Chapter
Verse

1 Samuel 1:4

ESV On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.
NIV Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.
NASB When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters;
CSB Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he always gave portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to each of her sons and daughters.
NLT On the days Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her children.
KJV And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
NKJV And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.

What does 1 Samuel 1:4 mean?

Elkanah's family or clan has travelled to Shiloh, north of Jerusalem, to make sacrifices and feast together (1 Samuel 1:1–3). These would have been peace offerings (Leviticus 7:11–36), shared by the Lord, the priests, and those bringing the sacrifice. Parts of the animal would be burned on the altar, while other portions would be given to the priest and worshipers.

Eating meat was not necessarily an everyday occurrence during this time. This feast and family gathering likely added to a festive mood. This could be compared to an annual holiday like the modern Thanksgiving or Christmas.

As the head of the family, Elkanah would divide up the family's share of the sacrifice and give portions to each of the family members. This would include his second wife Peninnah and all her sons and daughters. The description of Peninnah's children as "all" of them suggests Elkanah already had a large family.
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