Elijah and the Widow of Sarepta

1 Kings 17

The prophet Eliu announces a drought to Achaab and is fed by ravens beside a brook, and when the brook dries up he is sustained by a widow of Sarepta whose jar of meal and jug of oil do not fail, and he later restores her son to life after the boy dies.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonAND the prophet Elias the Thesbite, who was of Thesbon in Galaad, said to Achab, As the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel liveth, before Whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain for years but by the word of my mouth.

BrentonAnd Eliu the prophet, the Thesbite of Thesbæ of Galaad, said to Achaab, As the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be these years dew nor rain, except by the word of my mouth.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἠλιοὺ ὁ προφήτης Θεσβίτης ὁ ἐκ Θεσβῶν τῆς Γαλαὰδ πρὸς Ἀχαὰβ, ζῇ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τῶν δυνάμεων ὁ Θεὸς Ἰσραὴλ, ᾧ παρέστην ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ, εἰ ἔσται τὰ ἔτη ταῦτα δρόσος καὶ ὑετὸς, ὅτι εἰ μὴ διὰ στόματος λόγου μου.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said unto Ahab: ‘As the LORD, the God of Israel, liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.’

ThomsonThen a word of the Lord came to Elias,

BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to Eliu, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ῥῆμα Κυρίου πρὸς Ἠλιοὺ,

KJVAnd the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

JPSAnd the word of the LORD came unto him, saying:

ThomsonGo hence eastward and hide thyself by the brook Chorrath which is before the Jordan;

BrentonDepart hence eastward, and hide thee by the brook of Chorrath, that is before Jordan.

Greekπορεύου ἐντεῦθεν κατὰ ἀνατολὰς, καὶ κρύβηθι ἐν τῷ χειμάῤῥῳ Χοῤῥαθ τοῦ ἐπὶ προσώπου τοῦ Ἰορδάνου.

KJVGet thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

JPS’Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan.

Thomsonand thou shalt have water from the brook to drink and I will command the ravens to feed thee there.

BrentonAnd it shall be that thou shalt drink water of the brook, and I will charge the ravens to feed thee there.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐκ τοῦ χειμάῤῥου πίεσαι ὕδωρ, καὶ τοῖς κόραξιν ἐντελοῦμαι διατρέφειν σε ἐκεῖ.

KJVAnd it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

JPSAnd it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.’

ThomsonSo Elias did according to the word of the Lord, and took up his abode by the brook Chorrath, fronting the Jordan.

BrentonAnd Eliu did according to the word of the Lord, and he sat by the brook of Chorrath before Jordan.

GreekΚαὶ ἐποίησεν Ἠλιοὺ κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα Κυρίου, καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐν τῷ χειμάῤῥῳ Χοῤῥὰθ ἐπὶ προσώπου τοῦ Ἰορδάνου.

KJVSo he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

JPSSo he went and did according unto the word of the LORD; for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan.

ThomsonAnd the ravens brought him bread in the morning and flesh in the evening, and he drank water from the brook.

BrentonAnd the ravens brought him loaves in the morning, and flesh in the evening, and he drank water of the brook.

GreekΚαὶ οἱ κόρακες ἔφερον αὐτῷ ἄρτους τοπρωῒ, καὶ κρέα τοδείλης, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ χειμάῤῥου ἔπινεν ὕδωρ.

KJVAnd the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

JPSAnd the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

ThomsonAnd when he had been there a year, the brook dried up; for there was no rain in the land.

BrentonAnd it came to pass after some time, that the brook was dried up, because there had been no rain upon the earth.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο μεθʼ ἡμέρας, καὶ ἐξηράνθη ὁ χειμάῤῥους, ὅτι οὐκ ἐγένετο ὑετὸς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

KJVAnd it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

JPSAnd it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

ThomsonThereupon a word of the Lord came to Elias,

BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to Eliu, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ῥῆμα Κυρίου πρὸς Ἠλιοὺ,

KJVAnd the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

JPSAnd the word of the LORD came unto him, saying:

ThomsonArise and go to Sarepta of Sidonia. Behold I have ordered a widow woman there to sustain thee.

BrentonArise, and go to Sarepta of the Sidonian land: behold, I have there commanded a widow-woman to maintain thee.

Greekἀνάστηθι, καὶ πορεύου εἰς Σαρεπτὰ τῆς Σιδωνίας· ἰδοὺ ἐντέταλμαι ἐκεῖ γυναικὶ χήρᾳ τοῦ διατρέφειν σε.

KJVArise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

JPS’Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain thee.’

ThomsonSo he arose and went to Sarepta, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold there was there a widow woman gathering sticks. And Elias cried after her, and said to her, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water that I may drink.

BrentonAnd he arose and went to Sarepta, and came to the gate of the city: and, behold, a widow-woman was there gathering sticks; and Eliu cried after her, and said to her, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνέστη καὶ ἐπορεύθη εἰς Σαρεπτὰ, καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὸν πυλῶνα τῆς πόλεως· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐκεῖ γυνὴ χήρα συνέλεγε ξύλα· καὶ ἐβόησεν ὀπίσω αὐτῆς Ἠλιοὺ, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ, λάβε δή μοι ὀλίγον ὕδωρ εἰς ἄγγος, καὶ πίομαι.

KJVSo he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

JPSSo 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.’

ThomsonAnd as she was going to fetch it, Elias called after her and said, Bring me I pray thee a morsel of bread in thy hand.

BrentonAnd she went to fetch it; and Eliu cried after her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of the bread that is in thy hand.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπορεύθη λαβεῖν, καὶ ἐβόησεν ὀπίσω αὐτῆς Ἠλιοὺ, καὶ εἶπε, λήψῃ δή μοι ψωμὸν ἄρτου τοῦ ἐν τῇ χειρί σου.

KJVAnd as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

JPSAnd 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.’

ThomsonWhereupon the woman said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake baked and only about a handful of barley meal in the jar and a little oil in the vessel; and behold I was picking up a few sticks, that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my children, that we may eat and die.

BrentonAnd the woman said, As the Lord thy God lives, I have not a cake, but only a handful of meal in the pitcher, and a little oil in a cruse, and, behold, I am going to gather two sticks, and I shall go in and dress it for myself and my children, and we shall eat it and die.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνὴ, ζῇ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, εἰ ἔστι μοι ἐγκρυφίας, ἀλλʼ ἢ ὅσον δρὰξ ἀλεύρου ἐν τῇ ὑδρίᾳ, καὶ ὀλίγον ἔλαιον ἐν τῷ καψάκῃ· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ συλλέξω δύο ξυλάρια, καὶ εἰσελεύσομαι καὶ ποιήσω αὐτὸ ἐμαυτῇ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις μου, καὶ φαγόμεθα, καὶ ἀποθανούμεθα.

KJVAnd she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a 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.

JPSAnd she said: ‘As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, only 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.’

ThomsonAnd Elias said to her, Take courage, go in and do as thou hast said, but make for me a little cake of it, and bring it out first to me, and afterwards thou shalt make for thyself and thy children.

BrentonAnd Eliu said to her, Be of good courage, go in and do according to thy word: but make me thereof a little cake, and thou shalt bring it out to me first, and thou shalt make some for thyself and thy children last.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὴν Ἠλιοὺ, θάρσει, εἴσελθε καὶ ποίησον κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου· ἀλλὰ ποίησόν μοι ἐκεῖθεν ἐγκρυφίαν μικρὸν, καὶ ἐξοίσεις μοι ἐν πρώτοις, σαυτῇ δὲ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις σου ποιήσεις ἐπʼ ἐσχάτῳ·

KJVAnd Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

JPSAnd 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.

ThomsonFor thus saith the Lord, The jar of meal shall not fail, nor shall the vessel of oil diminish, until the Lord shall send rain on the land.

BrentonFor thus saith the Lord, The pitcher of meal shall not fail, and the cruse of oil shall not diminish, until the day that the Lord gives rain upon the earth.

GreekὍτι τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἡ ὑδρία τοῦ ἀλεύρου οὐκ ἐκλείψει, καὶ ὁ καψάκης τοῦ ἐλαίου οὐκ ἐλαττονήσει, ἕως ἡμέρας τοῦ δοῦναι Κύριον τὸν ὑετὸν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

KJVFor thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.

JPSFor thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: The jar of meal shall not be spent, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the land.’

ThomsonSo the woman went and did so.

BrentonAnd the woman went and did so, and did eat, she, and he, and her children.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπορεύθη ἡ γυνὴ, καὶ ἐποίησε, καὶ ἤσθιεν αὐτὴ καὶ αὐτὸς καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς.

KJVAnd she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

JPSAnd she went and did according to the saying of Elijah; and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

ThomsonAnd though she and her children ate yet the jar of meal did not fail, nor was the oil in the vessel diminished, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elias.

BrentonAnd the pitcher of meal failed not, and the cruse of oil was not diminished, according to the word of the Lord which he spoke by the hand of Eliu.

GreekΚαὶ ἡ ὑδρία τοῦ ἀλεύρου οὐκ ἐξέλιπε, καὶ ὁ καψάκης τοῦ ἐλαίου οὐκ ἠλαττονήθη, κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα Κυρίου ὃ ἐλάλησεν ἐν χειρὶ Ἠλιού.

KJVAnd the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

JPSThe jar of meal was not spent, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke by Elijah.

ThomsonAnd it happened that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and the disorder increased till there was no breath left in him.

BrentonAnd it came to pass afterward, that the son of the woman the mistress of the house was sick; and his sickness was very severe, until there was no breath left in him.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ ταῦτα, καὶ ἠῤῥώστησεν ὁ υἱὸς τῆς γυναικὸς τῆς κυρίας τοῦ οἴκου· καὶ ἦν ἡ ἀῤῥωστία αὐτοῦ κραταιὰ σφόδρα ἕως οὐχ ὑπελείφθη ἐν αὐτῷ πνεῦμα.

KJVAnd it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.

JPSAnd it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.

ThomsonUpon which she said to Elias, What hast thou to do with me, O man of God? Art thou come to me to bring my sins into remembrance and cause my son to die?

BrentonAnd she said to Eliu, What have I to do with thee, O man of God? hast thou come in to me to bring my sins to remembrance, and to slay my son?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς Ἠλιοὺ, τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοὶ ἄνθρωπε τοῦ Θεοῦ; εἰσῆλθες πρὸς μὲ τοῦ ἀναμνῆσαι ἀδικίας μου, καὶ θανατῶσαι τὸν υἱόν μου;

KJVAnd she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?

JPSAnd she said unto Elijah: ‘What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?’

ThomsonAnd Elias said to the woman, Give me thy son. So he took him out of her bosom and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his bed.

BrentonAnd Eliu said to the woman, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and took him up to the chamber in which he himself lodged, and laid him on the bed.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἠλιοὺ πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα, δός μοι τὸν υἱόν σου· καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτὸν ἐκ τοῦ κόλπου αὐτῆς, καὶ ἀνήνεγκεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ ὑπερῷον ἐν ᾧ αὐτὸς ἐκάθητο ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἐκοίμισεν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῆς κλίνης.

KJVAnd he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.

JPSAnd he said unto her: ‘Give me thy son.’ And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the upper chamber, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.

ThomsonThen Elias cried and said, Woe is me! O Lord! Here is the witness of the widow with whom I dwell. Thou hast afflicted her in causing her son to die.

BrentonAnd Eliu cried aloud, and said, Alas, O Lord, the witness of the widow with whom I sojourn, thou hast wrought evil for her in slaying her son.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνεβόησεν Ἠλιοὺ, καὶ εἶπεν, οἵ μοι Κύριε, ὁ μάρτυς τῆς χήρας μεθʼ ἧς ἐγὼ κατοικῶ μετʼ αὐτῆς, σὺ κεκάκωκας τοῦ θανατῶσαι τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς.

KJVAnd 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?

JPSAnd 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?’

ThomsonAnd when he had breathed on the child three times and called on the Lord, he said, O Lord, my God, I beseech Thee let this child’s life be restored to him.

BrentonAnd he breathed on the child thrice, and called on the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, let, I pray thee, the soul of this child return to him.

GreekΚαὶ ἐνεφύσησε τῷ παιδαρίῳ τρὶς, καὶ ἐπεκαλέσατο τὸν Κύριον, καὶ εἶπε, Κύριε ὁ Θεός μου, ἐπιστραφήτω δὴ ἡ ψυχὴ τοῦ παιδαρίου τούτου εἰς αὐτόν.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd 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 back into him.’

ThomsonAnd so it came to pass and the child cried.

BrentonAnd it was so, and the child cried out,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως· καὶ ἀνεβόησε τὸ παιδάριον.

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

JPSAnd the LORD hearkened unto the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back into him, and he revived.

ThomsonThen Elias brought it down from the upper chamber, and delivering him to his mother, said, See, thy son liveth.

Brentonand he brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; and Eliu said, See, thy son lives.

GreekΚαὶ κατήγαγεν αυτὸ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὑπερῴου εἰς τὸν οἶκον, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὸ τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ· καὶ εἶπεν Ἠλιοὺ, βλέπε, ζῇ ὁ υἱός σου.

KJVAnd Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.

JPSAnd Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the upper chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother; and Elijah said: ‘See, thy son liveth.’

ThomsonWhereupon the woman said, Now I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is true.

BrentonAnd the woman said to Eliu, Behold, I know that thou art a man of God, and the word of the Lord in thy mouth is true.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνὴ πρὸς Ἠλιοὺ, ἰδοὺ ἔγνωκα ὅτι σὺ ἄνθρωπος Θεοῦ, καὶ ῥῆμα Κυρίου ἐν τῷ στόματί σου ἀληθινόν.

KJVAnd the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

JPSAnd the woman said to Elijah: ‘Now I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.’