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Sunday, August 24th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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Read the Bible

1 Kings 17:21

Then he stretched himself out over the boy three times. He cried out to the Lord and said, “Lord my God, please let this boy’s life come into him again!” He stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to the LORD, and said, LORD my God, please let this child's soul come into him again. And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord , and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord , "O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again." Then Elijah lay on top of the boy three times. He prayed to the Lord , " Lord my God, let this boy live again!" He stretched out over the boy three times and called out to the Lord , "O Lord , my God, please let this boy's breath return to him." Then he stretched himself out upon the child three times, and called to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, please let this child's life return to him." Then he stretched himself out over the boy three times, and called to the LORD and said, "LORD, my God, please, let this boy's life return to him." And he stretched himselfe vpon the childe three times, and called vnto the Lord, and saide, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this childes soule come into him againe. Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to Yahweh and said, "O Yahweh my God, I pray You, let this child's life return to him." Elijah stretched himself out over the boy three times, while praying, " Lord God, bring this boy back to life!" He stretched himself out on the child three times and cried out to Adonai : " Adonai my God, please! Let this child's soul come back into him!" And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried to Jehovah and said, Jehovah, my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again! Then Elijah lay on top of the boy three times. He prayed, " Lord my God, let this boy live again!" Then he stretched himself upon the boy three times and cried to the LORD and said, O LORD my God, let this boys soul return to him again. Then Elijah stretched himself out on the boy three times and prayed, "O Lord my God, restore this child to life!" He stretched himself out on the child three times and called to Yahweh and said, "O Yahweh my God, please let the life of this child return within him." And he stretched himself on the child three times, and called to Jehovah and said, O Jehovah my God, I pray, let the soul of this boy return to him. And he stretched out him selfe ouer the childe thre tymes, & called vpon the LORDE, and saide: O LORDE my God, let the soule of this childe come agayne in to him. And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto Jehovah, and said, O Jehovah my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. And stretching herself out on the child three times, he made his prayer to the Lord, saying, O Lord my God, be pleased to let this child's life come back to him again. And he stretched him selfe vpon the childe three tymes, and called vnto the Lorde, and saide: O Lorde my God, I pray thee let this childes soule come into him againe. And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said: 'O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come back into him.' And he stretched himselfe vpon the child three times, and cried vnto the Lord, and said; O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this childes soule come into him againe. And he breathed on the child thrice, and called on the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, let, I pray thee, the soul of this child return to him. And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again. Then he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, please let this boy's life return to him!" He sprad abrood hym silf, and mat on the child bi thre tymes; and he cryede to the Lord, and seide, My Lord God, Y biseche, the soule of this child turne ayen in to the entrailis of hym. And he stretcheth himself out on the lad three times, and calleth unto Jehovah, and saith, `O Jehovah my God, let turn back, I pray Thee, the soul of this lad into his midst;' And he stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Yahweh, and said, O Yahweh my God, I pray you, let this child's soul come into him again. And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried to the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. He stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Yahweh, and said, Yahweh my God, please let this child's soul come into him again. And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him." And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord , "O Lord my God, please let this child's life return to him." Then he lay upon the child three times and called to the Lord, saying, "O Lord my God, I pray to You. Let this child's life return to him." Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the Lord , "O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again." And he stretched himself out upon the boy, three times, and cried unto Yahweh, and said, - O Yahweh, my God! Let the life of this boy, I pray thee, come again within him. And he stretched, and measured himself upon the child three times, and cried to the Lord, and said: O Lord, my God, let the soul of this child, I beseech thee, return into his body. Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this child's soul come into him again." And he stretches himself out on the boy three times, and calls to YHWH and says, "O YHWH my God, please let the soul of this boy return into his midst"; Three times he stretched himself out full-length on the boy, praying with all his might, " God , my God, put breath back into this boy's body!" God listened to Elijah's prayer and put breath back into his body—he was alive! Elijah picked the boy up, carried him downstairs from the loft, and gave him to his mother. "Here's your son," said Elijah, "alive!" Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, I pray You, let this child's life return to him."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Blessing;   Children;   Dead (People);   Elijah;   Hospitality;   Intercession;   Miracles;   Poor;   Women;   Zarephath;   Thompson Chain Reference - Association-Separation;   Contact;   Elijah;   Personal Contact;   Power;   Prayer;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Elijah;   Heal, Health;   Magic;   Miracle;   Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Eutychus;   Prayer;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Elijah;   Eutychus;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Diseases;   Elijah;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Prayer;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Resurrection;   Zarephath;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ahab;   Haggai;   Inwards, Inward Parts;   Medicine;   Prayer;   Zarephath;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Exorcism;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Miracles;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Elijah;   Zarephath;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Soul;   Stretch;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Israel;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Death;   Elijah;   Elisha;   Eschatology of the Old Testament (with Apocryphal and Apocalyptic Writings);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Amittai;   Numbers and Numerals;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then he stretched himself out over the boy three times. He cried out to the Lord and said, “Lord my God, please let this boy’s life come into him again!”
Hebrew Names Version
He stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to the LORD, and said, LORD my God, please let this child's soul come into him again.
King James Version
And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord , and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.
English Standard Version
Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord , "O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again."
New Century Version
Then Elijah lay on top of the boy three times. He prayed to the Lord , " Lord my God, let this boy live again!"
New English Translation
He stretched out over the boy three times and called out to the Lord , "O Lord , my God, please let this boy's breath return to him."
Amplified Bible
Then he stretched himself out upon the child three times, and called to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, please let this child's life return to him."
New American Standard Bible
Then he stretched himself out over the boy three times, and called to the LORD and said, "LORD, my God, please, let this boy's life return to him."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he stretched himselfe vpon the childe three times, and called vnto the Lord, and saide, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this childes soule come into him againe.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to Yahweh and said, "O Yahweh my God, I pray You, let this child's life return to him."
Contemporary English Version
Elijah stretched himself out over the boy three times, while praying, " Lord God, bring this boy back to life!"
Complete Jewish Bible
He stretched himself out on the child three times and cried out to Adonai : " Adonai my God, please! Let this child's soul come back into him!"
Darby Translation
And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried to Jehovah and said, Jehovah, my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again!
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Elijah lay on top of the boy three times. He prayed, " Lord my God, let this boy live again!"
George Lamsa Translation
Then he stretched himself upon the boy three times and cried to the LORD and said, O LORD my God, let this boys soul return to him again.
Good News Translation
Then Elijah stretched himself out on the boy three times and prayed, "O Lord my God, restore this child to life!"
Lexham English Bible
He stretched himself out on the child three times and called to Yahweh and said, "O Yahweh my God, please let the life of this child return within him."
Literal Translation
And he stretched himself on the child three times, and called to Jehovah and said, O Jehovah my God, I pray, let the soul of this boy return to him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he stretched out him selfe ouer the childe thre tymes, & called vpon the LORDE, and saide: O LORDE my God, let the soule of this childe come agayne in to him.
American Standard Version
And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto Jehovah, and said, O Jehovah my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.
Bible in Basic English
And stretching herself out on the child three times, he made his prayer to the Lord, saying, O Lord my God, be pleased to let this child's life come back to him again.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he stretched him selfe vpon the childe three tymes, and called vnto the Lorde, and saide: O Lorde my God, I pray thee let this childes soule come into him againe.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said: 'O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come back into him.'
King James Version (1611)
And he stretched himselfe vpon the child three times, and cried vnto the Lord, and said; O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this childes soule come into him againe.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he breathed on the child thrice, and called on the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, let, I pray thee, the soul of this child return to him.
English Revised Version
And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again.
Berean Standard Bible
Then he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, please let this boy's life return to him!"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
He sprad abrood hym silf, and mat on the child bi thre tymes; and he cryede to the Lord, and seide, My Lord God, Y biseche, the soule of this child turne ayen in to the entrailis of hym.
Young's Literal Translation
And he stretcheth himself out on the lad three times, and calleth unto Jehovah, and saith, `O Jehovah my God, let turn back, I pray Thee, the soul of this lad into his midst;'
Update Bible Version
And he stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Yahweh, and said, O Yahweh my God, I pray you, let this child's soul come into him again.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried to the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.
World English Bible
He stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Yahweh, and said, Yahweh my God, please let this child's soul come into him again.
New King James Version
And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him."
New Living Translation
And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord , "O Lord my God, please let this child's life return to him."
New Life Bible
Then he lay upon the child three times and called to the Lord, saying, "O Lord my God, I pray to You. Let this child's life return to him."
New Revised Standard
Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the Lord , "O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And he stretched himself out upon the boy, three times, and cried unto Yahweh, and said, - O Yahweh, my God! Let the life of this boy, I pray thee, come again within him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he stretched, and measured himself upon the child three times, and cried to the Lord, and said: O Lord, my God, let the soul of this child, I beseech thee, return into his body.
Revised Standard Version
Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this child's soul come into him again."
THE MESSAGE
Three times he stretched himself out full-length on the boy, praying with all his might, " God , my God, put breath back into this boy's body!" God listened to Elijah's prayer and put breath back into his body—he was alive! Elijah picked the boy up, carried him downstairs from the loft, and gave him to his mother. "Here's your son," said Elijah, "alive!"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, I pray You, let this child's life return to him."

Contextual Overview

17After this, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. His illness got worse until he stopped breathing. 17 It happened 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. 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. 17 After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 17 Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. He grew worse and worse and finally stopped breathing. 17 After this the son of the woman who owned the house got sick. His illness was so severe he could no longer breathe. 17It happened after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick; and his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 17 Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick; and his condition became very grave, until at the end he was no longer breathing. 17 And after these things, the sonne of the wife of the house fell sicke, and his sicknesse was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 17Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick; and his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

stretched himself: Heb. measured himself, 2 Kings 4:33-35, Acts 10:10

O Lord my God: Acts 9:40, Hebrews 11:19

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 4:34 - General 2 Kings 20:11 - cried unto Matthew 17:21 - but Luke 7:14 - Young Luke 8:55 - her spirit John 5:21 - as John 11:43 - Lazarus Acts 20:10 - and fell James 5:14 - pray

Cross-References

Genesis 17:2
I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly."
Genesis 17:2
And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
Genesis 17:2
so that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you exceedingly."
Genesis 17:2
I will make an agreement between us, and I will make you the ancestor of many people."
Genesis 17:2
Then I will confirm my covenant between me and you, and I will give you a multitude of descendants."
Genesis 17:2
"I will establish My covenant (everlasting promise) between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly [through your descendants]."
Genesis 17:2
"I will make My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly."
Genesis 17:2
And I will make my couenant betweene me and thee, & I will multiplie thee exceedingly.
Genesis 17:2
so that I may confirm My covenant between Me and you,And that I may multiply you exceedingly."
Genesis 17:2
I will keep my solemn promise to you and give you more descendants than can be counted."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he stretched himself upon the child three times,.... Or "measured himself" i on it, or put himself into a posture in some respects equal to the child; putting his mouth on its mouth, his eyes on its eyes, his hands on its hands, as Elisha afterwards did in a like case, perhaps in imitation of him, 2 Kings 4:34, thereby showing his great affection to the child, and in order to increase it the more, and to make him the more fervent and importunate in his prayers for its life; and hereby signifying also that he would if he could infuse his breath and life into it, and warm it with his own heat:

and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again: which shows that the child was really dead; and a proof this that the soul dies not with the body, but exists in a separate state without it.

i ויתמדד "et mensus est se", Pagninus, Montanus; "admensus se", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He stretched himself upon the child three times - This action of Elijah is different from that of Elisha (marginal reference), and does not imply the use of any natural means for the restoration of suspended animation. It is nearly parallel to the “touch,” through which our Lord performed similar miracles Matthew 9:25; Luke 7:14.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 17:21. Stretched himself upon the child three times — It is supposed that he did this in order to communicate some natural warmth to the body of the child, in order to dispose it to receive the departed spirit. Elisha, his disciple, did the same in order to restore the dead child of the Shunammite, 2 Kings 4:34. And St. Paul appears to have stretched himself on Eutychus in order to restore him to life, Acts 20:10.

Let this child's soul come into him again — Surely this means no more than the breath. Though the word נפש nephesh may sometimes signify the life, yet does not this imply that the spirit must take possession of the body in order to produce and maintain the flame of animal life? The expressions here are singular: Let his soul, נפש nephesh, come into him, על קרבו al kirbo, into the midst of him.


 
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