King James Version

What Does Luke 4:25 Mean?

Luke 4:25 in the King James Version says “But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and ... — study this verse from Luke chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

Luke 4:25 · KJV


Context

23

And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

24

And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

25

But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

26

But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

27

And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months. Jesus uses the prophetic formula ep' alētheias legō hymin (ἐπ' ἀληθείας λέγω ὑμῖν, in truth I tell you) to introduce a confrontational historical example. He references the drought during Elijah's ministry (1 Kings 17-18), when God sovereignly chose to send the prophet to a Gentile widow rather than to Israelite widows.

The phrase "heaven was shut up" translates ekleisthē ho ouranos (ἐκλείσθη ὁ οὐρανός), emphasizing divine judgment—God closed heaven, withholding rain as covenantal curse for Israel's apostasy under Ahab and Jezebel. The drought lasted eniautous treis kai mēnas hex (ἐνιαυτοὺς τρεῖς καὶ μῆνας ἕξ, three years and six months), matching James 5:17. God's sovereignty in choosing whom to bless becomes the central issue.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Elijah ministered during Israel's darkest apostasy under King Ahab (874-853 BC), who married the Phoenician princess Jezebel and institutionalized Baal worship. The drought was God's judgment demonstrating YHWH's sovereignty over weather (which Baal supposedly controlled). First Kings 17:1 records Elijah's pronouncement; 1 Kings 18:1 indicates the drought lasted into the third year. Jesus' "three years and six months" may round the duration or reflect Jewish traditional interpretation. The scandal is that God bypassed suffering Israelite widows to sustain a Gentile widow in Zarephath (Sidon)—Jezebel's homeland, no less!

Reflection Questions

  1. What does God's choice to bless a Gentile widow while Israelite widows suffered reveal about divine sovereignty and grace?
  2. How does this example challenge assumptions about deserving God's blessings based on ethnicity or religious heritage?
  3. Why would Jesus' citation of this example enrage His Nazareth audience?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 33 words
ἐπὶ1 of 33

of

G1909

properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re

ἀληθείας2 of 33

a truth

G225

truth

δὲ3 of 33

But

G1161

but, and, etc

λέγω4 of 33

I tell

G3004

properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an

ὑμῖν5 of 33

you

G5213

to (with or by) you

πολλαὶ6 of 33

many

G4183

(singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely

χῆραι7 of 33

widows

G5503

a widow (as lacking a husband), literally or figuratively

ἦσαν8 of 33

were

G2258

i (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)

ἐν9 of 33

in

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

ταῖς10 of 33
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἡμέραις11 of 33

the days

G2250

day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of

Ἠλίου12 of 33

of Elias

G2243

helias (i.e., elijah), an israelite

ἐν13 of 33

in

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

τῷ14 of 33
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ἰσραήλ15 of 33

Israel

G2474

israel (i.e., jisrael), the adopted name of jacob, including his descendants (literally or figuratively)

ὅτε16 of 33

when

G3753

at which (thing) too, i.e., when

ἐκλείσθη17 of 33

was shut up

G2808

to close (literally or figuratively)

18 of 33
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

οὐρανὸς19 of 33

the heaven

G3772

the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of god); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the gospel (christianity)

ἐπὶ20 of 33

of

G1909

properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re

ἔτη21 of 33

years

G2094

a year

τρία22 of 33

three

G5140

"three"

καὶ23 of 33

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

μῆνας24 of 33

months

G3376

a month

ἕξ,25 of 33

six

G1803

six

ὡς26 of 33

when

G5613

which how, i.e., in that manner (very variously used, as follows)

ἐγένετο27 of 33

was

G1096

to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)

λιμὸς28 of 33

famine

G3042

a scarcity of food

μέγας29 of 33

great

G3173

big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)

ἐπὶ30 of 33

of

G1909

properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re

πᾶσαν31 of 33

all

G3956

all, any, every, the whole

τὴν32 of 33
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

γῆν33 of 33

the land

G1093

soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application)


Study Guide

Historical Context

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

Theological Significance

Luke 4:25 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 Luke 4:25 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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