And you are to drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
Parallel translations
- WEB You shall drink from the brook. I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
- KJV And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
- NKJV And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
- NASB And it shall be that you will drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide food for you there.”
- NLT Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God promises to sustain Elijah at the brook, commanding ravens to bring him food.
Overview
The Lord assures Elijah of provision: water from the brook and food delivered by ravens, birds normally regarded as unclean and scavenging. That God commands even ravens to serve His prophet displays His sovereign control over all creation. This wilderness provision recalls the manna of the exodus and foreshadows Jesus' teaching that the heavenly Father feeds the birds and will surely care for His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 1 Kgs 17:9“Get up and go to Zarephath of Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”
- Ps 147:9He provides food for the animals, and for the young ravens when they call.
- Job 38:41Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God as they wander about for lack of food?
- Matt 4:4But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
- 1 Kgs 19:5–8Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”
- Ps 33:8–9Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him.
- Matt 4:11Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.
- Job 38:8–13Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,
- Job 34:29But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,
- Num 20:8“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”
- Amos 9:3–4Though they hide themselves atop Carmel, there I will track them and seize them; and though they hide from Me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Solomon's glory, wisdom, and temple where God's presence dwells are a shadow of the greater Son of David — 'one greater than Solomon is here' — and of the true Temple, Christ himself.
How 1 Kings 17:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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