1 Samuel 1:28 kjv
Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
1 Samuel 1:28 nkjv
Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD." So they worshiped the LORD there.
1 Samuel 1:28 niv
So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there.
1 Samuel 1:28 esv
Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there.
1 Samuel 1:28 nlt
Now I am giving him to the LORD, and he will belong to the LORD his whole life." And they worshiped the LORD there.
1 Samuel 1 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 1:11 | And she made a vow, saying, "O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look..." | Hannah's initial vow to dedicate Samuel. |
| 1 Sam 1:20 | In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name... | God's faithfulness in answering Hannah's prayer. |
| 1 Sam 2:11 | Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy ministered to the Lord... | Samuel's immediate service begins. |
| 1 Sam 3:1 | Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. | Reinforces Samuel's dedication and service. |
| Lev 27:28 | But anything devoted to destruction that a man devotes to the Lord... | Principle of things being holy to the Lord. |
| Num 30:2 | If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself... | Laws concerning making and keeping vows. |
| Deut 23:21 | "If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay paying it..." | Emphasis on prompt fulfillment of vows. |
| Judg 11:30-31 | And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, "If you will give the..." | An example of a personal vow (compare/contrast). |
| Psa 50:14 | Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the... | Encouragement to fulfill vows made to God. |
| Psa 66:13-14 | I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows.. | Paying vows as an act of worship. |
| Psa 76:11 | Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them; let all around... | Divine expectation for vows to be honored. |
| Psa 116:14,18 | I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people... | Public acknowledgment of fulfilling vows. |
| Eccl 5:4 | When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure... | Warning against delaying vow fulfillment. |
| Mal 3:10 | Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food... | Principle of returning to God what is His. |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit...? | Believers are bought with a price; belong to God. |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present... | Lifelong dedication and living sacrifice. |
| Heb 10:7 | Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is...' | Christ's example of obedience and dedication. |
| Luke 2:22 | And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses | Presentation of firstborn (Jesus) at the temple. |
| Matt 6:33 | But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these... | Prioritizing God's will and kingdom. |
| Gen 22:2-13 | He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go..." | Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac, a type of dedication. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your... | Giving God the "first and best" back to Him. |
1 Samuel 1 verses
1 Samuel 1 28 Meaning
This verse signifies Hannah's complete and faithful fulfillment of the solemn vow she made to the Lord. Having requested and received Samuel as a gift from God, she now dedicates him back to the Lord for lifelong service at the sanctuary in Shiloh. It represents an act of ultimate trust and gratitude, returning the precious child granted by divine intervention to serve the very God who provided him.
1 Samuel 1 28 Context
This verse is the climax of Hannah's long and arduous journey of faith recounted in 1 Samuel chapter 1. Prior to this, Hannah suffered years of barrenness and emotional distress, intensified by her rival Peninnah's taunts. In deep anguish, she prayed fervently at the sanctuary in Shiloh, making a solemn vow to dedicate her hoped-for son to lifelong service to the Lord (1 Sam 1:10-11). The Lord heard her prayer, and she conceived and bore Samuel. This verse records her faithful act of returning Samuel to God at Shiloh, fulfilling her vow after he was weaned (typically around 3 years old in that culture, as indicated in 1 Sam 1:24). The historical setting is the period of the Judges, before the establishment of the monarchy, with Shiloh serving as the central place of worship and the Ark of the Covenant. The corrupt priesthood of Eli's sons contrasts sharply with Hannah's profound faith and the pure dedication of Samuel.
1 Samuel 1 28 Word analysis
- Therefore (וַאֲנִ֙י): (wa'ani) – A conjunction linking this act directly to the preceding narrative of Hannah's prayer being answered. It signals a consequential action.
- I have lent him (שָׁאַלְתִּיּהוּ): (shā'altîhu) – From the Hebrew verb sha'al (שָׁאַל). In the Qal stem, it means "to ask" or "request." In the Hiphil stem, as used here, it means "to lend" or "cause to be asked for and given." This verb is critically important as it forms a direct wordplay with Samuel's name (Shemu'el, meaning "heard by God" or "asked of God"). Hannah had "asked" (sha'al) the child from God, and now she "lends" (sha'al) him to God. This indicates a complete, purposeful transfer of his life back to its divine source. It's a surrender, an act of consecration, signifying that Samuel's life fundamentally belongs to the Lord because he was specifically requested from and given by Him.
- to the Lord (לַיהוָה): (la-YHWH) – YHWH (often rendered as LORD in English Bibles) is the sacred covenant name of God. This indicates that Samuel's dedication is not merely to a human institution (the sanctuary, the priesthood) but to the personal, covenant-making God of Israel. It emphasizes the direct and personal nature of her dedication.
- as long as he lives (כָּל־הַיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר): (kol-hayyamim asher chayyayw) – Literally, "all the days that he lives." This phrase stresses the permanency and totality of the dedication. It is not for a set period, like some Levite service, but for his entire earthly existence. This highlights the radical nature of Hannah's vow and commitment.
- he shall be lent (יִשָּׁאֵ֞הוּ): (yishshā'ehū) – This is the Niphal imperfect of sha'al. The Niphal stem here denotes a passive and ongoing state: "he shall be given" or "he will remain lent/dedicated." It reinforces the enduring nature of his consecrated state. The emphasis is on Samuel being in a dedicated state, set apart for the Lord, throughout his life.
- to the Lord (לַיהוָה): (la-YHWH) – Repeated for emphasis, underscoring the constant and singular object of Samuel's dedication. His entire life purpose will be directed toward serving YHWH.
1 Samuel 1 28 Bonus section
The unique Hebrew wordplay on sha'al in 1 Samuel 1:28, which means both "to ask" (what Hannah did to God) and "to lend/give back what was asked for" (what Hannah does with Samuel), creates a powerful and memorable connection to Samuel's name. His name, Shemu'el, sounds like "heard by God" or "asked of God," tying his very identity to his mother's fervent prayer and subsequent dedication. This dedication of Samuel was radical. While Nazirite vows (Num 6) involved specific temporary separation, and Levites served for fixed periods from specific ages (Num 8:24-25), Samuel's dedication was lifelong from infancy and not limited by specific tribal affiliation in the same way, setting him apart uniquely for God's purposes even before he was born. This foundational act in 1 Samuel 1 shapes the entire narrative of Samuel, explaining why he could effectively serve the Lord from childhood (1 Sam 2:11, 3:1) and become such a central figure in Israel's transition to a monarchy. It also serves as an example of parental faithfulness that had profound generational and national impact.
1 Samuel 1 28 Commentary
1 Samuel 1:28 encapsulates the profound spiritual principle of grateful giving and ultimate surrender. Hannah's dedication of Samuel goes beyond a legalistic fulfillment of a vow; it's a deeply spiritual act born out of profound faith, love, and thanksgiving. She returns to God not a portion of her possessions, but her most cherished possession—the son for whom she intensely longed and prayed. This verse models authentic stewardship, recognizing that all gifts come from God and the appropriate response is to return them in service and worship. Hannah's actions highlight that genuine worship often involves personal sacrifice and a willingness to surrender that which is most precious to us back to the Creator. This selfless act paves the way for Samuel's crucial role in Israel's history as a prophet and judge, demonstrating that extraordinary divine instruments often emerge from extraordinary acts of human faith and obedience. Her decision starkly contrasts with the later unfaithfulness of Eli's sons, underscoring the significance of spiritual upbringing and dedication in a leader.