King James Version

What Does 1 Kings 17:18 Mean?

1 Kings 17:18 in the King James Version says “And 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 rememb...” — study this verse from 1 Kings chapter 17 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And 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?”

1 Kings 17:18 · KJV

Context

16

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. by: Heb. by the hand of

17

And 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.

18

And 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?

19

And 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.

20

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?

Read 1 Kings 17 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And 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?

This verse contributes to the broader narrative of elijah and the drought, within the book's focus on prophetic ministry of Elijah confronting Baalism. The prophetic office represents God's faithful witness even in apostasy, calling His people back to covenant faithfulness.

The Hebrew text reveals nuances important for understanding this passage's contribution to 1 Kings' theological message about kingship, covenant, and faithfulness to Yahweh. This verse demonstrates the consequences when God's people—especially their leaders—either follow or forsake the covenant established at Sinai.

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Historical & Cultural Context

First Kings was written during or after the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE), reflecting on the monarchy period (10th-9th centuries BCE) to explain why the kingdoms fell. Elijah's ministry (c. 860-850 BCE) occurred during Ahab's reign, a time of intense spiritual crisis in Israel.

Ancient Near Eastern kingship ideology viewed kings as divine representatives responsible for maintaining cosmic order through right worship. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Megiddo, Hazor, and Samaria confirm the historical reliability of 1 Kings' descriptions of building projects and administrative structures.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this passage illustrate the importance of complete obedience to God's word without compromise?
  2. What does Elijah's ministry reveal about God's character and His commitment to His covenant people?
  3. How does this verse point toward or prepare for the coming of Christ and His eternal kingdom?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙1 of 16

“And she said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶל2 of 16
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ3 of 16

“unto Elijah”

H452

elijah, the name of the famous prophet and of two other israelites

מַה4 of 16
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

לִּ֥י5 of 16
H0
וָלָ֖ךְ6 of 16
H0
אִ֣ישׁ7 of 16

“What have I to do with thee O thou man”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים8 of 16

“of God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

בָּ֧אתָ9 of 16

“art thou come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

אֵלַ֛י10 of 16
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

לְהַזְכִּ֥יר11 of 16

“to remembrance”

H2142

properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male

אֶת12 of 16
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

עֲוֹנִ֖י13 of 16

“my sin”

H5771

perversity, i.e., (moral) evil

וּלְהָמִ֥ית14 of 16

“and to slay”

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

אֶת15 of 16
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

בְּנִֽי׃16 of 16

“my son”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Kings. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Kings 17:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Kings 17:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Luke 5:82 Kings 3:13Luke 4:34John 2:42 Samuel 16:101 Kings 13:1

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