I Samuel 1:24 · Bible study
1 Samuel 1:24 Commentary: Hannah's Offering
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine the textual and sacrificial details of Hannah's offering. Why three bulls? What does her devotion teach about faithful parenting and fulfilled vows?
Research Summary
- Meaning: Hannah fulfills her vow by dedicating Samuel to the Lord with a generous sacrifice, demonstrating gratitude and trust.
- Key words: Weaned (gamal, also meaning to deal fully or ripen); three bulls (shalosh parim); ephah (dry measure, ~22 litres); wine skin (nebel yayin); youth (na'ar, used twice to stress immaturity).
- Main debate: Three bulls or one three-year-old? Different offerings for different purposes or a textual variant from a common scribal error?
- Theological theme: God honours sacrificial devotion and answers prayer; faithful parenting involves letting go.
- Best use: Sermon on fulfilled vows, faithful parenthood, or the cost of worship; small-group study on Hannah's story.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh.
WEB World English Bible 2000
When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a container of wine, and brought him to Yahweh’s house in Shiloh. The child was young.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of Jehovah in Shiloh: and the child was young.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and she causeth him to go up with her when she hath weaned him, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and she bringeth him into the house of Jehovah at Shiloh, and the youth is but a youth.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And she took him up with her when she had weaned him, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a flask of wine, and brought him to the house of Jehovah to Shiloh; and the boy was young.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And after she had weaned him, she carried him with her, with three calves, and three bushels of flour, and a bottle of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord in Silo. Now the child was as yet very young:
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y después que lo hubo destetado, llevólo consigo, con tres becerros, y un epha de harina, y una vasija de vino, y trájolo á la casa de Jehová en Silo: y el niño era pequeño.
E depois que o desmamou, levou-o consigo, com três bezerros, e um efa de farinha, e uma vasilha de vinho, e trouxe-o à casa do SENHOR em Siló: e o menino era pequeno.
Quand elle l’ eut sevré, elle le fit monter avec elle, et prit trois taureaux, un épha de farine, et une outre de vin. Elle le mena dans la maison de l’ Éternel à Silo: l’ enfant était encore tout jeune.
und brachte ihn mit sich hinauf, nachdem sie ihn entwöhnt hatte, mit drei Farren, mit einem Epha Mehl und einem Krug Wein; und brachte ihn in das Haus des HERRN zu Silo. Der Knabe war aber noch jung.
Daarna, als zij hem gespeend had, bracht zij hem met zich opwaarts, met drie varren, en een efa meels, en een fles met wijn; en zij bracht hem in het huis des HEEREN te Silo; en het jongsken was zeer jong.
E quando l’ebbe divezzato, lo menò seco, e prese tre giovenchi, un efa di farina e un otre di vino; e lo menò nella casa dell’Eterno a Sciloh. Il fanciullo era ancora piccolino.
A gdy go zostawiła, przywiodła go z sobą ze trzema cielcami, i z jednem efa mąki, i z łagwią wina, i przywiodła go do domu Pańskiego w Sylo; a dziecię było małe.
Когда же вскормила его, пошла с ним в Силом, взяв три тельца [и хлебы] и одну ефу муки и мех вина, и пришла в дом Господа в Силом, [и отрок с ними]; отрок же был еще дитя.
既 斷了奶，就把孩子帶 上 示羅，到了 耶和華 的殿；又帶了三 隻公牛，一 伊法 細麵，一皮袋 酒。（那時，孩子 還小。）
Then when she had done so, she took him with her, with a three-year old ox and an ephah of meal and a skin full of wine, and took him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh: now the child was still very young.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 1:24
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Hannah's offering was a generous act of devotion, fulfilling her vow to dedicate Samuel to the Lord. The central difficulty in this verse is the number of bulls: the Hebrew text says three, while verse 25 mentions only one being slain. Adam Clarke, noting the Septuagint, Syriac and Arabic versions, argues that the original reading is 'a bull of three years old', a standard offering (Genesis 15:9). Wesley and Gill suggest the three represent different sacrifices: a burnt offering, a sin offering, and a peace offering, all required on such an occasion. Keil and Delitzsch propose that one bull was for Samuel's dedication and the other two for Elkanah's annual festal offerings, which the narrative omits for brevity. All agree that Hannah brought Samuel to the sanctuary with a substantial sacrifice, demonstrating her gratitude and complete trust in God.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Three distinct offerings: Wesley and Gill argue the three bulls represent burnt, sin, and peace offerings, all required at such a consecration. The ephah of flour (nine-tenths of an ephah for three bulls) and the wine skin support multiple offerings (Numbers 15:8-10).
- Textual corruption (three-year-old bull): Clarke and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown note that the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic read 'a bullock of three years old.' This aligns with Genesis 15:9 and explains why only one bull is slain in verse 25.
- Combination of dedication and festal offerings: Keil and Delitzsch propose that one bull was for Samuel's dedication and the other two were for Elkanah's yearly festal offerings (1 Samuel 1:21). The narrative mentions only the dedication sacrifice in verse 25 for focus.
What is clear: Hannah brought Samuel to the sanctuary with a generous sacrifice, fulfilling her vow with gratitude and trust in God.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Number of bulls | Hannah brought a substantial animal offering, likely involving at least one bull for sacrifice. | The MT reads 'three bulls'; the Septuagint reads 'a bull of three years old.' Some commentators (Clarke, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) prefer the singular reading as more consistent with verse 25. Others (Wesley, Gill, Keil & Delitzsch) defend three bulls as representing multiple offerings (burnt, sin, peace, or annual festal offerings). |
| Age of Samuel at presentation | Samuel was no longer nursing and was considered a young child (na'ar). | Jewish tradition (Targum) says he was two; Gill suggests nine or ten based on a broader meaning of gamal (to ripen). The text deliberately leaves the age vague. |
| Purpose of the offering | The offerings were required for consecration and thanksgiving to God. | Some see all three bulls as part of Samuel's dedication (burnt, sin, peace). Keil & Delitzsch argue only one bull was for dedication; the other two were Elkanah's yearly festal offerings mentioned earlier (v.21). |
| Textual reliability of the verse | The verse witnesses to Hannah's piety and the fulfillment of her vow. | Conservative commentators generally accept the MT as original; critical scholars often favour the Septuagint reading, suggesting a scribal error in the Hebrew. The variation does not affect the core meaning of the passage. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Shiloh served as Israel's central sanctuary during the period of the Judges, housing the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant (Joshua 18:1; 1 Samuel 4:3). Here the priest Eli ministered, though his sons brought corruption to the sanctuary (1 Samuel 2:12-17). The yearly pilgrimage feast (Deuteronomy 16:16) brought families to Shiloh to offer sacrifices, pay vows, and appear before the Lord. Hannah's journey with Samuel and her offerings followed the legal prescriptions in Numbers 15. Each bull required a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of flour and a drink offering of half a hin of wine (Numbers 15:8-10). The one ephah that Hannah brought would exactly supply three bulls, while a single bottle of wine (nebel yayin, a goat-skin container) could hold the needed half hin for one bull or more.
The Hebrew phrase 'the child was a child' (ve-hanna'ar na'ar) emphasizes Samuel's youth without specifying an age. Weaning in ancient Israel typically occurred between two and five years old, but some commentators (like Gill) suggest Samuel may have been nine or ten, since the verb 'wean' (gamal) can also mean 'to deal fully with' or 'ripen'. The journey from Ramah to Shiloh was about 15 miles, a significant distance for a family traveling with a young child, livestock, and supplies. Hannah's act of presenting Samuel to the Lord at such a young age demonstrates extraordinary faith and trust in God's provision.
Textual Notes
The Hebrew Masoretic Text reads 'three bulls' (shalosh parim). The Septuagint, followed by the Syriac Peshitta and a few Hebrew manuscripts, reads 'a bull of three years old' (en moscho trietizonti). Adam Clarke and the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary consider this the more original reading, noting that verse 25 mentions only one bull being slain. Keil and Delitzsch defend the MT, explaining that the other two bulls were part of Elkanah's regular yearly offerings and are simply not mentioned again for brevity. The discrepancy is well known but does not significantly alter the theological meaning of the passage.
Reception History
Early Jewish interpretation, reflected in the Targum, emphasizes that Samuel was weaned at two years old and brought to the sanctuary. Matthew Henry's commentary (1710) highlights the piety of the family: 'They worshipped God every day, and rose early to do it.' He sees Hannah as a model of faithful motherhood and the keeping of vows. The Reformation tradition, represented by the Geneva Bible notes, treats the verse without much comment on the textual issue, focusing instead on the dedication of the child. In modern scholarship, the variant between 'three bulls' and 'a three-year-old bull' has been a focus of text-critical study, with many commentators preferring the Septuagint reading as lectio difficilior. The verse continues to be used in sermons on parental dedication and the cost of worship.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- A fulfilled vow brings a generous offering. Hannah did not bring the minimum. Her three bulls (whether literally three or a three-year-old) and full ephah of flour and wine skin represent a costly response to God's gift of a son. The law prescribed specific amounts (Numbers 15), and she met them with abundance.
- Letting go is an act of worship. Hannah had waited years for this child. Now she gives him away. The verb 'brought him up' (ta'al) also means to ascend, she is physically and spiritually lifting Samuel to God. Her worship is costly, both in material goods and in emotional release.
- God honours the faith behind the sacrifice. The narrative focuses on Hannah's posture, not the exact number of bulls. She comes with a heart of gratitude, and God uses her surrender to raise up a prophet who will anoint kings.
Five-point outline
- Context: The dark days of the Judges, when 'everyone did what was right in his own eyes.' Into this chaos, Hannah's faithful family brings light.
- The weaning: The Hebrew gamal implies completion, Hannah nursed until the time was right, showing patience and obedience to her vow.
- The offering: Three bulls (or a three-year-old) plus grain and wine, a full sacrificial package. This is not a token; it is a wholehearted gift.
- The child: 'The child was a child', young, dependent, innocent. Hannah entrusts her most precious possession to God's care.
- The outcome: Samuel grows up in the house of the Lord, becomes a faithful priest and prophet, and God's word is restored to Israel.
Illustration hooks
- A parent's 'empty nest' offering. A mother who has prayed for her child's education or marriage, and when the answer comes, she must let the child go to serve God elsewhere. The joy and pain of that moment mirror Hannah's journey to Shiloh.
- The farmer's first fruits. A farmer bringing the best of his harvest, not leftovers, to the church dedication. Hannah brings a substantial portion of her family's resources, showing that nothing is too good for the Lord.
- A child's first day at boarding school. The mixture of hope and anxiety when a parent entrusts a young child to teachers far away. Hannah does the same, but with far higher stakes, she leaves Samuel at the sanctuary with a failing priest.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How could Hannah give up her only son? Wasn't she afraid something would happen to him?
- Is weaning a metaphor for spiritual maturity? When do we know our children are ready for greater responsibility?
- Why did she bring such a large offering? Does God expect us to sacrifice extravagantly when we dedicate our children?
Leading a Discussion
This verse captures the climax of Hannah's story. She prayed for a child, she received Samuel, and now she keeps her promise. The small details, the three bulls, the ephah of flour, the wine skin, are not incidental. They reveal the depth of her gratitude and the cost of her worship. As you discuss, consider what promises you have made to God and what it might cost to keep them.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What did Hannah bring with her to Shiloh? List the items and their probable significance (use Numbers 15:8-10 as background).
- Observation: The text says 'the child was young.' What does the Hebrew phrase 'the lad was a lad' (na'ar na'ar) emphasise about Samuel's age and vulnerability?
- Interpretation: Compare verse 24 ('three bulls') with verse 25 ('the bullock'). How do the commentaries explain this difference? Which explanation seems most plausible to you?
- Interpretation: Hannah had waited years for this child. Why does she give him away so quickly after weaning? What does this reveal about her understanding of her vow and her trust in God?
- Application: When have you had to keep a costly promise to God? What resources or relationships have you had to 'bring up' to the Lord, even when it was hard?
- Application: The sanctuary was under Eli's weak leadership, and his sons were corrupt. Hannah still brought Samuel there. What does this teach about trusting God even when human institutions are flawed?
- Prayer: Consider together what you might need to 'wean' or release into God's hands this season. Close by praying for courage to fulfill your commitments to the Lord.
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 15:9 | then he shall offer with the bull a meal offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil; |
| Numbers 15:10 | and you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh. |
| Deuteronomy 12:5 | But to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, you shall seek his habitation, and you shall come there. |
| Deuteronomy 12:6 | You shall bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the wave offering of your hand, your vows, your free will offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock there. |
| Deuteronomy 12:11 | then it shall happen that to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the wave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vow to Yahweh. |
| Deuteronomy 16:16 | Three times in a year all of your males shall appear before Yahweh your God in the place which he chooses: in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of booths. They shall not appear before Yahweh empty. |
| Joshua 18:1 | The whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The land was subdued before them. |
| I Samuel 4:3 | When the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has Yahweh defeated us today before the Philistines? Let’s get the ark of Yahweh’s covenant out of Shiloh and bring it to us, that it may come among us and save us out of the hand of our enemies.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that several ancient manuscripts read "a bullock of three years old" instead of "three bullocks." He considers this reading likely correct because a three-year-old bullock was standard for such offerings. He then explains that the ox, flour, and wine together probably formed the consecration-offering.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator explains the offerings Hannah brought: three bullocks likely served different sacrificial purposes, and the ephah of flour was probably about 4.5 gallons. The bottle of wine was a skin bottle holding roughly three pints. The phrase "the child was young" is deliberately vague, giving no clue to Samuel's actual age.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And when she had weined him, she tooke him with her with three bullockes and an Ephah of floure and a bottell of wine, and brought him vnto the house of the Lord in Shiloh, and the childe was yong.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill draws attention to the precise details Hannah brought: three bullocks (for offerings or as a gift), an ephah of flour, and wine. He suggests the offerings served multiple purposes beyond sacrifice. He also notes the disagreement about Samuel's age, some seeing him as a young child recently weaned, others as a boy of nine or ten.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown note that the Hebrew phrase "three bullocks" may be better understood from the Septuagint, which reads "a bullock of three years old." They consider this the likely meaning, pointing to a single animal rather than three.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch reconciles the apparent discrepancy by explaining that the three oxen served two distinct purposes: one was the burnt-offering for Samuel's dedication, and the other two were the regular yearly festal offerings Elkanah customarily brought. The ephah of meal, too large for a single ox, confirms that three animals were needed for the combined sacrifices.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that the Hebrew word commonly translated “lent” actually means “gave” or “granted what was asked.” Hannah’s action is not a temporary loan but a full reciprocal giving: as God gave Samuel to her, she gives him back to God for lifelong service, completing a cycle of answered prayer and devoted return.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights that the family rose early on their departure day specifically to worship before traveling. His point is that God should have the first part of every day, even when the day is busy with a journey home. Beginning with God is the pattern he draws from their example.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that each of the three bullocks served a distinct purpose — one for a burnt-offering, one for a sin-offering, and one for a peace offering — all deemed necessary for the occasion. He also specifies the exact amounts of flour and wine for the accompanying offerings, with a tenth of the flour going to the priest.