And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

1 SAMUEL 1:21KJV
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1 Samuel 1:21 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 1:21 mean?

1 Samuel 1:21 describes how Elkanah, the husband of Hannah, took his entire household to go up to the sanctuary to offer the yearly sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill a vow he had made. This verse shows Elkanah’s commitment to following the religious customs and keeping promises made to God.

Elkanah is the main figure here, leading his family to Shiloh, where the tabernacle was located at that time. The yearly sacrifice was a regular religious event for Israelite families, and the mention of a "vow" suggests Elkanah had made a specific promise to God, likely in connection with his family’s prayers for a child. This sets the stage for the story of Samuel’s dedication to the LORD, which follows in the next verses.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 1:21

  • אִישׁ (ish, "man"): This word refers specifically to Elkanah as the head of the household, emphasizing his role as the responsible leader in spiritual matters.
  • בַּיִת (bayit, "house"): Here, "house" means not just the building but Elkanah’s whole family, showing that this was a family act of worship, not just an individual one.
  • נֶדֶר (neder, "vow"): The word for "vow" points to a solemn promise made to God, highlighting the seriousness with which Elkanah approached his relationship with the LORD.

Why 1 Samuel 1:21 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Israelite worship involved both regular, communal sacrifices and personal commitments or vows, showing both routine faithfulness and individual devotion.
  • The mention of Elkanah’s vow connects directly to the earlier story of Hannah’s prayer and vow, tying the family’s actions to God’s answer and setting up Samuel’s dedication.
  • By showing the whole household participating, the verse highlights the importance of family involvement in worship and spiritual commitments in ancient Israel.

Where else these words appear

“Elkanah” Hebrew H511 · used in 20 verses

  • Exodus 6:24 And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites.
  • 1 Samuel 2:11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
  • 1 Chronicles 6:34 The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,

“vow” Hebrew H5088 · used in 57 verses

  • Genesis 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
  • Numbers 30:5 But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her.
  • 2 Samuel 15:8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.

“offer” Hebrew H2076 · used in 127 verses

  • Genesis 31:54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
  • 1 Samuel 2:13 And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
  • 2 Chronicles 15:11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.