Lexical Definition
אֶלְקָנָה ʼElqânâh (el-kaw-naw') Elkanah N:N-M-P
from אֵל and קָנָה; God has obtained
Elkanah.
- § Elkanah = "God has possessed" or "God has created"
- Elkanah, the name of several Israelites
1) Samuel's father
2) a ruler in Jerusalem in the time of king Ahaz
3) one of David's mighty warriors
4) son of Korah
5) several Levites
Extended Information
- A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.1.1
- son of: Jeroham (יְרֹחָם); married to Hannah (חַנָּה) and Peninnah (פְּנִנָּה)
- father of: Samuel (שְׁמוּאֵל)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֶלְקָנָה proper name, masculine (God has created, or taken possession)
a. father of Samuel 1 Sam 1-2 (8 t.) 1Chr 6:12*; 1Chr 6:19*.
b. son of Korah Exod 6:24.
c. a ruler in Jerusalem in the time of Ahaz 2Chr 28:7.
d. one of David's warriors 1Chr 12:6*.
e. several Levites
(a) 1Chr 6:8*; 1Chr 6:10*; 1Chr 6:21*. (β) v.1Chr 6:11* v.1Chr 6:20*. (γ) 1Chr 9:16 (δ) 1Chr 15:23.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Exodus | 6:24 |
| 1 Chronicles | 6:8* · 6:10* · 6:11* · 6:12* · 6:19* · 6:20* · 6:21* · 9:16 · 12:6* · 15:23 |
| 2 Chronicles | 28:7 |
Profile
Male • Son of Jeroham • The father of the prophet Samuel.
Levite living at the time of United Monarchy
Elkanah was the father of the prophet Samuel and husband of Hannah (1Sa.1.1,4,8,19,21,23; 2.11,20; 1Ch.6.27,34).
- A man from the tribe of Levi living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.1.1;
- only referred to as Elkanah אֶלְקָנָה;
- a son of Jeroham יְרֹחָם;
- husband of Hannah חַנָּה and Peninnah פְּנִנָּה;
- father of Samuel שְׁמוּאֵל.
Elkanah, an Ephraimite from Ramathaim-zophim, was the father of the prophet Samuel and the husband of Hannah and Peninnah (1Sa.1.1,4). He was a devout man who regularly went to worship and sacrifice to the Lord at Shiloh (1Sa.1.3). Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. While Peninnah had children, Hannah was barren (1Sa.1.2). Despite Hannah's inability to bear children, Elkanah loved her deeply and tried to comfort her (1Sa.1.8). Hannah prayed fervently for a child and vowed to dedicate him to the Lord's service (1Sa.1.11). After the birth of Samuel, Elkanah supported Hannah in fulfilling her vow and brought the child to serve in the tabernacle under Eli the priest (1Sa.1.21-28). Elkanah continued to worship at Shiloh and received a blessing from Eli for his devotion (1Sa.2.20). He is also mentioned in the genealogies of the Levites as an ancestor of Samuel and his sons (1Ch.6.27,34). Elkanah's story highlights his faithfulness, love for his family, and support for Hannah's dedication of Samuel to the Lord's service.
All entries for Elkanah: אֶלְקָנָה