What It Was
During famine, Elijah asked the widow of Zarephath for bread from her last handful of meal and “a little oil in a cruse.” As she trusted his word, “the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail,” feeding her household through the drought (1 Kings 17:12–16).
Biblical Significance & Symbolism
The never-failing cruse is a parable of faith: what is surrendered to God in obedience He multiplies. Jesus pointed to this same widow as a sign that God’s mercy reaches beyond Israel (Luke 4:25–26).
Timeline
The cruse of oil does not fail through the famine
Scripture References
2 verses1 Kings2 verses
1 Kings 17:14
For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. sendeth: Heb. giveth
1 Kings 17:16
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
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Frequently asked about The Widow’s Cruse of Oil
What was The Widow’s Cruse of Oil in the Bible?
The widow of Zarephath’s last jar of oil that miraculously never ran out through the famine.
What does The Widow’s Cruse of Oil symbolize?
God’s provision that outlasts the famine for those who trust him.
What does the name The Widow’s Cruse of Oil mean?
The name The Widow’s Cruse of Oil means “A small jar of oil that never ran dry”.
What was The Widow’s Cruse of Oil made of?
The Widow’s Cruse of Oil was made of a jar of oil and a handful of meal.
Where was The Widow’s Cruse of Oil kept?
The Widow’s Cruse of Oil was kept at Zarephath.
Where is The Widow’s Cruse of Oil first mentioned in the Bible?
The Widow’s Cruse of Oil is first mentioned in 1 Kings 17:14.
How often is The Widow’s Cruse of Oil mentioned in the Bible?
The Widow’s Cruse of Oil is mentioned in 2 verses across 1 book: 1 Kings.
What was the miracle of the cruse of oil?
The widow of Zarephath’s last oil and meal did not run out through the famine after she fed Elijah first, trusting God’s word (1 Kings 17:12–16).
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