Definition: 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.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Samuel 1:23 together. It’s a really important passage about faith and obedience! Here's a simplified explanation: Basically, it means: “Elkanah, her husband, instructed her to wait patiently for the baby to be weaned – meaning, to stop breastfeeding – until the LORD (God) establishes his word.” Let’s unpack that a little further: “And Elkanah her husband said unto her…” - This tells us who is speaking. It's Elkanah, and he's guiding her. “…Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him.” – This is the core instruction. Elkanah wants her to wait for a certain point in time. He’s asking her to be patient and not rush things. “Wean” means to stop breastfeeding, which was a very important part of childbirth and the process of bringing a baby into the world. “So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.” – This describes what Elkanah is doing – he’s nurturing his son with milk. He's keeping him safe and providing for him as he grows. What does this verse teach us? It emphasizes that God works in mysterious ways. He doesn’t just tell us to do something; He gives us the permission to do it, and then He guides us through the process. It's a reminder that God is always working for our good, even when we don’t understand why or how. In short, this verse is about trust and waiting for God’s will. It highlights the importance of obedience and faith in trusting that God will work everything out for the best. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss a specific aspect of this passage (like the significance of Elkanah's role)?