Who was Elkanah in the Bible?
Levite, during the united monarchy
Elkanah, an Ephraimite from Ramathaim-zophim, was the father of the prophet Samuel and the husband of Hannah and Peninnah (1Sa.1.1,4). Elkanah appears in 10 verses across 2 books of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Elkanah?
Elkanah, an Ephraimite from Ramathaim-zophim, was the father of the prophet Samuel and the husband of Hannah and Peninnah (1Sa.1.1,4). He was a devout man who regularly went to worship and sacrifice to the Lord at Shiloh (1Sa.1.3). Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. While Peninnah had children, Hannah was barren (1Sa.1.2). Despite Hannah's inability to bear children, Elkanah loved her deeply and tried to comfort her (1Sa.1.8). Hannah prayed fervently for a child and vowed to dedicate him to the Lord's service (1Sa.1.11). After the birth of Samuel, Elkanah supported Hannah in fulfilling her vow and brought the child to serve in the tabernacle under Eli the priest (1Sa.1.21-28). Elkanah continued to worship at Shiloh and received a blessing from Eli for his devotion (1Sa.2.20). He is also mentioned in the genealogies of the Levites as an ancestor of Samuel and his sons (1Ch.6.27,34). Elkanah's story highlights his faithfulness, love for his family, and support for Hannah's dedication of Samuel to the Lord's service.
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Where does Elkanah appear in the Bible?
Elkanah is referenced in 10 verses across 2 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- 1 Chronicles 6:27
- 1 Chronicles 6:34
- 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
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Elkanah.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Elkanah?
Elkanah appears in 10 verses across 2 books, most often in 1 Samuel, which accounts for 8 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Elkanah?
1 Samuel, 1 Chronicles.
Where can I read every verse about Elkanah?
This page lists 10 of them. Protos carries all 10, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.


