Who was Elkanah in the Bible?

Elkanah was a Levite, a descendant of Korah from the tribe of Levi (1 Chronicles 6:23-24). He is most famously known as the husband of Hannah and the father of the prophet Samuel, whom Hannah dedicated to God's service.

Why is Elkanah significant in the Bible?

Elkanah's primary significance is as the father of Samuel, one of Israel's greatest prophets and judges. His faithful, annual pilgrimage to worship at Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:3) provided the setting for Hannah's prayer and vow that led to Samuel's birth and dedication.

What was Elkanah's family life like?

Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was initially barren, which caused tension in the household (1 Samuel 1:2-7). Elkanah loved Hannah and tried to comfort her in her distress over her infertility.

Elkanah

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleLevite

Elkanah was a Levite descendant of Korah, the son of Izhar (Exo.6.24; 1Ch.6.23).

Elkanah

Biography

Elkanah was an early Levite, a son of Korah and grandson of Izhar through the Kohathite branch of Levi (Exo. 6:24; 1 Chr. 6:23). He lived during the period of Israel's sojourn in Egypt and emergence into the wilderness. His father Korah was a central figure in one of Scripture's most dramatic episodes of rebellion against divinely appointed authority (Num. 16), though Elkanah himself is not implicated in that rebellion. His genealogical listing in Exodus 6:24 places him alongside his brothers Assir and Abiasaph as surviving sons of Korah. The survival of Korah's sons while their father perished in judgment (Num. 26:11) meant that the Korahite lineage was preserved to become prominent contributors to Israelite worship through the Psalms and temple service.

Significance

Elkanah son of Korah stands at a pivotal genealogical moment: the preservation of Korah's sons despite their father's catastrophic rebellion demonstrates that God's judgment does not automatically extend to every member of a sinful household (Num. 26:11). The Korahite line that descended from Elkanah and his brothers would eventually produce gatekeepers, musicians, and the authors of multiple Psalms, a remarkable redemption of a lineage scarred by rebellion. This trajectory illustrates the biblical principle of divine mercy threading through generational history, and affirms that the sins of fathers do not doom their descendants when those descendants walk in faithfulness before God.

Verse Appearances (2)

Exod

Exod 6:24

1Chr

1Chr 6:23

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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