Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Then he cried out to the LORD, “LORD my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” New Living Translation Then Elijah cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?” English Standard Version And he cried to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?” Berean Standard Bible Then he cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, by causing her son to die?” Berean Literal Bible And he cried out to YHWH and said, “O YHWH my God, also on the widow with whom I lodge, have You brought tragedy by killing her son?” King James Bible 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? New King James Version Then he cried out to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?” New American Standard Bible And he called to the LORD and said, “LORD, my God, have You also brought catastrophe upon the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?” NASB 1995 He called to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, have You also brought calamity to the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?” NASB 1977 And he called to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, hast Thou also brought calamity to the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?” Legacy Standard Bible Then he called to Yahweh and said, “O Yahweh my God, have You also brought calamity to the widow with whom I am sojourning, by causing her son to die?” Amplified Bible He called to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, have You brought further tragedy to the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?” Berean Annotated Bible Then he cried out to the LORD {YHWH}, “O LORD my God {YHWH Elohay}, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, by causing her son to die? Christian Standard Bible Then he cried out to the LORD and said, “LORD my God, have you also brought tragedy on the widow I am staying with by killing her son? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible Then he cried out to the LORD and said, “My LORD God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow I am staying with by killing her son?” American Standard Version And he cried unto Jehovah, and said, O Jehovah my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? Contemporary English Version and prayed, "LORD God, why did you do such a terrible thing to this woman? She's letting me stay here, and now you've let her son die." English Revised Version 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? GOD'S WORD® Translation Then he called to the LORD, "LORD my God, have you brought misery on the widow I'm staying with by killing her son?" Good News Translation Then he prayed aloud, "O LORD my God, why have you done such a terrible thing to this widow? She has been kind enough to take care of me, and now you kill her son!" International Standard Version Then he called out to the LORD and asked him, "LORD my God, have you also brought evil to this dear widow with whom I am living as her guest? Have you caused the death of her son?" NET Bible Then he called out to the LORD, "O LORD, my God, are you also bringing disaster on this widow I am staying with by killing her son?" New Heart English Bible He cried to the LORD, and said, "LORD my God, have you also brought disaster on the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?" Webster's Bible Translation And he cried to the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen he cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, by causing her son to die?” World English Bible He cried to Yahweh and said, “Yahweh my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand cries to YHWH and says, “My God YHWH, have You also brought calamity on the widow with whom I am sojourning, to put her son to death?” Berean Literal Bible And he cried out to YHWH and said, “O YHWH my God, also on the widow with whom I lodge, have You brought tragedy by killing her son?” Young's Literal Translation and crieth unto Jehovah, and saith, 'Jehovah my God, also on the widow with whom I am sojourning hast Thou done evil -- to put her son to death?' Smith's Literal Translation And he will call to Jehovah, and say, Jehovah my God, didst thou also do evil upon the widow which I dwelt with her to kill her son? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he cried to the Lord, and said: O Lord my God, hast thou afflicted also the widow, with whom I am after a so maintained, so as to kill her son? Catholic Public Domain Version And he cried out to the Lord, and he said, “O Lord, my God, have you even afflicted the widow by whom I am, in a sense, sustained, so that you would put to death her son?” New American Bible He called out to the LORD: “LORD, my God, will you afflict even the widow with whom I am staying by killing her son?” New Revised Standard Version He cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he cried to the LORD and said, O LORD God, why hast thou also brought misfortune upon this widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he called LORD JEHOVAH and said: “LORD JEHOVAH, God, have you done evil even against this widow with whom I dwell, to kill her son?” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And 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?' Brenton Septuagint Translation And 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. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Elijah Raises the Widow's Son…19But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20Then he cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, by causing her son to die?” 21Then he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, please let this boy’s life return to him!”… Cross References Then he cried out to the LORD, Psalm 120:1 A song of ascents. In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me. Jonah 2:2 saying: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice. Psalm 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears. “O LORD my God, Psalm 30:2 O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. Psalm 7:1 A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save me and deliver me from all my pursuers, Psalm 86:12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever. have You also brought tragedy on this widow Isaiah 45:7 I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things. Lamentations 3:38 Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High? Amos 3:6 If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it? who has opened her home to me, 2 Kings 4:8-10 One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. So whenever he would pass by, he would stop there to eat. / Then the woman said to her husband, “Behold, now I know that the one who often comes our way is a holy man of God. / Please let us make a small room upstairs and put in it a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.” Matthew 10:41 Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. by causing her son to die?” 2 Kings 4:18-20 And the child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the harvesters. / “My head! My head!” he complained to his father. So his father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” / After the servant had picked him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. Luke 7:12-15 As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. / When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.” / Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!” … 2 Samuel 12:18-23 On the seventh day the child died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Look, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He may even harm himself.” / When David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he perceived that the child was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the child dead?” “He is dead,” they replied. / Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate. … James 5:17-18 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. / Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops. Treasury of Scripture And he cried to the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? he cried 1 Kings 18:36,37 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word… Exodus 17:4 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. 1 Samuel 7:8,9 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines… hast thou also Genesis 18:23-25 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? … Joshua 7:8,9 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! … Psalm 73:13,14 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency… Jump to Previous Calamity Causing Cried Death Die Evil Killing Slaying Sojourn Son's Staying WidowJump to Next Calamity Causing Cried Death Die Evil Killing Slaying Sojourn Son's Staying Widow1 Kings 17 1. Elijah, having prophesied against Ahab, 3. is sent to Cherith where the ravens feed him. 8. He is sent to the widow of Zarephath 17. He raises the widow's son 24. The woman believes him Then he cried out to the LORD Elijah's cry to the LORD demonstrates a deep, personal relationship with God, characterized by direct and heartfelt communication. This reflects the biblical tradition of lament, where individuals express their distress and seek divine intervention. Elijah's prayer is reminiscent of the Psalms, where the psalmists often cry out to God in times of trouble (e.g., Psalm 18:6). It underscores the importance of prayer as a means of seeking God's help and guidance. “O LORD my God have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me by causing her son to die?” Persons / Places / Events 1. ElijahA prophet of God who plays a central role in this passage. He is staying with a widow in Zarephath during a time of drought and famine. 2. The Widow of Zarephath A Gentile woman who provides for Elijah during the drought. Her son falls ill and dies, prompting Elijah's prayer. 3. The Widow's Son The child who becomes ill and dies, leading to Elijah's intercession with God. 4. Zarephath A town in Sidon, outside of Israel, where Elijah is staying. It is significant as a place where God demonstrates His power and provision through Elijah. 5. The LORD (Yahweh) The God of Israel, to whom Elijah cries out in prayer, demonstrating His sovereignty and power over life and death. Teaching Points The Power of PrayerElijah's earnest prayer demonstrates the importance of turning to God in times of crisis. Believers are encouraged to pray fervently and trust in God's power to intervene. God's Sovereignty and Compassion This passage illustrates God's control over life and death and His compassion for those in distress. It reassures believers of God's care and ability to bring life from death. Faith Beyond Borders The account of the widow of Zarephath shows that God's grace extends beyond Israel to Gentiles, reminding Christians of the universal scope of God's love and salvation. Intercession for Others Elijah's prayer for the widow's son highlights the role of intercessory prayer. Believers are called to pray for others, trusting that God hears and responds. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Kings 17:20?2. How does Elijah's prayer in 1 Kings 17:20 demonstrate faith in God's power? 3. What can we learn about God's character from Elijah's plea in 1 Kings 17:20? 4. How does Elijah's intercession connect to Jesus' role as our mediator? 5. How can we apply Elijah's example of prayer in our own crises today? 6. What does Elijah's approach teach us about addressing God with our concerns? 7. Why does Elijah question God in 1 Kings 17:20 about the widow's son's death? 8. How does 1 Kings 17:20 challenge the belief in God's goodness and justice? 9. What does Elijah's prayer in 1 Kings 17:20 reveal about human suffering and divine purpose? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 17? 11. Does the portrayal of supernatural sustenance and miracles in 1 Kings 17 contradict or create inconsistencies with other Old Testament accounts of God's provision? 12. What miracles are described in the Bible? 13. In Revelation 11:11–12, how does the resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses align with modern scientific understanding of biology and physics? 14. Are there any contradictions between 1 Samuel 4 and other biblical accounts regarding the fate of Eli's sons or the Ark's movements? What Does 1 Kings 17:20 Mean Then he cried out to the LORD“Then he cried out to the LORD…” (1 Kings 17:20) • Elijah responds instantly in prayer, showing that crisis should drive us to God first (Psalm 34:17, “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears”). • His cry is loud and heartfelt—an honest plea, not a scripted ritual (1 Kings 18:36-37; James 5:17). • The wording confirms that Elijah expects the living God to intervene in real time, reinforcing the literal reliability of the narrative. O LORD my God • By saying “O LORD” (YHWH) Elijah appeals to the covenant-keeping name first revealed in Exodus 3:14, grounding his petition in God’s unchanging character. • Adding “my God” makes it personal, echoing David’s language in Psalm 23:1, “The LORD is my shepherd.” • Elijah models intimacy with God, reminding us that prayer combines reverence with relationship (Hebrews 4:16). Have You also brought tragedy on this widow • Elijah’s question sounds bold, yet Scripture records similar reverent interrogatives (Job 2:10; Habakkuk 1:2-3). • He wrestles with the apparent discrepancy between God’s care and present pain, the same tension Martha voiced in John 11:21. • The wording implies that if God allowed the calamity, He must have a redemptive purpose, preparing the reader for the miracle that follows. Who has opened her home to me • Hospitality mattered deeply in God’s economy (Genesis 18:1-5). Elijah highlights her kindness to underscore the seeming injustice. • Scripture often pairs hospitality with blessing (2 Kings 4:8-10; Hebrews 13:2), so her loss feels doubly tragic. • The phrase also reminds us that those who serve God’s people are not exempt from trials, yet their faith is never wasted (Matthew 10:41-42). By causing her son to die? • Death appears final, but the narrative invites us to anticipate resurrection power (2 Kings 4:32-35; Luke 7:14-15). • Elijah doesn’t deny reality; he names it, laying the problem squarely before the Lord (Psalm 142:2). • Romans 8:28 peeks through the lines—God will weave this dark thread into a tapestry of glory when the boy is raised in the next verses. summary Elijah’s prayer in 1 Kings 17:20 captures raw emotion and unwavering faith. He cries out, appeals to the covenant name, questions God’s mysterious providence, honors the widow’s hospitality, and confronts the specter of death—all while expecting the Lord to act. The verse teaches that honest, faith-filled prayer holds nothing back, trusts God’s character, and anticipates His life-giving power even in the darkest moment. (20) Hast thou also brought evil.--Elijah's complaint is characteristic of the half-presumptuous impatience seen more fully in 1 Kings 19. He apparently implies that his own lot, as a hunted fugitive not protected by God's Almighty power, is so hard, that it must be his presence which has brought trouble even on the home that sheltered him.Verse 20. - And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, hast Thou also [i.e. in addition to the misery and suffering brought through me upon my country] brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying [Heb. to slay. Words. worth partly bases his conclusion that the child was dead on the inexact translation of the A.V.] her son?Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Then he cried outוַיִּקְרָ֥א (way·yiq·rā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the LORD, יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3069: YHWH “O LORD יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3069: YHWH my God, אֱלֹהָ֔י (’ĕ·lō·hāy) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative have You also הֲ֠גַם (hă·ḡam) Conjunction Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and brought tragedy הֲרֵע֖וֹתָ (hă·rê·‘ō·w·ṯā) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against this widow הָאַלְמָנָ֞ה (hā·’al·mā·nāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 490: A widow, a desolate place who has opened her home to me מִתְגּוֹרֵ֥ר (miṯ·gō·w·rêr) Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 1481: To turn aside from the road, sojourn, to shrink, fear, to gather for, hostility by causing לְהָמִ֥ית (lə·hā·mîṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Strong's 4191: To die, to kill her son {to die}?” בְּנָֽהּ׃ (bə·nāh) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 1121: A son Links 1 Kings 17:20 NIV1 Kings 17:20 NLT 1 Kings 17:20 ESV 1 Kings 17:20 NASB 1 Kings 17:20 KJV 1 Kings 17:20 BibleApps.com 1 Kings 17:20 Biblia Paralela 1 Kings 17:20 Chinese Bible 1 Kings 17:20 French Bible 1 Kings 17:20 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Kings 17:20 He cried to Yahweh and said Yahweh (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) |
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