1 samuel 1:21 - The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

Generated Verse: 1 samuel 1:21

What does "1 samuel 1:21" mean?


This verse from 1 Samuel 1:21 describes Elkanah and his family fulfilling their religious obligations to God (Yahweh). Let's break it down:

"The man Elkanah, and all his house...": This establishes the subject – Elkanah and his entire household, which would include his wives (Hannah and Peninnah), children, and likely servants.

"...went up to offer to Yahweh...": They traveled to the designated place of worship (likely Shiloh, where the Tabernacle was located at this time) to make offerings to God.

"...the yearly sacrifice...": This refers to the annual sacrifices required by the Law of Moses. The specific type of sacrifice isn't mentioned, but it would likely have included burnt offerings, peace offerings, and sin offerings. This was a regular, scheduled religious observance.

"...and his vow.": This is particularly important. Elkanah had apparently made a vow to God. The vow might be related to a previous blessing or a promise he made. We don't know the specific content of the vow from this verse alone.

Context and Significance:

The importance of this verse lies within the larger narrative. Hannah, Elkanah's beloved but barren wife, had desperately prayed for a son. In 1 Samuel 1:11, she vowed to God that if He granted her a son, she would dedicate him to God's service. This verse is likely connected to that vow.

The fact that Elkanah is fulfilling both his yearly sacrifice and his vow suggests that Hannah's prayer has been answered. While not explicitly stated here, the reader knows (or soon learns) that Hannah is pregnant with Samuel.

In essence, this verse highlights Elkanah's piety, his commitment to fulfilling his religious duties, and prepares the reader for the upcoming fulfillment of Hannah's vow and the birth of Samuel, a pivotal figure in Israelite history.

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