Bible Strands
1 Samuel 1:21
Then Elkanah and all his house went up to make the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrative records Elkanah and his household departing for Shiloh immediately after Hannah gives birth to Samuel, while Hannah remains behind to complete the boy’s weaning.
The words — וַיַּעַל (va.ya‘al) = “and he went up,” denoting the physical ascent to the sanctuary, and לִזְבֹּחַ (liZḇōaḥ) = “to sacrifice,” specifying the ritual slaughter-offering.
The thread — The annual ascent functions as a recurring pilgrimage in 1 Samuel 1:3, while the vow-fulfillment motif aligns with Deuteronomy 12:11’s directive to bring commanded offerings to the chosen dwelling place.
Why it lands — The text documents a family’s departure for a religious obligation while leaving a child in temporary care, requiring a reader to observe how ritual duty and parental promises intersect without prescribing a moral lesson.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 1:3 Year after year Elkanah would go up from his city to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the LORD.
- Deuteronomy 12:11 then the LORD your God will choose a dwelling for His Name. And there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice offerings you vow to the LORD.
- Joshua 24:15 But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
- Genesis 18:19 For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”
- Psalms 101:2 I will ponder the way that is blameless—when will You come to me? I will walk in my house with integrity of heart.