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Read the Bible

King James Version

1 Samuel 1:23

And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the Lord establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Elkanah;   Hannah;   Thompson Chain Reference - Elkanah;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Peninnah;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Wife;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Child;   Wean;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Mother;   Nurse;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Nurse;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Elkanah ;   Hannah ;   Shiloh ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Hannah;   Jephtha;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Eli;   Smith Bible Dictionary - El'kanah,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Child;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Samuel the Prophet;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Samuel, Books of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Birthday;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Her husband Elkanah replied, “Do what you think is best, and stay here until you’ve weaned him. May the Lord confirm your word.” So Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him.
Hebrew Names Version
Elkana her husband said to her, Do what seems you good; wait until you have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman waited and nursed her son, until she weaned him.
Lexham English Bible
So her husband Elkanah said to her, "Do what seems right to you; stay until you wean him. Only may Yahweh fulfill his word." So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.
English Standard Version
Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word." So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.
New Century Version
Elkanah, Hannah's husband, said to her, "Do what you think is best. You may stay home until the boy is old enough to eat. May the Lord do what you have said." So Hannah stayed at home to nurse her son until he was old enough to eat.
New English Translation
So her husband Elkanah said to her, "Do what you think best. Stay until you have weaned him. May the Lord fulfill his promise." So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
Amplified Bible
Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the LORD establish and confirm His word." So the woman remained [behind] and nursed her son until she weaned him.
New American Standard Bible
Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you. Stay until you have weaned him; only may the LORD confirm His word." So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she weaned him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Elkanah her husband sayd vnto her, Do what seemeth thee best: tarie vntill thou hast weined him: only the Lord accomplish his word. So the woman abode, and gaue her sonne sucke vntill she weined him.
Legacy Standard Bible
And Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what is good in your eyes. Remain until you have weaned him; only may Yahweh establish His word." So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.
Contemporary English Version
"You know what's best," Elkanah said. "Stay here until it's time to stop nursing him. I'm sure the Lord will help you do what you have promised." Hannah did not go to Shiloh until she stopped nursing Samuel.
Complete Jewish Bible
Her husband Elkanah answered her, "Do what seems good to you; stay here until you have weaned him. Only may Adonai bring about what he said." So the woman stayed behind and nursed the child, until she weaned him.
Darby Translation
And Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what is good in thy sight: abide until thou hast weaned him; only, may Jehovah fulfil his word. And the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
Easy-to-Read Version
Hannah's husband Elkanah said to her, "Do what you think is best. You may stay home until the boy is old enough to eat solid food. May the Lord do what you have said." So Hannah stayed at home to nurse her son until he was old enough to eat solid food.
George Lamsa Translation
And Hilkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems good to you; wait until you have weaned him; may the LORD establish your word. So the woman waited, and nursed her son until she weaned him.
Good News Translation
Elkanah answered, "All right, do whatever you think best; stay at home until you have weaned him. And may the Lord make your promise come true." So Hannah stayed at home and nursed her child.
Literal Translation
And her husband Elkanah said to her, Do that which is good in your eyes. Remain until you wean him. Only, may Jehovah lift up His Word. And the woman remained, and suckled her son until she had weaned him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Elcana hir hußbande sayde vnto her: The do as thou thynkest best, tary tyll thou haue weened him: but the LORDE perfourme that he hath spoken. So the woman abode, and gaue hir sonne sucke, tyll she weened him.
American Standard Version
And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only Jehovah establish his word. So the woman tarried and gave her son suck, until she weaned him.
Bible in Basic English
And her husband Elkanah said to her, Do whatever seems right to you, but not till you have taken him from the breast; only may the Lord do as he has said. So the woman, waiting there, gave her son milk till he was old enough to be taken from the breast.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Elkana her husband aunswered her: Do what seemeth thee best, tary at home vntyll thou hast weaned him, and I beseche the Lord to make good his saying. And so the woman abode, and gaue her sonne sucke, vntyll she weaned hym.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Elkanah her husband said unto her: 'Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish His word.' So the woman tarried and gave her son suck, until she weaned him.
King James Version (1611)
And Elkanah her husband said vnto her, Do what seemeth thee good, tary vntill thou haue weaned him, only the Lord establish his word: so the woman abode, and gaue her sonne sucke vntill she weaned him.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Helkana her husband said to her, Do that which is good in thine eyes, abide still until thou shalt have weaned him; but may the Lord establish that which comes out of thy mouth: and the woman tarried, and suckled her son until she had weaned him.
English Revised Version
And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman tarried and gave her son suck, until she weaned him.
Berean Standard Bible
"Do what you think is best," her husband Elkanah replied, "and stay here until you have weaned him. Only may the LORD confirm His word." So Hannah stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Helcana, hir hosebonde, seide to hir, Do thou that that semeth good to thee, and dwelle thou til thou wene hym; and Y biseche, that the Lord fille his word. Therfor the womman dwellide, and yaf mylk to hir sone, til sche remouyde hym fro mylk.
Young's Literal Translation
And Elkanah her husband saith to her, `Do that which is good in thine eyes; abide till thy weaning him; only, Jehovah establish His word;' and the woman abideth and suckleth her son till she hath weaned him,
Update Bible Version
And Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems good to you; tarry until you have weaned him; only Yahweh establish his word. So the woman tarried and nursed her son, until she weaned him.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seemeth to thee good; tarry until thou hast weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and nursed her son until she weaned him.
World English Bible
Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems you good; wait until you have weaned him; only Yahweh establish his word. So the woman waited and nursed her son, until she weaned him.
New King James Version
And Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the Lord establish His [fn] word." So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
New Living Translation
"Whatever you think is best," Elkanah agreed. "Stay here for now, and may the Lord help you keep your promise." So she stayed home and nursed the boy until he was weaned.
New Life Bible
Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what you think is best. Stay here until he no longer needs to be nursed. Only may the Lord do as He has said." So Hannah stayed and nursed her son until he no longer needed to be nursed.
New Revised Standard
Her husband Elkanah said to her, "Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only—may the Lord establish his word." So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Elkanah her husband said to her - Do what is good in thine own eyes, tarry until thou have weaned him, only may Yahweh establish his word! So the woman tarried, and nursed her son, until she weaned him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Elcana, her husband, said to her: Do what seemeth good to thee, and stay till thou wean him: and I pray that the Lord may fulfil his word. So the woman staid at home, and gave her son suck, till she weaned him.
Revised Standard Version
Elka'nah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only, may the LORD establish his word." So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him.
THE MESSAGE
Elkanah said to his wife, "Do what you think is best. Stay home until you have weaned him. Yes! Let God complete what he has begun!" So she did. She stayed home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Then she took him up to Shiloh, bringing also the makings of a generous sacrificial meal—a prize bull, flour, and wine. The child was so young to be sent off!
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you. Remain until you have weaned him; only may the LORD confirm His word." So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.

Contextual Overview

19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord , and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her. 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 . 21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. 22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord , and there abide for ever. 23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the Lord establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young. 25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord . 27 For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord ; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord . And he worshipped the Lord there.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Do what: Numbers 30:7-11

the Lord: 2 Samuel 7:25, Isaiah 44:26

son suck: Genesis 21:7, Genesis 21:8, Psalms 22:9, Matthew 24:19, Luke 11:27

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 3:21 - give

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Elkanah her husband said unto her, do what seemeth thee good,.... He spake like a kind and indulgent husband, knowing that she would not thereby break any law of God; and it might be more for her own health, and the health of the child, to stay longer:

tarry till thou have weaned him; when he would be more fit for the journey, and to be left behind:

only the Lord establish his word; which some understand of the prophecy of Eli that God would grant her request, which being delivered under the direction of the Spirit of God, is called his word; but this was already fulfilled, and established by Hannah's bearing a son: or the word "his" refers not to the Lord, but to Samuel, and so may respect the word which his mother spake concerning him; either when she made her vow, as Abendana, that he should be a perpetual Nazarite, and the Lord's as long as he lived: and so Elkanah wishes that he might have health and grow strong, and be fit for the service of the Lord, and live many years to perform it; or what she had just now said, as Abarbinel, that he should abide in the house of God for ever, or as long as he lived:

so the woman abode; at home, while Elkanah and his family went up to Shiloh:

and gave her son suck until she weaned him; did not put him out to a wet or dry nurse, but suckled him herself with what nature had provided for his nourishment, as becomes women to do, if their circumstances of health, and the provisions of nature, will admit of it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 1:23. Until thou have weaned him — On the nature of this weaning, and the time in which it was usually done, the reader will be pleased to refer to Clarke's note on "Genesis 21:8".

The Lord establish his word. — Or, may the Lord establish his word-preserve the child, cause him to grow up, and make him a blessing to Israel.


 
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