STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

By the poor widow’s oil and meal The meal and Cruse of oil

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 36, under 1 Kings 17:16.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 36

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 7 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

1 Kings 17:16 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 7 stanzas as Newton printed them, with the verses their lines echo beside them. Point at a line to join it to its verse; click to read the passage.

SHARED WORDSthe verse shares the line's wording ECHOproposed by an AI model, confirmed by a separate check Not the author's own notes

AMONG THE SCRIPTURES

The stanzas at the centre; around them, every book its heading and its echoes come from, Old Testament on the left and New on the right. Choose a stanza or a book.

a line echoes this verse its heading or an echo comes from here

STANZA I

By the poor widow’s oil and meal

Elijah was sustained;

Though small the stock it lasted well,

For God the store maintained.

Where Newton found it

Newton printed the hymn under 1 Kings 17:16. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

The jar of flour was not exhausted and the jug of oil did not run dry, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through Elijah. 1 KINGS 17:16 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ 1 KINGS 17

By the poor widow’s oil and meal Elijah was sustained; Though small the stock it lasted well, For God the store maintained. STANZA I

Its place in the book

Book I of Olney Hymns walks through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, one hymn per passage: 141 hymns. This is number 36. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 36 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN By the poor widow’s oil and meal

Rooted in Scripture. Open for discovery.

A place to read slowly, ask deeply, and follow the connections. Scripture, study and the voices of Christian history, brought together for a lifetime of learning.

SPEND TIME IN THE WORD

  • Open the reader
  • Books & reading progress
  • Compare Scripture editions
  • Find a passage

FOLLOW YOUR QUESTIONS

  • Study collections
  • People & places
  • Faith & apologetics
  • Stories of faith

A library with a paper trail.

Meet the authors. Explore the collection. Trace each work to its source.

Download the code.

Open source on GitHub.