1 Samuel 1:21The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
The setting
Ramah to Shiloh road, Israel, ~1098 BC. The family prepares for their annual pilgrimage. Baby Samuel stays home with Hannah - she's not ready to fulfill her vow yet...
The emotion here: observing human faithfulness with quiet admiration
The original word
neder (נֶדֶר) — a vow, solemn promise made voluntarily to God
Why it matters
Hebrew men were required to appear before God three times yearly, but women could attend if not nursing
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 1:21
Hannah doesn't go this time - she's delaying the painful fulfillment of giving Samuel to Eli
Common misconceptionPeople assume this is just normal religious duty, but Elkanah is fulfilling Hannah's specific vow to give Samuel to temple service - this is costly obedience.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Samuel 1:21
Bible Genome reading
1 Samuel 1:21 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Samuel 1:21 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the judges period. The setting is the Temple. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include sacrifice, vow keeping, worship. Notable phrases: yearly sacrifice; his vow.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same worship
“Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one:”
— Deuteronomy 6:4
“and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
— John 14:6
“Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."”
— John 8:58
Your reflection
What does 1 Samuel 1:21 mean to you, today?
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