1
A certain man from Ramathaim in the hill country of Ephraim was named Elkanah. He was the son of Jeroham. Jeroham was the son of Elihu. Elihu was the son of Tohu. Tohu was the son of Zuph. Elkanah belonged to the family line of Zuph. Elkanah lived in the territory of Ephraim.
Reference
📍 Ramathaim-zophim
People
Hebrew: ʼechâd
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Greek: ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos)
man-faced, i.e. a human being
Hebrew: gᵉbar
{a person}
Hebrew: ʼĕnâsh
a man
Greek: ἐγγύς (engýs)
near
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: ὀρεινός (oreinós)
mountainous, i.e. (feminine by implication, of G5561 (χώρα)) the Highlands (of Judæa)
Greek: Ἐφραίμ (Ephraím)
Ephraim, a place in Palestine
Hebrew: ʼEphrayim
Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
Greek: τοὔνομα (toúnoma)
the name (is)
Hebrew: ʼElqânâh
Elkanah, the name of several Israelites
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: bar
the heir (apparent to the throne)
Hebrew: Yᵉrôchâm
Jerocham, the name of seven or eight Israelites
Hebrew: Yᵉrôchâm
Jerocham, the name of seven or eight Israelites
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: bar
the heir (apparent to the throne)
Hebrew: ʼĔlîyhûw
Elihu, the name of one of Job's friends, and of three Israelites
Hebrew: ʼĔlîyhûw
Elihu, the name of one of Job's friends, and of three Israelites
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: bar
the heir (apparent to the throne)
Hebrew: Tôchûw
Tochu, an Israelite
Hebrew: Tôchûw
Tochu, an Israelite
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: bar
the heir (apparent to the throne)
Hebrew: ʼElqânâh
Elkanah, the name of several Israelites
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: πατριά (patriá)
paternal descent, i.e. (concretely) a group of families or a whole race (nation)
Hebrew: ʼeleph
a family; also (from the sense of yoking or taming) an ox or cow
Greek: κανών (kanṓn)
a rule ("canon"), i.e. (figuratively) a standard (of faith and practice); by implication, a boundary, i.e. (figuratively) a sphere (of activity)
Hebrew: qâveh
a (measuring) cord (as if for binding)
Hebrew: ʼElqânâh
Elkanah, the name of several Israelites
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: Ἐφραίμ (Ephraím)
Ephraim, a place in Palestine
Hebrew: ʼEphrayim
Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
Verse Explanation
The chapter begins by introducing Elkanah, a man from the hill country of Ephraim whose family line is carefully recorded. Although he lived in the territory of Ephraim, he was from the tribe of Levi, a family set apart for service to God. This genealogy establishes Samuel's godly heritage and prepares readers for his future role as a prophet and judge. The story begins with an ordinary family, showing that God often chooses humble people to accomplish extraordinary purposes.
History
Approx. 1105–1100 BC: Near the end of the period of the Judges, shortly before Israel's monarchy.