Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Kings 17:21. It’s a really powerful and dramatic passage about God’s care for the prophet Elijah. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: Elijah was prophesying to King Ahab and his followers, who were trying to kill him. They were determined to stop him from speaking truth. God, saddened by this, decided to intervene. What Happened Next: “He stretched himself upon the child three times…” - This is a very strange image. God is essentially surrounding the child with his own being – he’s pushing himself into the child's space. It's like a giant, divine hand enveloping the child. “…and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again.” - This is the core of the verse. Elijah is pleading with God to take the child back into his presence. He’s saying, “Lord, please bring this child back to you!” What it Means – A Deeper Look: God’s Concern: The verse shows that God deeply cares about the child and the message he's trying to deliver. He doesn’t want the child to be harmed or silenced. A Plea for Restoration: Elijah is essentially begging God to restore the child to his divine power and protection. It’s a desperate plea for the child to be safe and shielded from harm. Symbolic Representation: Many people interpret this as a symbolic representation of God’s protective presence. It's like a guardian angel or divine shield enveloping the child. In short, it’s a story about a desperate plea from a prophet – asking for God to safeguard his message and protect his child. --- Do you want me to: Explain another Bible verse? Discuss the context of this passage in more detail? Or would you like me to provide a little background on the story of Elijah and Ahab?