1 Samuel 1 23

1 Samuel 1:23 kjv

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 Samuel 1:23 nkjv

So Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the LORD establish His word." Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

1 Samuel 1:23 niv

"Do what seems best to you," her husband Elkanah told her. "Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good his word." So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

1 Samuel 1:23 esv

Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the LORD establish his word." So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.

1 Samuel 1:23 nlt

"Whatever you think is best," Elkanah agreed. "Stay here for now, and may the LORD help you keep your promise. " So she stayed home and nursed the boy until he was weaned.

1 Samuel 1 verses

1 Samuel 1 23 Meaning

Elkanah's statement to Hannah reflects a supportive and devout response to her vow concerning their son, Samuel. He grants her full discretion and patience to nurture Samuel until the natural conclusion of his infancy, the time of weaning. His concluding plea, "Only may the Lord establish his word," transforms a practical family discussion into an affirmation of faith, acknowledging that the ultimate fulfillment and enduring purpose of their vow and Samuel's life depend upon God's sovereign plan and His faithfulness to bring about His divine intentions.

1 Samuel 1 23 Context

First Samuel chapter 1 introduces Hannah's profound distress due to barrenness and her desperate prayer and vow to the Lord for a son. This takes place during Elkanah's annual pilgrimage to Shiloh, the primary site of the tabernacle and central worship for Israel at that time, under the ineffective priesthood of Eli. Hannah's vow was extraordinary: if God would grant her a son, she would dedicate him as a Nazirite for his entire life to the Lord's service. Verse 23 occurs after Samuel's birth and naming, as Hannah prepares for the journey to Shiloh to fulfill her vow. It highlights Elkanah's crucial role as her supportive and understanding husband, granting her the necessary practical delay and affirming the spiritual significance of her commitment to God. This passage sets the stage for Samuel's unique role as a prophet and judge in Israel, directly shaped by this pivotal family decision rooted in faith.

1 Samuel 1 23 Word analysis

• Elkanah (אֶלְקָנָה 'Elqanah): The name means "God has created" or "God has possessed." He acts as a faithful and compassionate husband, enabling Hannah's spiritual commitment.
• her husband (אִישָׁהּ 'ishah): This emphasizes his role and authority within the family, exercised here with wisdom, trust, and understanding. His agreement was essential for a wife's vow to stand (Num 30:6-8).
• said to her (וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ vayyō’mer lah): Indicates direct and clear communication, showing Elkanah's active engagement and not just passive agreement.
• “Do what seems best to you” (עֲשִׂי הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינַיִךְ 'asī haṭṭōḇ bəʿēnayiḵ): Literally, "do the good in your eyes." This conveys deep trust in Hannah's judgment and empathy for her maternal duties, particularly given Samuel's young age. It grants her the practical discretion regarding the timing of fulfilling the vow.
• wait (שֵׁבִי šêḇī, from יָשַׁב yāšaḇ): "To sit, to remain, to stay." Implies allowing her to stay with the child and nurture him for a specified period, emphasizing patience and appropriate timing.
• until you have weaned him (עַד גָּמְלָהּ אֹתוֹ ʿaḏ gāmlāh ’ōṯō): Weaning was a significant cultural milestone, marking a child's transition from full dependence on the mother to greater independence. It typically occurred between two to three years of age, though sometimes later in that culture, signifying a full-term commitment and ensuring Samuel's physical readiness for separation.
• Only (רַק raq): An emphatic particle, drawing attention to the subsequent clause, emphasizing the crucial spiritual condition.
• may the Lord establish his word (אַךְ יָקֵם יְהוָה אֶת־דְּבָרוֹ 'aḵ yāqēm YHWH ’eṯ-dəḇārō):
  • Lord (יְהוָה YHWH): The covenant name of God, indicating a relationship and His specific interaction with Israel.
  • establish (יָקֵם yāqēm, from קוּם qûm): To cause to stand, confirm, fulfill, bring to pass, raise up, or bring into existence. This is a powerful verb, implying divine action and enduring validity. It means more than merely keeping a promise; it's making a reality.
  • his word (דְּבָרוֹ dəḇārō): This "word" can refer to God's previous promise to Hannah (implicitly fulfilling her prayer for a son), God's specific purpose for Samuel's life and future ministry, or it could even refer to Hannah's own word (vow) to God, which God would enable to be established and validated through His blessing. The context strongly points to God's own declared purpose for Samuel, which Samuel would later embody (e.g., 1 Sam 3:19).

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him”: This phrase reflects Elkanah's practical wisdom, compassion, and trust in his wife. He understands the natural process of nurturing a child and prioritizes Samuel's well-being and Hannah's role as mother, without undermining the spiritual vow. This discretion prevents a hasty, potentially harmful, separation of the infant from his mother.
• “Only may the Lord establish his word”: This crucial concluding clause elevates the human agreement into a divine aspiration. Elkanah is not just passively agreeing; he's actively praying or declaring his faith. He acknowledges that while their part involves fulfilling the vow, its ultimate significance and success are contingent on God bringing His sovereign purpose to fruition through Samuel. This prayer anticipates God's faithfulness in raising Samuel to be a prominent prophet and judge, fulfilling a larger divine plan for Israel.

1 Samuel 1 23 Bonus section

• Elkanah's faith, as evidenced by his prayer for God to "establish His word," subtly contrasts with the corrupt and ineffective priesthood of Eli's sons (Hophni and Phinehas), who failed to honor God's word and law. This contrast foreshadows the coming change in spiritual leadership, with Samuel being raised by God as a righteous alternative.
• The delay until weaning was crucial for Samuel's physical and perhaps even initial mental development, preparing him for the significant separation from his family and the lifelong dedication to the Lord's service within the tabernacle at Shiloh. Weaning in that culture was often a momentous event, sometimes marked by a feast (Gen 21:8), signifying readiness for a new stage of life.
• The Hebrew verb "qum" (establish, raise up) for God's word is used throughout Scripture in significant contexts, such as God raising up a king, confirming a covenant, or making a prophet's words come true. Here, it underscores that God will validate and fulfill His specific purpose for Samuel, beyond merely blessing Hannah's human promise. This demonstrates that God was intricately involved in the calling of Samuel even before his full dedication.

1 Samuel 1 23 Commentary

Elkanah's response to Hannah concerning Samuel’s dedication is a model of godly marital partnership and parental wisdom. He demonstrates compassionate understanding for Hannah's role as a mother, wisely permitting her to nurture their infant until Samuel is weaned—a period often spanning several years. This practical concession acknowledges the physical and emotional needs of both mother and child without diminishing the sacred nature of the vow. The pivotal phrase, "Only may the Lord establish his word," transforms a spousal agreement into a profound declaration of faith. Elkanah understands that human vows, while vital, are ultimately effectual only as they align with and are empowered by God's overarching purpose. This isn't merely a hope that Hannah's vow would be kept; it is an earnest desire and prayer that God's divine will, concerning Samuel and through Samuel for Israel, would indeed stand firm and be brought to pass. It sets the stage for Samuel to become a true prophet, whose words would be "established" by the Lord, and who would be used to establish God's covenant purposes in the land (1 Sam 3:19-21). This brief verse thus powerfully conveys spousal unity, patient discretion, and an ultimate reliance on God's sovereignty for the fulfillment of spiritual commitments.