Luke 4:25 Meaning and Explanation
“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;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus recalls the great famine of Elijah's day, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and many widows were in Israel.
What Does Luke 4:25 Mean?
He reaches for scriptural precedent. In the days of Elias, the Greek form of Elijah, the heavens were shut up three years and six months and famine covered the land. Israel in those years had no shortage of suffering widows; the weight of the verse falls on the one to whom the prophet was actually sent.
Jesus is reading Israel's own history back to Nazareth as a warning. Nearness to the things of God, even residence among them, has never by itself guaranteed receiving the prophet's blessing. Privilege can sit through a famine unfed while grace goes looking for hungry trust. The verses that follow will land the lesson, and the congregation will understand it immediately, and hate it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 4:25
What does Luke 4:25 mean?
Jesus recalls the great famine of Elijah's day, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and many widows were in Israel.