And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.

1 KINGS 17:22KJV
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1 Kings 17:22 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 17:22 mean?

1 Kings 17:22 says that God listened to Elijah’s prayer, and the child who had died came back to life. The verse describes a moment when God responds directly to Elijah’s request, restoring the child’s life and showing God’s power to bring someone back from death.

In this scene, Elijah is a prophet staying with a widow and her son during a time of drought. The child had died, and Elijah prayed earnestly for God to return the child’s life. The verse highlights that God (“the LORD”) heard Elijah’s voice and brought the child’s “soul” back, so the boy revived. This is the first time in the Bible someone is raised from the dead, showing both Elijah’s role as a prophet and God’s compassion.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 17:22

  • “LORD” (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name for God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that it was the God of Israel who acted in response to Elijah’s prayer.
  • “soul” (נֶפֶשׁ, nephesh): This word often means “life” or “life-breath” rather than a separate, immaterial soul. Here, it points to the child’s life returning to his body, not just a spiritual presence.
  • “came” and “again” (שׁוּב, shuv): The same Hebrew verb is used twice, stressing the idea of the child’s life returning or being restored. This repetition underlines the reversal of death.
  • “revived” (חָיָה, chayah): This verb means “to live” or “to come alive,” making it clear that the child was truly brought back from death, not just resuscitated from a faint.

Why 1 Kings 17:22 matters

  • 1 Kings 17:22 is the first recorded resurrection in the Bible, marking a key moment where God’s power over life and death is shown through a prophet.
  • The verse emphasizes that God responds to sincere prayer, highlighting the relationship between Elijah and God.
  • This event sets the stage for later miracles by prophets like Elisha and even Jesus, showing a pattern of God’s compassion and ability to restore life.

Where else these words appear

“Elijah” Hebrew H452 · used in 65 verses

  • 1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
  • 1 Kings 18:31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
  • 2 Kings 1:13 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.

“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.