1 Samuel 1:1 kjv

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 1:1 nkjv

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

1 Samuel 1:1 niv

There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

1 Samuel 1:1 esv

There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.

1 Samuel 1:1 nlt

There was a man named Elkanah who lived in Ramah in the region of Zuph in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, of Ephraim.

1 Samuel 1 verses

1 Samuel 1 1 Meaning

1 Samuel 1:1 introduces the key figures and setting for the commencement of a new era in Israel's history. It states, "There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite." This verse establishes the specific geographical location and the lineage of Elkanah, the father of Samuel, the prophet who would anoint the first two kings of Israel. It immediately situates the unfolding drama within a tangible and relatable family context, emphasizing an individual's background before embarking on a momentous narrative.

1 Samuel 1 1 Context

1 Samuel 1:1 initiates the historical narrative following the chaotic period of the Judges, where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 21:25). The verse sets the stage by introducing an ordinary family within this turbulent era. It shifts the focus from grand, divinely raised judges to a humble household from whom God will raise a prophet, Samuel, to lead Israel into monarchy. This opening acts as a literary bridge, moving from localized, fragmented leadership to the centralized authority that will define the rest of Israel's history as recounted in Samuel and Kings. The mention of the "hill country of Ephraim" places the family in a central, but often volatile, region during the time of tribal fragmentation, setting the stage for a period of national reorganization.

1 Samuel 1 1 Word analysis

• There was a certain man (אישׁ אֶחָד, ish echad): This is a common literary device in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Judg 17:1, 19:1) used to introduce an individual around whom a significant story will unfold. It implies an "ordinary man" or "a particular individual" from the general populace, underscoring that God often begins His great works with seemingly unextraordinary people. This initial neutrality allows the divine purpose to shine through the narrative.

• Ramathaim-zophim (רָמָתַיִם צוֹפִים, Ramathayim Tzophim):

  • Ramathayim: Dual form of רָמָה (ramah), meaning "height" or "high place." It suggests "the two heights" or "double height."
  • Tzophim: Plural of צוֹפֶה (tzopheh), meaning "watchman" or "scout," related to the verb "to look out, spy out, keep watch."
  • Combined, it means "the two heights of the watchmen/scouts." This name is significant given Samuel's future role as a prophet, who functions as a "watchman" for God's people (Ezek 3:17, 33:7). The exact location is debated but often associated with Arimathea, hometown of Joseph of Arimathea. It hints at a place associated with vision or divine oversight.

• of the hill country of Ephraim (הַר אֶפְרָיִם, Har Ephrayim): A strategically important and densely populated region in central Israel, known for its fertility and for being home to many Levites, despite its primary tribal association. The hill country offered defensive advantages and was often a hub of independent tribal life, contributing to the decentralized nature of the Judges period. Its mention anchors the story geographically.

• whose name was Elkanah (אֶלְקָנָה, Elqanah): This name means "God has created/acquired" or "God has possessed." It foreshadows the unique circumstances of his son Samuel's birth – a son "acquired" or "loaned" by God in answer to a desperate prayer. The name itself reflects a theological statement about God's sovereign hand. It was a common name, particularly among the Levites (e.g., 1 Chr 6:22-28, 35-36).

• the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph: This detailed, five-generation lineage grounds Elkanah historically and tribally. It's a common biblical practice to establish the legitimacy and background of key figures by tracing their paternal line.

  • Jeroham: "He will be compassion" or "He will be exalted."
  • Elihu: "My God is He."
  • Tohu: "Utterance" or "A cry."
  • Zuph: Likely points to a significant ancestor, possibly a clan founder. 1 Chr 6 identifies Elkanah's ancestor as Zuph, from whom the family of the "Zuphites" is named.

• an Ephraimite (אֶפְרָתִי, Ephrathi): This detail is crucial for understanding the geographical vs. tribal identity in the Old Testament. While 1 Chronicles 6:22-28 explicitly identifies Elkanah as a Levite of the Kohathite clan, here he is called an "Ephraimite." This is best understood not as a contradiction, but as a geographical descriptor: he was a Levite (of a priestly clan) residing in the territory assigned to the tribe of Ephraim, as was common for Levites who did not receive their own territorial allotment but cities within other tribal lands (Josh 21). This distinction highlights the complex tribal and residential dynamics of Israel.

1 Samuel 1 1 Bonus section

• The detail of the father's lineage up to Zuph confirms Elkanah's belonging to a known family line that resided in the vicinity of Ramah. This connects to 1 Chr 6:35-36, which details Elkanah's Levitical lineage through Zuph. Such precise genealogies served to authenticate the historical figures and their claims, demonstrating a continuity with Israel's past covenants and traditions.
• The placement of this seemingly "normal" family in the hill country of Ephraim is also significant because this region became known for hosting important cultic sites and playing a major role in Israelite history, later becoming the political heartland of the Northern Kingdom. It shows God often acts within specific, perhaps unremarkable, locales to initiate significant changes in His covenant people.
• The introduction, beginning with "there was a certain man," immediately focuses on the individual and his household rather than national events. This sets a narrative pattern where God's national purposes are often actualized through personal and familial struggles and divine interventions within individual lives.

1 Samuel 1 1 Commentary

1 Samuel 1:1, though simple, lays vital groundwork. It immediately draws the reader into the story by introducing Elkanah, a seemingly ordinary man, whose ordinary life in a specified location will soon intersect with extraordinary divine intervention. The verse provides precise genealogical details, anchoring the narrative in reality and demonstrating the importance of lineage in ancient Israelite society. The seeming tension between Elkanah being called an "Ephraimite" and his Levitical lineage (from 1 Chron) is resolved by understanding "Ephraimite" as a geographical rather than ancestral identifier; he was a Levite living in Ephraim. This also foreshadows the prominent role of Ephraim in subsequent biblical history as a key region for prophetic activity and later, the northern kingdom. The careful opening sets a quiet scene, a normal family life, preparing for the dramatic, divine answer to barrenness, leading to the birth of the prophet Samuel, whose life will inaugurate the transition from the era of Judges to that of kingship in Israel. It underscores that God often works through established human frameworks, picking a specific family and place as the starting point for His sovereign plan for an entire nation.