows Elijah's deep faith and his plea for God to bring the child back to life.

In this scene, Elijah is staying with a widow whose son has died. Elijah acts by physically stretching himself on the child and crying out to the LORD (the personal name for God in Hebrew), making a direct and heartfelt request for the child's life to be restored. The verse highlights Elijah's close relationship with God and his belief that God has the power to give life.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 17:21

  • "stretched" (מָדַד, madad): This word means to measure or stretch out. Elijah's action of stretching himself over the child is unusual and draws attention to his intense identification with the child's need.
  • "soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, nefesh): This word often means "life" or "person." Elijah is asking for the child's very life or being to return, not just breath or consciousness.
  • "come" and "again" (שׁוּב, shuv): This word means to return or turn back. Elijah is specifically asking for the child's soul to return to him, emphasizing restoration rather than just healing.

Why 1 Kings 17:21 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that Elijah relied on ritual or magic; instead, he prays directly to God, showing faith rather than superstition.
  • The mention of "three times" underscores the persistence and earnestness of Elijah's prayer, not a formula but a sign of deep pleading.
  • The verse connects to the larger story by showing God's power to bring life from death, setting the stage for the miracle that follows and highlighting Elijah's role as a prophet who trusts God fully.

Where else these words appear

“stretched” Hebrew H4058 · used in 49 verses

  • Exodus 16:18 And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
  • Ezekiel 40:13 He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door.
  • Ezekiel 41:13 So he measured the house, an hundred cubits long; and the separate place, and the building, with the walls thereof, an hundred cubits long;

“child” Hebrew H3206 · used in 76 verses

  • Genesis 4:23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
  • Exodus 21:4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.
  • 2 Chronicles 10:14 And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

“times” Hebrew H6471 · used in 108 verses

  • Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
  • Deuteronomy 9:19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also.
  • 2 Kings 5:14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.