1 Samuel 1:21 kjv
And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
1 Samuel 1:21 nkjv
Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow.
1 Samuel 1:21 niv
When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow,
1 Samuel 1:21 esv
The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow.
1 Samuel 1:21 nlt
The next year Elkanah and his family went on their annual trip to offer a sacrifice to the LORD and to keep his vow.
1 Samuel 1 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 16:16 | “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place that he will choose... | Command for yearly pilgrimage to central sanctuary. |
| Ex 23:14 | “Three times in the year you shall keep a feast to me. | Israel's mandated annual feasts. |
| Ex 34:23 | Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. | Reinforcement of the pilgrimage requirement. |
| Lev 23 | Various verses describing the Lord's appointed feasts. | Details of the annual festival cycle requiring worship. |
| Psa 122:1, 4 | I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” ...the tribes go up... | The joy of pilgrimage to God's sanctuary. |
| Joshua 24:15 | “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” | Leadership in family commitment to God. |
| Gen 18:19 | For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord... | Patriarchal responsibility for family's spiritual guidance. |
| 1 Sam 1:3 | This man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh. | Establishes Elkanah's consistent practice. |
| 1 Sam 2:12, 17 | Now the sons of Eli were worthless men... they despised the Lord’s offering. | Contrast Elkanah's piety with corrupted worship. |
| Lev 1:1-17 | Detailed laws regarding different types of offerings and sacrifices. | Understanding the nature of the "sacrifice." |
| Deut 12:5-7 | But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose... there you shall bring your burnt offerings... | Significance of worship at God's chosen sanctuary. |
| Num 30:2 | If a man vows a vow to the Lord... he shall not break his word... | Instruction on the seriousness and fulfillment of vows. |
| Deut 23:21 | “If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it... | Commandment to fulfill vows without delay. |
| Eccl 5:4-5 | When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it... It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. | Wisdom concerning vows. |
| Psa 50:14 | Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High. | Linking sacrifice with fulfilling vows. |
| Psa 56:12 | I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. | Commitment to fulfilling divine promises. |
| Mal 1:6-8 | “A son honors his father... where is my honor?... when you offer blind animals in sacrifice...” | Calls out flawed or insincere worship, contrasting with Elkanah's faithfulness. |
| Heb 10:1-4 | For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never... perfect those who draw near. | Old Covenant sacrifices as a shadow, pointing to Christ. |
| Heb 13:15 | Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. | New Covenant application of 'sacrifice' (spiritual). |
| Matt 5:33 | “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ | Jesus' teaching on integrity in vows. |
| Luke 2:41-42 | Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover... when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. | Echoes the consistent, yearly pilgrimage tradition observed by faithful families. |
| Acts 18:18 | After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and sailed for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. | Vows were still practiced and fulfilled even in early Christianity by some. |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. | The Christian understanding of sacrifice as living a consecrated life. |
1 Samuel 1 verses
1 Samuel 1 21 Meaning
This verse details the consistent spiritual devotion of Elkanah and his household. It describes their annual pilgrimage to Shiloh, the central sanctuary of the Lord during that era. The purpose of this journey was two-fold: to offer the customary yearly sacrifice mandated by God's law, and specifically, to fulfill a personal vow made to the Lord. This action underscores Elkanah's piety, leadership in his family's spiritual life, and faithfulness to covenant obligations.
1 Samuel 1 21 Context
1 Samuel 1:21 is set within the opening chapter of the book of 1 Samuel, which introduces the significant figures of Samuel, his mother Hannah, and his father Elkanah. This specific verse occurs after Elkanah's poignant interaction with Hannah, where he comforted her and permitted her to remain home until their hoped-for son, Samuel, was weaned. It highlights Elkanah's ongoing commitment to faithful worship, even in the midst of personal familial distress and before God had fully answered his household's specific prayers. Historically, this period was within the time of the Judges, characterized by spiritual decline (Judges 21:25) and intermittent periods of revival. Shiloh served as the central place of worship, where the Ark of the Covenant was located (1 Sam 3:3), making pilgrimages there crucial for maintaining covenant fidelity, contrasting sharply with the general apostasy and moral decay seen in other parts of the era. The verse establishes Elkanah as a devout man who diligently performed the religious duties prescribed by the Mosaic Law.
1 Samuel 1 21 Word analysis
- And: Connects this action to the previous narrative, implying continuity in Elkanah’s life and responsibilities, even as Hannah remains home.
- the man: Emphasizes Elkanah's individual identity and personal devotion, highlighting his distinct role and commitment within the household.
- Elkanah: (Hebrew: אֶלְקָנָה, `Elqanah`, meaning "God has acquired" or "God has created/possessed"). His name is significant, reflecting the biblical truth that God is the giver of life, fitting for the story of Samuel's miraculous birth. His personal piety aligns with his name's meaning.
- went up: (Hebrew: וַיַּעַל, `vayya‘al`, from עָלָה, `alah` - to go up, ascend). This verb is customarily used for pilgrims journeying to a central sanctuary, often located on higher ground (like Shiloh or Jerusalem), indicating a physically and spiritually ascending movement towards God's dwelling place.
- with all his house: Encompasses his entire household—other wives, children (including possibly Peninnah and her children), and servants—signifying Elkanah's leadership in familial spiritual observances. It underscores his patriarchal responsibility to guide his family in worship and adherence to God's law.
- to offer: (Hebrew: לִזְבֹּחַ, `lizboakh`, from זָבַח, `zabakh` - to slaughter for sacrifice, offer a sacrifice). Denotes the act of presenting an animal sacrifice as an act of worship.
- to the Lord: (Hebrew: לַיהוָה, `la-YHWH`). Specifies the object of their worship and sacrifice is the one true God, the covenant God of Israel. This reinforces the singular focus of their devotion.
- the yearly: (Hebrew: הַיָּמִים, `hayyamim` - lit. "of the days," meaning yearly, from year to year). Indicates a customary, regular, and commanded annual observance. This refers to the feasts of Passover, Weeks, and Tabernacles (Deut 16:16).
- sacrifice: (Hebrew: זֶבַח, `zevach` - sacrifice). A general term, often referring to a peace offering (`zevach shlamim`), part of which was burned, but a portion was eaten by the worshippers as a communal meal, signifying fellowship with God.
- and his vow: (Hebrew: וְנִדְרוֹ, `venidro`, from נֶדֶר, `neder` - a vow). Refers to a specific, solemn promise made by Elkanah himself to God, distinct from the regular annual sacrifice. This was an additional, voluntary offering or commitment beyond what was commanded, indicating deep personal devotion and reverence for God's presence.
- "went up with all his house": This phrase demonstrates Elkanah's exemplary spiritual leadership within his family, ensuring that the entire household participated in acts of worship. This was not a solo endeavor but a communal expression of faith led by the patriarch.
- "the yearly sacrifice, and his vow": This pairing indicates both adherence to communal religious duty (the yearly pilgrimage sacrifice) and profound personal piety (the fulfillment of a specific vow). Elkanah models obedience to God's law and a fervent desire to go beyond the minimum requirements, emphasizing a comprehensive devotion.
1 Samuel 1 21 Bonus section
The concept of "going up" (alah) to Shiloh implies the central role of this sanctuary before the establishment of Jerusalem. It was not merely a physical ascent but a symbolic act of approaching the divine presence, underscoring the spiritual significance attached to the physical act of pilgrimage. Elkanah's faithfulness in upholding the yearly sacrifices and personal vows highlights a polemic against the growing apathy towards covenant obligations among some Israelites during the time of the Judges. It shows that even amidst national decline, pockets of true devotion remained, and God honors those who honor Him. This foundational piety within Elkanah's family paved the way for Samuel, a divinely appointed deliverer and prophet, whose birth and dedication were intrinsically linked to these very acts of worship and vow fulfillment by his parents.
1 Samuel 1 21 Commentary
1 Samuel 1:21 provides a vital snapshot of faithful covenant living in ancient Israel. Elkanah's consistent journey "up with all his house" to Shiloh illustrates responsible patriarchal leadership, where the head of the household actively facilitated and led the family in corporate worship according to God's statutes. His actions were not just perfunctory adherence to religious law; by combining "the yearly sacrifice" with "his vow," Elkanah demonstrated both commanded obedience and deeply personal, voluntary devotion. This steadfastness in pilgrimage and fulfillment of obligations serves as a powerful contrast to the rampant spiritual negligence often depicted in the book of Judges and implicitly sets the stage for the corruption of Eli’s sons, who "despised the Lord's offering" (1 Sam 2:17). Elkanah's worship here models integrity and dedication, providing a foundation for God to work within his family and eventually bring forth Samuel, the prophet who would change Israel's spiritual landscape.