What does 1 Samuel 2:20 mean?
"¶ 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
1 Samuel 2:20 - "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."
Context:
The book of 1 Samuel is a historical narrative that recounts the transition of Israel from the period of the judges to the establishment of a monarchy under King Saul. The story begins with the birth and upbringing of the prophet Samuel, who is dedicated to the service of the Lord by his mother, Hannah. This verse occurs within the context of Hannah's gratitude and dedication to the Lord after he answered her prayers and blessed her with a son.
Meaning:
In this verse, Eli, the high priest, blesses Elkanah and his wife, acknowledging the faithfulness of their dedication to the Lord. The phrase "The Lord give thee seed of this woman" expresses Eli's hope and blessing for Elkanah and his wife to have more children. This blessing is a recognition of the selfless act of giving their firstborn son, Samuel, to the service of the Lord as a loan. It also serves as a prayer for God to continue to bless and multiply their family.
Themes:
Dedication and Sacrifice - The dedication of Samuel to the service of the Lord and the willingness of Elkanah and his wife to fulfill their vow are central themes in this verse. It highlights the importance of honoring commitments made to God and the concept of selfless sacrifice for the greater good.
Blessing and Fertility - The verse also emphasizes the theme of fertility and blessings from the Lord. The desire for "seed of this woman" reflects the cultural significance of bearing children and the blessings associated with a fruitful family life.
Gratitude and Faith - The verse underscores the theme of gratitude and faithfulness in response to God's blessings. Both Elkanah and his wife express their gratitude through their dedication of Samuel to the Lord, and Eli's blessing is a recognition of their faithfulness.
Symbolism:
The act of dedicating Samuel to the service of the Lord is symbolic of giving back to God what is most precious. It represents the concept of selfless giving and the willingness to surrender one's most cherished possessions for the greater glory of God.
The blessing for fertility and "seed of this woman" symbolizes the hope for future generations and the continuation of the family line. It also embodies the belief in God's ability to provide and multiply blessings.
Overall, 1 Samuel 2:20 conveys a message of dedication, gratitude, and blessing. It serves as a reminder of the importance of honoring commitments to God, the significance of selfless sacrifice, and the belief in God's faithfulness to provide for his people.
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1 Samuel 2:20 - "¶ 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."
"¶ 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
2 Samuel 1:20 - "Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph."
2 Samuel 2:20 - "Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am."
2 Samuel 22:17-20
1 Samuel 20:20 - "And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark."
2 Samuel 20:20 - "And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy."
1 Samuel 28:15-20
1 Samuel 2:12
2 Samuel 20:25 - "And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:"
1 Samuel 10:20 - "And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken."
1 Samuel 3:20 - "And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD."
1 Samuel 20:27-30
1 Samuel 20:27-29
2 Samuel 20:24 - "And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:"
2 Samuel 20:26 - "And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David."
"Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am." - 2 Samuel 2:20
1 Samuel 18:20 - "And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him."
1 Samuel 20:39 - "But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter."
2 Samuel 16:20 - "¶ Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do."
1 Samuel 1:20 - "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."
1 Samuel 20:28 - "And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:"
1 Samuel 19:20 - "And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied."
1 Samuel 20:2 - "And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so."
2 Samuel 20:1 - "And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel."
1 Samuel 28:20 - "Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night."
2 Samuel 20:4 - "¶ Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present."
1 Samuel 22:20 - "¶ And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David."
2 Samuel 7:20 - "And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant."
2 Samuel 20:23 - "¶ Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:"