The Meaning of 1 Kings 17:16 Explained

1 Kings 17:16

KJV: And 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.

YLT: the pitcher of meal was not consumed, and the dish of oil did not lack, according to the word of Jehovah that He spake by the hand of Elijah.

Darby: The meal in the barrel did not waste, neither did the oil in the cruse fail, according to the word of Jehovah which he had spoken through Elijah.

ASV: The jar of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake by Elijah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[And] 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. 

What does 1 Kings 17:16 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 17:8-16 - The Jar Of Meal That Wasted Not
Even at Cherith we cannot be exempt from trial, and it is hard to sit beside a gradually dwindling brook. But God always provides. None of them that trust in Him shall be desolate. Whether the visible agents are ravens, or a poor heathen widow ready to perish, it matters little. God's majestic "I have commanded" is enough. Whether it is ordinary or extraordinary, natural or supernatural, through Jew or Gentile, God's purpose does not tarry.
Gentile help supplied what Israel might not give, Luke 4:25-26. God uses the weak and foolish things as well as those which are not, 1 Corinthians 1:28. Yet there were noble qualities in this woman. She did not complain, but went at once for the water; she was generous and hospitable, and believed that God would supply their need. How little did she realize the greatness of her reward, Matthew 10:41-42! But her faith was great. She stood the test of making Elijah's cake first, believing that afterward there would be enough for herself and her son. Though she little understood it, she had within her a spark of the same fire that burned in the soul of the great prophet; and therefore, when we all stand in our lot at the end of the days, Daniel 12:13, her portion will be with the great prophets and heroes of faith. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 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

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 17:16 mean?

Bin of the flour not was used up and jar of the oil nor did run dry according to the word of Yahweh which He spoke by Elijah -
כַּ֤ד הַקֶּ֙מַח֙ לֹ֣א כָלָ֔תָה וְצַפַּ֥חַת הַשֶּׁ֖מֶן לֹ֣א חָסֵ֑ר כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר בְּיַ֥ד אֵלִיָּֽהוּ פ

כַּ֤ד  Bin 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: כַּד  
Sense: jar, large jar (portable).
הַקֶּ֙מַח֙  of  the  flour 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶמַח  
Sense: flour, meal, meal flour.
כָלָ֔תָה  was  used  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: כָּלָה  
Sense: to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent.
וְצַפַּ֥חַת  and  jar 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: צַפַּחַת  
Sense: jar, jug (for liquids).
הַשֶּׁ֖מֶן  of  the  oil 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁמֶן  
Sense: fat, oil.
לֹ֣א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
חָסֵ֑ר  did  run  dry 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָסֵר  
Sense: in need of, lacking, needy, in want of.
כִּדְבַ֣ר  according  to  the  word 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
יְהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
דִּבֶּ֖ר  He  spoke 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אֵלִיָּֽהוּ  Elijah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵלִיָּה 
Sense: the great prophet of the reign of Ahab.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation