1 Samuel 2:20 kjv
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 2:20 nkjv
And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "The LORD give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was given to the LORD." Then they would go to their own home.
1 Samuel 2:20 niv
Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, "May the LORD give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the LORD." Then they would go home.
1 Samuel 2:20 esv
Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "May the LORD give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the LORD." So then they would return to their home.
1 Samuel 2:20 nlt
Before they returned home, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, "May the LORD give you other children to take the place of this one she gave to the LORD. "
1 Samuel 2 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Short Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 21:1-2 | The Lord visited Sarah as he had said... she bore Abraham a son. | God's power over conception; fulfillment of promise. |
| Gen 29:31 | The Lord saw that Leah was hated... but Rachel was barren. | God opening and closing the womb. |
| Gen 30:22 | Then God remembered Rachel; he opened her womb. | God actively involved in granting children. |
| Judg 13:2-3 | Manoah had a wife who was barren... the angel of the Lord appeared. | Another miraculous birth to a barren woman. |
| Lk 1:7 | They had no children... because Elizabeth was barren. | Barrenness common prelude to God's intervention. |
| Lk 1:13 | Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard... | Prayer for a child answered by God. |
| Psa 127:3 | Children are a heritage from the Lord. | Children as a divine gift and blessing. |
| Psa 128:3-4 | Your wife will be like a fruitful vine... blessed shall be the man... | Fertility as a sign of divine blessing. |
| Deut 7:13-14 | He will love you and bless you... and bless the fruit of your womb. | Covenant blessing including fertility. |
| Exod 23:26 | No one will miscarry or be barren in your land. | Blessing of fruitfulness and protection from barrenness. |
| Num 6:23-27 | Speak to Aaron and his sons: Thus you shall bless... | Priestly authority to pronounce blessings. |
| Lev 9:22 | Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. | Priest blessing the people. |
| 1 Sam 1:11 | "Lord Almighty, if you will only look... give your servant a son..." | Hannah's prayer and vow leading to Samuel's birth. |
| 1 Sam 1:28 | "So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord." | Hannah fulfilling her vow, dedicating Samuel. |
| Prov 11:24 | One person gives freely, yet gains even more. | Principle of generous giving yielding return. |
| 2 Cor 9:6 | Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. | God's principle of sowing and reaping (spiritual and material). |
| Phil 4:19 | My God will supply all your needs according to His riches. | God's provision in response to generosity/faith. |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... see if I will not throw open the floodgates..." | God's promised abundance for faithful giving. |
| Heb 6:10 | For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love. | God remembers and rewards faithful service. |
| Eph 3:20 | God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. | God's abundant generosity beyond expectation. |
| Psa 116:12 | What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits? | Reflects on responding to God's goodness. |
| Ecc 5:4 | When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. | Importance of keeping vows to the Lord. |
| Isa 54:1 | "Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child..." | Prophetic promise of fruitfulness for the formerly barren. |
| Hos 9:14 | Give them a womb that miscarries and breasts that are dry! | Inverse: God's judgment can include barrenness. |
| Lk 6:38 | Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure... | Principle of generous giving. |
1 Samuel 2 verses
1 Samuel 2 20 Meaning
Eli, as the high priest, pronounced a divine blessing upon Elkanah and Hannah, declaring that the Lord would grant them more children. This was explicitly stated as a recompense for their devoted action of lending Samuel, their firstborn, to the Lord's service. Following this spiritual affirmation, the family concluded their visit to Shiloh and returned home.
1 Samuel 2 20 Context
1 Samuel chapter 2 details key developments around Samuel's upbringing and the stark contrast with Eli's corrupt sons. This verse appears amidst Hannah's hymn of praise (v.1-10) for God's reversal of fortunes and Samuel's service at the Tabernacle (v.11, 18-19). While Eli's sons dishonored the Lord through their wicked practices and abuse of the priestly office (v.12-17), Eli, despite his weakness in restraining his sons, still functioned in his legitimate role as High Priest in this specific instance. Historically, the family's annual pilgrimage to Shiloh to offer sacrifices and fulfill vows was a significant part of Israelite religious life before a permanent temple was built in Jerusalem. This verse highlights God's faithfulness to a specific vow, setting a spiritual tone before the coming judgment upon Eli's house.
1 Samuel 2 20 Word analysis
- And Eli would bless: The Hebrew vay'varekh (וַיְבָרֶךְ) implies a priestly pronouncement of divine favor, not merely a human wish. As high priest, Eli functioned as God's representative (Lev 9:22-23), indicating this blessing carried spiritual authority and certainty of fulfillment.
- Elkanah and his wife: The blessing encompasses both parents, recognizing their joint decision and shared faith in dedicating Samuel to the Lord (1 Sam 1:27-28). Hannah, though not named, is the focus due to her previous barrenness and specific vow.
- “The Lord give you children: The phrase Yitten Adonai lekha zera‘ (יִתֵּן יְהוָה לְךָ זֶרַע) directly attributes the granting of offspring to YHWH, the sovereign God. The word zera‘ (seed/offspring) here often implies multiple descendants rather than a single child, indicating abundant blessing.
- from this woman: The specific mention min ha'ishah ha'zot (מִן הָאִשָּׁה הַזֹּאת) underscores that the promised children would come through Hannah, affirming God's continued ability to make the barren fruitful, even after she had given her only son to Him.
- for the loan granted to the Lord.”: The crucial phrase takhat ha'she'elah asher sha'alah la'Yehovah (תַּחַת הַשְּׁאֵלָה אֲשֶׁר שָׁאֲלָה לַיהוָה) signifies a divine recompense.
- takhat (תַּחַת): Means "in place of," "in return for," or "because of." It establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship, highlighting God's reciprocal nature.
- ha'she'elah (הַשְּׁאֵלָה): A noun derived from the verb sha'al (שָׁאַל), meaning "to ask," "to beg," or "to lend." It refers both to Hannah's initial petition for Samuel and her subsequent lending or dedicating of him back to the Lord (1 Sam 1:28). This play on words connects to Samuel's name (Shemu'el - "heard of God" or "asked of God").
- la'Yehovah (לַיהוָה): "To the Lord." Emphasizes that Samuel's dedication was directly to God, not just to a temple service, making God the ultimate recipient of the "loan." This underscores a divine principle: sacrifice made for God’s purposes results in God’s bountiful return, often in greater measure than what was given.
- And they would return to their home: Signifies the end of their pilgrimage to Shiloh, bringing the yearly cycle to completion, marked by God's pronounced blessing.
1 Samuel 2 20 Bonus section
The phrase "loan granted to the Lord" serves as a theological anchor. It refutes any notion of passive deities by demonstrating Yahweh's active involvement in the lives of His faithful. It contrasts sharply with pagan fertility cults that sought to manipulate deities through rituals; here, God initiates the blessing in response to a sincere vow and dedicated sacrifice. The miraculous conception of Samuel, and subsequently his siblings, underscores that fertility is a gift from God and not an outcome of human effort alone or the capricious whims of nature. This also foreshadows God's principle of giving to those who give, emphasizing a cycle of divine blessing and human devotion.
1 Samuel 2 20 Commentary
1 Samuel 2:20 is a profound illustration of God's covenant faithfulness and overflowing generosity. It follows the extraordinary account of Hannah's prayer, vow, and selfless dedication of Samuel to the Lord. Despite the prevalent corruption within Eli's household, God remained true to His character and word through His appointed priest. Eli's blessing, guided by divine inspiration, declares a truth: God not only remembers sacrifice but rewards it abundantly. The "loan granted to the Lord" encapsulates the spiritual principle that when we give our best, even our most cherished possessions, to God, He repays in ways that far exceed our expectations. This was not a quid pro quo calculation but a gracious divine response to a heart of faith and obedient sacrifice. This passage affirms that God holds the power over life and fertility, and He actively blesses those who prioritize His kingdom.