Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

1 SAMUEL 1:1KJV
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1 Samuel 1:1 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 1:1 mean?

1 Samuel 1:1 introduces a man named Elkanah, who lived in the region of Ramathaimzophim in the hill country of Ephraim, and traces his family line back through several generations, ending with Zuph, calling him an Ephrathite. This verse sets the stage for the story by identifying Elkanah’s background and family heritage.

The verse is the opening line of the book of 1 Samuel, which begins with the story of Samuel’s family. The writer is giving the reader a clear sense of who Elkanah is, where he comes from, and his ancestry. This kind of introduction was important in ancient Israel to show a person’s place in the community and to connect the coming story to a real family and location.

Where else these words appear

“Zuph” Hebrew H6689 · used in 4 verses

  • 1 Samuel 9:5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
  • 1 Chronicles 6:26 As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophai his son, and Nahath his son,
  • 1 Chronicles 6:35 The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,

“Ephrathite” Hebrew H673 · used in 5 verses

  • Judges 12:5 And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;
  • Ruth 1:2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
  • 1 Samuel 17:12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.

“Jeroham” Hebrew H3395 · used in 10 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 6:27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.
  • 1 Chronicles 9:8 And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;
  • 1 Chronicles 27:22 Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.

“Elihu” Hebrew H453 · used in 11 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 12:20 As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.
  • Job 32:2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
  • Job 32:6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.