And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.

1 SAMUEL 2:20KJV
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1 Samuel 2:20 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 2:20 mean?

1 Samuel 2:20 describes Eli, the priest, blessing Elkanah and his wife after they visited the tabernacle, asking that the LORD would give them more children because they had given their son Samuel to serve God. The verse shows Eli’s recognition of their sacrifice and his prayer that God would reward them for dedicating Samuel.

Eli is speaking to Elkanah and his wife, Hannah, after they have brought Samuel to serve at the house of the LORD in Shiloh. The phrase “for the loan which is lent to the LORD” refers to Hannah’s earlier promise to dedicate Samuel to God’s service. Eli’s blessing is both a prayer and a recognition of their faithfulness, and the verse ends by noting that Elkanah and Hannah returned to their home.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 2:20

  • “Blessed” (בָּרַךְ, barakh): This word means to speak a good word over someone, often calling for God’s favor. Eli’s blessing here is a formal, priestly act, not just a casual wish.
  • “Loan” (שְׁאֵלָה, she’elah) and “lent” (שָׁאַל, sha’al): Both words come from the same root, meaning “to ask” or “to request.” The text plays on the idea that Samuel was “asked” from God and then “given back” or “loaned” to God’s service, highlighting the intentionality of Hannah’s dedication.
  • “Seed” (זֶרַע, zera’): This word means “offspring” or “descendants.” Eli’s prayer is specifically for more children, not just general blessing.

Why 1 Samuel 2:20 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Hannah’s act of giving Samuel to the LORD was seen as a significant, sacrificial offering, not just a personal vow.
  • Eli’s blessing connects the family’s faithfulness to God’s ongoing care, showing that acts of devotion are noticed and valued in the community.
  • The play on words with “asked” and “loaned” ties back to Samuel’s name and story, emphasizing the theme of answered prayer and dedication in the larger narrative.

Where else these words appear

“loan” Hebrew H7596 · used in 14 verses

  • Judges 8:24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey.(For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
  • 1 Kings 2:20 Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.
  • Esther 7:2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.

“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 1:23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
  • 1 Chronicles 6:34 The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,

“Eli” Hebrew H5941 · used in 30 verses

  • 1 Samuel 1:3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
  • 1 Samuel 2:22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
  • 1 Samuel 3:15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.