Luke 4:26 Meaning and Explanation
“But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Yet Elijah was sent to none of Israel's widows, but to a widow of Zarephath in the country of Sidon.
What Does Luke 4:26 Mean?
Sarepta, or Zarephath, lay on the Phoenician coast near Sidon, outside Israel altogether and deep in the homeland of Baal worship. There a starving Gentile widow shared her last handful of meal with the prophet and found her barrel unspent and her cruse of oil unfailing.
God's mercy travels past the borders his people assume contain it. The widow had no pedigree and no claim, nothing but need and a willingness to trust the word God sent her, and it was enough. Luke, who will go on to write the book of Acts, lets the old story foreshadow the gospel's journey to the nations. Grace has always been wider than its hosts expected, and it still is.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 4:26
What does Luke 4:26 mean?
Yet Elijah was sent to none of Israel's widows, but to a widow of Zarephath in the country of Sidon.