Lexical Summary Elqanah: Elkanah Original Word: אֶלְקָנָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Elkanah From 'el and qanah; God has obtained; Elkanah, the name of several Israelites -- Elkanah. see HEBREW 'el see HEBREW qanah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom el and qanah Definition "God has created," or "God has taken possession," the name of several Isr. NASB Translation Elkanah (21). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶלְקָנָה proper name, masculine (God has created, or taken possession) a. father of Samuel 1 Samuel 1-2 (8 t.) 1 Chronicles 6:12; 1 Chronicles 6:19. b. son of Korah Exodus 6:24. c. a ruler in Jerusalem in the time of Ahaz2Chronicles 28:7. d. one of David's warriors 1 Chronicles 12:6. e. several Levites (a) 1 Chronicles 6:8; 1 Chronicles 6:10; 1 Chronicles 6:21. (β) v.1 Chronicles 6:11; v.1 Chronicles 6:20. (γ) 1 Chronicles 9:16 (δ) 1 Chronicles 15:23. Topical Lexicon Identity and Old Testament Distribution The name Elkanah appears twenty-one times across seven books. Eleven references cluster around the father of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 1–2). Eight occur in Levitical genealogies and temple-service rosters (Exodus 6; 1 Chronicles 6; 1 Chronicles 9; 1 Chronicles 15). One identifies a Benjamite warrior who joined David (1 Chronicles 12:7), and one names a royal officer slain during the Syro-Ephraimite crisis (2 Chronicles 28:7). Together these texts portray men whose lives intersect worship, leadership, and national deliverance. Elkanah of Ramathaim-zophim—Husband of Hannah, Father of Samuel 1 Samuel introduces Elkanah as “an Ephraimite” living in the hill country (1 Samuel 1:1), yet later clarifies his Levitical descent through Kohath and Zuph (1 Chronicles 6:26–27, 34–35). This dual description explains both his residence in Ephraim and his right to minister at the sanctuary. 1. Devotion to Corporate Worship “Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of Hosts at Shiloh” (1 Samuel 1:3). Elkanah models steadfast pilgrimage during the spiritually turbulent days of the Judges. 2. Covenant Leadership in the Home At the festival he presented portions to Peninnah and her children, “but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her” (1 Samuel 1:5). His tenderness contrasts the cultural norm that equated blessing solely with physical offspring. 3. Spiritual Sensitivity and Authority When Hannah vowed that a son would be lent to the Lord, Elkanah answered, “Do what seems best to you… only may the Lord confirm His word” (1 Samuel 1:23). By ratifying her vow he fulfilled the stipulation of Numbers 30:6–8 and demonstrated headship that encouraged, rather than hindered, consecration. 4. Fruit of Faithfulness “The Lord remembered her, and she conceived” (1 Samuel 1:19). Samuel’s birth and lifelong service catalyzed Israel’s transition from tribal chaos to prophetic monarchy. Elkanah’s seemingly ordinary family obedience thus had extraordinary national impact. 5. Ongoing Blessing After Samuel was dedicated, “Elkanah and his wife returned home,” and Eli blessed them: “May the Lord give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the Lord.” “And the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters” (1 Samuel 2:20–21). Divine multiplication answered sacrificial surrender. Levitical Elkanahs in Genealogies and Temple Service 1. Exodus 6:24 A grandson of Kohath and son of Korah appears with his brothers Assir and Abiasaph, anchoring the Korahite line that later supplies gatekeepers and singers. Five Elkanahs emerge within a single genealogical chain (verses 23, 25–27, 34–35), underscoring the prominence of the name in the Kohathite clan. These men bridge the wilderness generation to the United Kingdom, concluding with Heman the musician (verse 33). Their placement links priestly heritage to Davidic worship reforms. Another Elkanah, “the son of Joah, son of Elkanah of the Korahites,” served among post-exilic Levites in Jerusalem, showing continuity of ministry after the captivity. An Elkanah acted as a gatekeeper while the ark of God was transferred to Jerusalem. Stationed “before the ark,” he helped secure the holiness of the procession that would establish Zion as the worship center. Elkanah among David’s Mighty Men 1 Chronicles 12:7 lists “Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Jozer, and Jashobeam the Korahites” who defected to David at Ziklag. Their lineage suggests that some Korahites combined martial valor with liturgical duty, reflecting holistic service to the Lord and His anointed king. Elkanah the Royal Officer Slain under Ahaz 2 Chronicles 28:7 records that Zichri, an Ephraimite warrior, “killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the officer in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, the second to the king.” The tragic fall of this high court official during Ahaz’s apostasy underlines how ungodly leadership exposes even loyal servants to national judgment. Theological Themes • Divine Ownership and Consecration: The name’s root idea of “God has taken possession” recurs in narratives where Elkanahs (especially Hannah’s husband) dedicate offspring, talents, or positions wholly to the Lord. Practical Implications 1. Regular, heartfelt worship fortifies households and nations. Thus the Elkanahs of Scripture collectively display how ordinary men, through consistent worship and courageous loyalty, become conduits of God’s enduring purposes. Forms and Transliterations אֶ֠לְקָנָה אֶלְקָנָ֑ה אֶלְקָנָ֔ה אֶלְקָנָ֖ה אֶלְקָנָ֛ה אֶלְקָנָ֡ה אֶלְקָנָ֣ה אֶלְקָנָ֥ה אֶלְקָנָ֨ה אֶלְקָנָה֙ אלקנה וְאֶלְקָנָ֔ה וְאֶלְקָנָ֖ה ואלקנה ’el·qā·nāh ’elqānāh Elkanah veelkaNah wə’elqānāh wə·’el·qā·nāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 6:24 HEB: קֹ֔רַח אַסִּ֥יר וְאֶלְקָנָ֖ה וַאֲבִיאָסָ֑ף אֵ֖לֶּה NAS: Assir and Elkanah and Abiasaph; KJV: Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: INT: of Korah Assir and Elkanah and Abiasaph these 1 Samuel 1:1 1 Samuel 1:4 1 Samuel 1:8 1 Samuel 1:19 1 Samuel 1:21 1 Samuel 1:23 1 Samuel 2:11 1 Samuel 2:20 1 Chronicles 6:23 1 Chronicles 6:25 1 Chronicles 6:26 1 Chronicles 6:26 1 Chronicles 6:27 1 Chronicles 6:34 1 Chronicles 6:35 1 Chronicles 6:36 1 Chronicles 9:16 1 Chronicles 12:7 1 Chronicles 15:23 2 Chronicles 28:7 21 Occurrences |
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