TRV
Translation
King James Version
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.
KJV (with Strong's)
Complete Jewish Bible
Her husband Elkanah answered her, "Do what seems good to you; stay here until you have weaned him. Only may ADONAI bring about what he said." So the woman stayed behind and nursed the child, until she weaned him.
Berean Standard Bible
“Do what you think is best,” her husband Elkanah replied, “and stay here until you have weaned him. Only may the LORD confirm His word.” So Hannah stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
American Standard Version
And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only Jehovah establish his word. So the woman tarried and gave her son suck, until she weaned him.
World English Bible Messianic
Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the LORD establish his word.” So the woman waited and nursed her son, until she weaned him.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And Elkanah her husband sayd vnto her, Do what seemeth thee best: tarie vntill thou hast weined him: only the Lord accomplish his word. So the woman abode, and gaue her sonne sucke vntill she weined him.
Young's Literal Translation
And Elkanah her husband saith to her, `Do that which is good in thine eyes; abide till thy weaning him; only, Jehovah establish His word;' and the woman abideth and suckleth her son till she hath weaned him,
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Commentary on 1 Samuel 1 verses 19–28
19 ¶ And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
23 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.
24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
Here is, I. The return of Elkanah and his family to their own habitation, when the days appointed for the feast were over, Sa1 1:19. Observe how they improved their time at the tabernacle. Every day they were there, even that which was fixed for their journey home, they worshipped God; and they rose up early to do it. It is good to begin the day with God. Let him that is the first have the first. They had a journey before them, and a family of children to take with them, and yet they would not stir till they had worshipped God together. Prayer and provender do not hinder a journey. They had spent several days now in religious worship, and yet they attended once more. We should not be weary of well-doing.
II. The birth and name of this desired son. At length the Lord remembered Hannah, the very thing she desired (Sa1 1:11), and more she needed not desire, that was enough, for then she conceived and bore a son. Though God seem long to forget his people's burdens, troubles, cares, and prayers, yet he will at length make it to appear that they are not out of his mind. This son the mother called Samuel, Sa1 1:20. Some make the etymology of this name to be much the same with that of Ishmael - heard of God, because the mother's prayers were remarkably heard, and he was an answer to them. Others, because of the reason she gives for the name, make it to signify asked of God. It comes nearly to the same; she designed by it to perpetuate the remembrance of God's favour to her in answering her prayers. Thus she designed, upon every mention of his name, to take the comfort to herself and to give God the glory of that gracious condescension. Note, Mercies in answer to prayer are to be remembered with peculiar expressions of thankfulness, as Psa 116:1, Psa 116:2. How many seasonable deliverances and supplies may we call Samuels, asked of God; and whatever is so we are in a special manner engaged to devote to him. Hannah intended by this name to put her son in mind of the obligation he was under to be the Lord's, in consideration of this, that he was asked of God and was at the same time dedicated to him. A child of prayer is in a special manner bound to be a good child. Lemuel's mother reminds him that he was the son of her vows, Pro 31:2.
III. The close attendance Hannah gave to the nursing of him, not only because he was dear to her, but because he was devoted to God, and for him she nursed him herself, and did not hang him on another's breast. We ought to take care of our children, not only with an eye to the law of nature as they are ours, but with an eye to the covenant of grace as they are given up to God. See Eze 16:20, Eze 16:21. This sanctifies the nursing of them, when it is done as unto the Lord. Elkanah went up every year to worship at the tabernacle, and particularly to perform his vow, perhaps some vow he had made distinct from Hannah's if God would give him a son by her, Sa1 1:21. But Hannah, though she felt a warm regard for the courts of God's house, begged leave of her husband to stay at home; for the women were not under any obligation to go up to the three yearly feasts, as the men were. However Hannah had been accustomed to go, but now desired to be excused, 1. Because she would not be so long absent from her nursery. Can a woman forget her sucking child? We may suppose she kept constantly at home, for, if she had gone any where, she would have gone to Shiloh. Note, God will have mercy and not sacrifice. Those that are detained from public ordinances by the nursing and tending of little children may take comfort from this instance, and believe that, if they do that with an eye to God, he will graciously accept them therein, and though they tarry at home they shall divide the spoil. 2. Because she would not go up to Shiloh till her son was big enough, not only to be taken thither, but to be left there; for, if once she took him thither, she thought she could never find in her heart to bring him back again. Note, Those who are stedfastly resolved to pay their vows may yet see good cause to defer the payment of them. Every thing is beautiful in its season. No animal was accepted in sacrifice till it had been for some time under the dam, Lev 22:27. Fruit is best when it is ripe. Elkanah agrees to what she proposes (Sa1 1:23): Do what seemeth thee good. So far was he from delighting to cross her that he referred it entirely to her. Behold how good and pleasant a thing it is, when yoke-fellows thus draw even in the yoke, and accommodate themselves to one another, each thinking well of what the other does, especially in works of piety and charity. He adds a prayer: Only the Lord establish his word, that is, "God preserve the child through the perils of his infancy, that the solemn vow which God signified his acceptance of, by giving us the child, may be performed in its season, and so the whole matter may be accomplished." Note, Those that have in sincerity devoted their children to God may with comfort pray for them, that God will establish the word sealed to them at the same time that they were sealed for him.
IV. The solemn entering of this child into the service of the sanctuary. We may take it for granted that he was presented to the Lord at forty days old, as all the first-born were (Luk 2:22, Luk 2:23): but this is not mentioned, because there was nothing in it singular; but now that he was weaned he was presented, not to be redeemed. Some think it was as soon as he was weaned from the breast, which, the Jews say, was not till he was three years old; it is said she gave him suck till she had weaned him, Sa1 1:23. Others think it was not till he was weaned from childish things, at eight or ten years old. But I see no inconvenience in admitting such an extraordinary child as this into the tabernacle at three years old, to be educated among the children of the priests. It is said (Sa1 1:24), The child was young, but, being intelligent above his years, he was no trouble. None can begin too soon to be religious. The child was a child, so the Hebrew reads it, in his learning-age. For whom shall he teach knowledge but those that are newly weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts? Isa 28:9. Observe how she presented her child, 1. With a sacrifice; no less than three bullocks, with a meat-offering for each, Sa1 1:24. A bullock, perhaps, for each year of the child's life. Or one for a burnt-offering, another for a sin-offering, and the third of a peace-offering. So far was she from thinking that, by presenting her son to God, she made God her debtor, that she thought it requisite by these slain offerings to seek God's acceptance of her living sacrifice. All our covenants with God for ourselves and ours must be made by sacrifice, the great sacrifice. 2. With a grateful acknowledgement of God's goodness in answer to prayer. This she makes to Eli, because he had encouraged her to hope for an answer of peace (Sa1 1:26, Sa1 1:27): "For this child I prayed. Here it was obtained by prayer, and here it is resigned to the prayer-hearing God. You have forgotten me, my lord, but I who now appear so cheerful am the woman, the very same, that three years ago stood by thee here weeping and praying, and this was the child I prayed for." Answers of prayer may thus be humbly triumphed in, to the glory of God. Here is a living testimony for God. "I am his witness that he is gracious (see Psa 66:16-19); for this mercy, this comfort, I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition." See Psa 34:2, Psa 34:4, Psa 34:6. Hannah does not remind Eli of it by adverting to the suspicion he had formerly expressed; she does not say, "I am the woman whom you passed that severe censure upon; what do you think of me now?" Good men ought not to be upbraided with their infirmities and oversights. They have themselves repented of them; let them hear no more of them. 3. With a full surrender of all her interest in this child unto the Lord (Sa1 1:28): I have lent him to the Lord as long as he liveth. And she repeats it, because she will never revoke it: He shall be (a deodand) lent or given to the Lord. Not that she designed to call for him back, as we do what we lend, but she uses this word Shaol, lent, because it is the same word that she had used before (Sa1 1:20, I asked him of the Lord), only in another conjugation. And (Sa1 1:27) the Lord gave me the petition which I asked (Shaalti, in Kal), therefore I have lent him (Hishilti, the same word in Hiphil), and so it gives another etymology of his name Samuel, not only asked of God, but lent to God. And observe, (1.) Whatever we give to God, it is what we have first asked and received from him. All our gifts to him were first his gifts to us. Of thy own, Lord, have we given thee, Ch1 29:14, Ch1 29:16. (2.) Whatever we give to God may upon this account be said to be lent to him, that though we may not recall it, as a thing lent, yet he will certainly repay it, with interest, to our unspeakable advantage, particularly what is given to his poor, Pro 19:17. When by baptism we dedicate our children to God, let us remember that they were his before by a sovereign right, and that they are ours still so much the more to our comfort. Hannah resigns him to the Lord, not for a certain term of years, as children are sent apprentices, but durante vita - as long as he liveth, he shall be lent unto the Lord, a Nazarite for life. Such must our covenant with God be, a marriage-covenant; as long as live we must be his, and never forsake him.
Lastly, The child Samuel did his part beyond what could have been expected from one of his years; for of him that seems to be spoken, He worshipped the Lord there, that is he said his prayers. He was no doubt extraordinarily forward (we have known children that have discovered some sense of religion very young), and his mother, designing him for the sanctuary, took particular care to train him up to that which was to be his work in the sanctuary. Note, Little children should learn betimes to worship God. Their parents should instruct them in his worship and bring them to it, put them upon engaging in it as well as they can, and God will graciously accept them and teach them to do better.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 19–28. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
1 Samuel 1:23 captures a pivotal moment in the narrative of Hannah and Elkanah, showcasing Elkanah's profound support for Hannah's solemn vow to dedicate their son, Samuel, to the Lord. The verse highlights Elkanah's trust in God's faithfulness to establish His word concerning Samuel, as Hannah commits to nurturing the child until he is weaned, a necessary preparatory stage before his presentation at Shiloh for lifelong service. This passage underscores themes of marital harmony, the integrity of vows, and divine providence in the unfolding of God's plans.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several effective literary devices. Dialogue is central, as Elkanah's direct words to Hannah convey his character, their marital relationship, and his spiritual perspective. His statement, "Do what seemeth thee good," exemplifies a supportive and trusting husband, a subtle yet powerful characterization of Elkanah that contrasts with other patriarchal figures in the Old Testament. The phrase "only the LORD establish his word" serves as potent foreshadowing, hinting at Samuel's future role as a prophet through whom God's word will indeed be established and fulfilled in Israel. The repetition of the concept of "weaning" ("until thou have weaned him" and "until she weaned him") acts as emphasis, highlighting the significance of this developmental stage and the commitment involved in Hannah's vow. The narrative also uses economy of language, succinctly conveying agreement, trust, and the passage of time without unnecessary detail, moving the plot efficiently towards Samuel's dedication.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 1:23 profoundly illustrates the interplay between human faithfulness and divine sovereignty. Elkanah's trust that "the LORD establish his word" points to God's inherent reliability and commitment to His purposes, even when they involve human waiting and nurturing. This passage underscores the sacredness of vows made to God, demonstrating that such commitments, when honored with integrity and patience, are met with divine favor and enablement. It also highlights the crucial role of the family unit, particularly the parents, in discerning and facilitating God's call on a child's life, emphasizing that even those destined for extraordinary service require foundational care and a supportive environment. The verse serves as a powerful reminder that God's plans unfold in His perfect timing, often requiring seasons of preparation and faithful endurance.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Samuel 1:23 offers timeless principles for contemporary believers, particularly concerning marital partnership, the integrity of spiritual commitments, and trusting God's timing. Elkanah's response to Hannah models exemplary spousal support, encouraging us to foster environments where our loved ones can pursue their spiritual callings and vows with our full affirmation. This verse challenges us to consider the seriousness with which we make promises to God, urging us to be diligent and patient in their fulfillment, understanding that practical considerations and seasons of waiting are often part of the divine process. Furthermore, Elkanah's prayer for the Lord to "establish His word" invites us to cultivate a deep trust in God's faithfulness, believing that He will bring to pass what He has promised, even when the path forward requires patience and nurturing. It reminds us that our personal and familial commitments, when aligned with God's will, become avenues through which His sovereign purposes are realized.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What was the typical duration of weaning in ancient Israel, and why was it significant?
Answer: In ancient Israel, weaning was a much longer process than it is in many cultures today, typically lasting for two to three years, and sometimes even up to five or six years. This extended period ensured the child's physical development and strengthened their immune system before transitioning from breast milk to solid foods. Culturally, it was a significant milestone, often marked by a celebration, as it signified the child's growing independence and readiness for the next stage of life. For Hannah, waiting until Samuel was fully weaned was crucial because her vow involved dedicating him to the Lord for his entire life, meaning he would leave her care to serve at the tabernacle in Shiloh. Ensuring his physical and emotional readiness was a responsible and loving act before such a permanent separation and dedication.
Does Elkanah's statement, "Do what seemeth thee good," imply he was less spiritual or committed than Hannah?
Answer: No, Elkanah's statement does not imply a lesser spiritual commitment. On the contrary, it demonstrates a profound level of spiritual maturity, trust, and support. In a patriarchal society where a husband often had the final say, Elkanah's deferral to Hannah's judgment and her spiritual vow is remarkable. His words, "Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word," show he fully understood and affirmed Hannah's vow and God's hand in it. He prioritizes the fulfillment of a sacred commitment to God over immediate ritual observance (going to Shiloh for the annual sacrifice). This portrays a healthy and aligned partnership in faith, where both spouses are committed to God's will and support each other in their spiritual journeys, as seen throughout the narrative of 1 Samuel 1.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Samuel 1:23, with its emphasis on a child dedicated from birth and God establishing His word, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Samuel was a prophet, a man set apart from his mother's womb to speak God's word to His people, foreshadowing the perfect Prophet. Jesus, the true Son of God, was not merely dedicated but was eternally set apart for God's redemptive purpose, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, as recorded in Luke 1:35. Just as Elkanah prayed for the LORD to "establish his word" concerning Samuel, so too was Jesus the very embodiment of God's established Word, the Logos made flesh, as declared in John 1:14. Every prophecy and promise concerning the Messiah, spoken through the Old Testament prophets, found its complete and perfect "establishment" in Christ's life, ministry, death, and resurrection, a truth Jesus Himself affirmed in Luke 24:44. He is the ultimate Son, perfectly obedient, dedicated from His earliest moments to fulfilling His Father's will, and through Him, God's ultimate word of salvation and reconciliation is irrevocably established for all humanity, as described in Hebrews 10:7.