1 Samuel 1:4 kjv
And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
1 Samuel 1:4 nkjv
And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.
1 Samuel 1:4 niv
Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.
1 Samuel 1:4 esv
On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.
1 Samuel 1:4 nlt
On the days Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her children.
1 Samuel 1 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 3:1 | "Now if his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering..." | Explains the nature of peace/fellowship offerings. |
| Lev 7:15 | "The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering for thanksgiving..." | Peace offerings often involved shared meals. |
| Deut 12:5-7 | "...go to the place that the Lord your God will choose...there you shall bring your burnt offerings...and there you shall eat before the Lord your God..." | Mandate for offering and feasting at a chosen sanctuary. |
| Deut 12:17-18 | "You may not eat within your towns the tithe...but you shall eat them before the Lord your God in the place that the Lord your God will choose..." | Emphasizes eating sacrificial meals in a sacred place. |
| Neh 8:10 | "Go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready..." | Illustrates the practice of sharing portions from feasts. |
| 1 Cor 10:18 | "Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?" | Eating sacrificial meat signifies participation. |
| Gen 16:4-6 | "And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived...Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you!...”" | Illustrates marital tension from polygamy/barrenness. |
| Gen 29:30-31 | "So Jacob went in to Rachel also...when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren." | Highlights the sorrow of barrenness amidst favored wives. |
| Gen 30:1-2 | "When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister...Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God...”" | Depicts the deep longing for children and God's role. |
| Deut 21:15-17 | "If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have had children..." | Legal provision recognizing issues with multiple wives. |
| Mal 2:14-15 | "But you say, ‘Why?’ Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth...and what does that one God seek? Godly offspring." | Highlights God's design for one-flesh union and godly offspring. |
| Gen 20:18 | "For the Lord had closed every womb of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah..." | God's sovereignty over the womb. |
| Gen 29:31 | "When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren." | God's direct involvement in opening/closing wombs. |
| Gen 30:22 | "Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb." | God's power to grant conception. |
| Ruth 4:13 | "So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife...And the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son." | Emphasizes God's role in conception. |
| Psa 113:9 | "He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children..." | God's compassion and ability to reverse barrenness. |
| Psa 127:3 | "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." | Children are a gift and blessing from the Lord. |
| Luke 1:13 | "But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son...'" | God hears prayers and grants children (like Samuel's parallel). |
| 1 Sam 1:5 | "But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved Hannah..." | Immediately follows, highlighting Hannah's contrast. |
| 1 Sam 1:6 | "And her rival used to provoke her sorely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb." | Reveals the deeper pain caused by Peninnah's rivalry. |
| 1 Sam 2:5 | "Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger; the barren has borne seven, but she who had many children is forlorn." | Hannah's later song reflects the reversal of fortunes. |
| Rev 19:9 | "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." | Theological echo of joyous communal feasts with God. |
1 Samuel 1 verses
1 Samuel 1 4 Meaning
This verse describes a regular practice of Elkanah, Elkanah, going annually to Shiloh to offer sacrifices to the Lord. It specifically details his distribution of portions from the sacrificial meal to his wife Peninnah, along with all her sons and daughters, setting the immediate context for the subsequent verses concerning Hannah's unique situation. It portrays Elkanah as a devout man fulfilling his religious duties as the head of his household.
1 Samuel 1 4 Context
This verse is situated early in 1 Samuel, introducing the family of Elkanah and establishing the primary domestic tension that drives the narrative of Samuel's birth: the rivalry between Elkanah’s two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Elkanah’s annual pilgrimage to Shiloh, the central worship place where the tabernacle was located, was a significant religious observance. These sacrifices, specifically fellowship (peace) offerings, involved a shared meal among the worshippers and their families, signifying communion with God. This annual tradition sets the stage for Elkanah's demonstration of piety and simultaneously exposes the marital dynamics, particularly Hannah's barrenness in contrast to Peninnah's fruitfulness.
1 Samuel 1 4 Word analysis
- On the day when: The phrase "On the day when" (Hebrew: b'yom asher) denotes a specific, recurring occasion. It highlights the annual, regular nature of Elkanah's pilgrimage to Shiloh for the sacrifice, underscoring his consistent religious observance and adherence to Mosaic Law, where communal worship involved appointed times.
- Elkanah: (Hebrew: Elqanah, meaning "God has created" or "God has acquired/possessed"). Elkanah is depicted as a devout man and the patriarch of his family. His name is significant, reflecting the divine hand in life, a theme echoed in Samuel's later birth. His role here is that of the head of the household leading his family in worship and offering, fulfilling a priestly function within his own kin.
- sacrificed: (Hebrew: zavach, a verb indicating the act of slaughtering an animal for sacrifice). This refers specifically to the bringing of a zevach shlamim or peace offering, which included a communal meal. Unlike burnt offerings that were entirely consumed, portions of peace offerings were shared among the worshippers, the priests, and God. This act signified fellowship, thanksgiving, and communion with God.
- he would give: (Hebrew: vayyitten, a form indicating repeated action). This signifies a customary, established practice rather than a one-time event. Elkanah habitually performed this distribution. It points to his leadership in domestic and spiritual matters, ensuring each family member received their due part from the sacred meal.
- portions: (Hebrew: manot, referring to a share, allocation, or division of food). These were designated parts of the animal killed for the peace offering. The proper distribution of these portions was crucial. The subsequent verses reveal the significance of these portions in terms of familial status and affection, particularly how Elkanah distributed them to Hannah differently.
- Peninnah his wife: (Hebrew: Peninnah, meaning "pearl" or "coral"). She is introduced as one of Elkanah's two wives. The immediate mention of her name indicates her distinct role within the household and foreshadows the rivalry (cf. 1 Sam 1:6). Her very presence highlights the practice of polygamy during that period, which often led to household strife as seen in the narratives of Abraham and Jacob.
- and to all her sons and daughters: This phrase emphasizes Peninnah's fertility. Unlike Hannah, Peninnah has multiple children. This distinction sets up the primary source of tension and sorrow for Hannah, who is barren. In ancient Israelite culture, children, especially sons, were considered a profound blessing from God, and fruitfulness was highly valued. This contrast prepares the reader for the plight of Hannah.
1 Samuel 1 4 Bonus section
- Feast of Tabernacles: The annual pilgrimage to Shiloh, likely at one of the three mandated feasts (Passover, Pentecost, or Tabernacles), involved significant communal gathering and feasting. The specific context here often suggests the Feast of Tabernacles due to its emphasis on feasting and family joy after harvest.
- Communion Meal: The practice of distributing "portions" from the peace offering transformed the sacrificial act into a communal meal, a significant act of fellowship (communion) both with God and among the worshipers. This prefigures the New Testament concept of communion and shared meals among believers in Christ.
- Social Hierarchy/Favor: While not explicitly stated, the distribution of portions could reflect social standing or favor. The subsequent verse (1 Sam 1:5), which highlights Elkanah's special double portion for Hannah, underscores this cultural nuance where different shares conveyed differing degrees of regard.
- Setting for Conflict: The detailed listing of Peninnah and her children’s receipt of portions is not mere enumeration; it meticulously builds the foundational point of friction for Hannah's story, contrasting her barrenness against Peninnah’s numerous progeny, thus laying bare the spiritual and emotional pain.
1 Samuel 1 4 Commentary
1 Samuel 1:4 succinctly establishes the scene for the unfolding drama of Samuel’s birth. It presents Elkanah as a man of consistent piety, observing the annual pilgrimage to Shiloh to offer sacrifices to the Lord, fulfilling the requirements of the Law regarding communal worship and offerings. The fellowship offering, from which portions were distributed, was a joyous meal shared before God, symbolizing peace and communion. This verse highlights Elkanah's practice of allocating shares from this sacred meal to his family. The meticulous detail of giving "to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters" is crucial. It underscores Peninnah's fertility and the full family unit she represents, in stark contrast to Hannah, who will be introduced immediately afterward. This sets the initial frame for the tension in the household: a devoted husband performing his religious duty, surrounded by a seemingly complete family, yet lacking the promised seed through his favored wife. The very act of distributing portions, seemingly benign, becomes a subtle yet powerful instrument in revealing the societal values of the time, the impact of polygamy, and the profound longing for children as a divine blessing.