1 Samuel 2:20
“Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, “May Yahweh give you offspring from this woman for the petition which was asked of Yahweh.” Then they went to their own home.”
What does 1 Samuel 2:20 mean?
Eli the priest is blessing Hannah and Elkanah after they've left their son Samuel in his care at the temple. Hannah had desperately prayed for a child, and now she's fulfilled her vow by giving Samuel to serve God. Rather than sending them away empty-handed, Eli speaks a blessing asking God to give them more children as a reward for their faithfulness and sacrifice. This moment shows something beautiful about how faith works: when we give something precious to God, we're not left diminished. Eli's blessing hints that their willingness to release what they'd prayed for would actually open their hands to receive more. For anyone struggling with what it costs to follow God or surrender something important, this verse reminds us that generosity toward God never leaves us poorer.