1 Samuel 2 10

1 Samuel 2:10 kjv

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

1 Samuel 2:10 nkjv

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed."

1 Samuel 2:10 niv

those who oppose the LORD will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed."

1 Samuel 2:10 esv

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed."

1 Samuel 2:10 nlt

Those who fight against the LORD will be shattered.
He thunders against them from heaven;
the LORD judges throughout the earth.
He gives power to his king;
he increases the strength of his anointed one."

1 Samuel 2 verses

1 Samuel 2 10 Meaning

1 Samuel 2:10 declares the ultimate sovereignty and righteous judgment of the Lord God over all creation. It reveals that the Lord's adversaries will face complete destruction, struck down by divine power directly from heaven. It proclaims God's universal dominion as the one who will justly govern and judge the entire earth. Crucially, the verse transitions from judgment to a prophetic announcement of divine empowerment: God will bestow strength upon "His king" and elevate the power and authority, symbolized by the "horn," of "His anointed." This prophecy looks forward to the establishment of the Israelite monarchy under a divinely chosen ruler, and, more profoundly, foreshadows the advent, authority, and exaltation of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

1 Samuel 2 10 Context

1 Samuel 2:10 is the concluding verse of Hannah's prayer, or "song of praise," following the dedication of her son Samuel to the Lord at Shiloh. While born from personal thankfulness for a son, Hannah's prayer transcends her individual circumstances, elevating into a prophetic and theological declaration about God's universal power, justice, and future plans. It is set against a period of moral decay in Israel, during the time of the Judges, marked by the corrupt priesthood of Eli's sons (Hophni and Phinehas). In this context of human unrighteousness and the apparent lack of clear, God-ordained leadership, Hannah's song powerfully foreshadows God's imminent intervention to establish righteous rule. The mention of a "king" and "anointed" is particularly striking as it predates the official monarchy in Israel, pointing forward to a divine appointment beyond human schemes, especially amidst a time when the need for such leadership was acutely felt but had not yet materialized in God's chosen timing.

1 Samuel 2 10 Word analysis

Word-by-word analysis

• The adversaries (Heb. Tzarim (צָרִים) from tzar (צָר)): Refers to foes, oppressors, those who bring distress or who oppose God's people and, by extension, God Himself. It denotes enemies.
• of the Lord: Highlights that the opposition is not merely against individuals but against God Himself, making the judgment divinely significant.
• shall be broken to pieces (Heb. Yechattu (יֵחַתּוּ) from chatat (חָתַת)): Implies total demolition, a shattering, to be dismayed or terrified. It suggests complete, irreversible defeat and overwhelming consternation for the adversaries.
• From heaven: Indicates the direct, unmediated, and cosmic source of the judgment. God acts from His sovereign abode.
• He will thunder (Heb. Yar'em (יַרְעֵם) from ra'am (רָעַם)): A powerful act of divine judgment and revelation. Thunder in the Old Testament often signifies God's active presence, His voice of power, and His intervention, often in judgment or salvation (e.g., Exod 9:23, Psa 18:13). It showcases His irresistible might.
• against them: Refers directly back to the "adversaries of the Lord," affirming the judgment's precise target.
• The Lord: Reiteration emphasizes God's personal, sovereign agency.
• will judge (Heb. Yadin (יָדִין) from din (דִּין)): Implies not just a judicial decision but comprehensive rule, governance, and justice. God is not merely arbiter but active ruler and maintainer of justice.
• the ends of the earth (Heb. Afsei-aretz (אַפְסֵי־אָרֶץ)): Signifies universal reach, the remotest parts, emphasizing God's global sovereignty and universal dominion, encompassing all nations and peoples.
• He will give strength (Heb. Yiten-oz (יִתֶּן־עֹז)): Signifies empowerment, force, might. God is the source of all authority and capability for His chosen one.
• to His king (Heb. Malcho (מַלְכּוֹ)): "His King" is revolutionary for its time, as Israel did not yet have a monarchy. This is a profound prophetic statement anticipating the coming divinely chosen monarch, particularly the Davidic line, and ultimately the Messiah.
• And exalt (Heb. Yarem (יָרֵם) from rum (רוּם)): To lift up, to raise high, to magnify in status and power.
• the horn (Heb. Keren (קֶרֶן)): A powerful symbol of strength, power, dignity, and authority, derived from animals whose strength lies in their horns (e.g., Deut 33:17). In this context, it represents the vigor and might of the monarch's rule.
• of His anointed (Heb. Meshiḥo (מְשִׁיחֹו)): "His Messiah." The term literally means "one anointed," consecrated by oil for a specific divine purpose. This is the first appearance of the Hebrew mashiah (Messiah) in the Bible specifically in relation to a coming king. It prophetically points to all subsequent anointed kings of Israel, culminating in Jesus Christ, the ultimate Anointed One, King, and Savior.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them.": This couplet forcefully declares divine retribution against all who stand against God. It signifies an overwhelming and inescapable judgment that originates directly from God's heavenly throne, demonstrating His omnipotent power to dismantle and destroy evil. It conveys both the finality and the severity of God's opposition to His enemies.
• "The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;": This phrase asserts God's universal dominion and His role as the ultimate dispenser of justice over all humanity and creation. It emphasizes that no one is outside the scope of His authority and judgment, establishing Him as the supreme sovereign.
• "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed.": This culminating prophetic statement transitions from judgment to a promise of future blessing and power through a divinely chosen figure. The "King" and "Anointed" (Messiah) are identified as recipients of God's special empowerment and exaltation. This is the earliest explicit messianic prophecy of a king chosen and empowered by God Himself, laying the groundwork for the Davidic covenant and the anticipation of Jesus Christ, the Anointed King whose strength and authority would be from God. It showcases God's establishment of righteous, divinely-backed authority for the benefit of His people and the ultimate realization of His kingdom.

1 Samuel 2 10 Bonus section

This verse stands out as the very first occurrence of the term "anointed" (mashiah - Messiah) in relation to a divinely chosen, future king in the entire Hebrew Bible. Its early appearance within Hannah's spontaneous song underscores the sovereignty of God's plan for kingship, well before the monarchy was a formalized institution in Israel. It's a foundational prophecy for the Davidic Covenant and subsequent Messianic prophecies, setting the theological stage for understanding the role of God's chosen king. The parallelism between "His king" and "His anointed" emphatically links the office of the king to divine anointing, underscoring that legitimate power comes solely from God. The contrast between the shattering of adversaries and the exalting of the "horn" of His anointed emphasizes the complete reversal God orchestrates, humbling the proud and lifting up His chosen one. This theological reversal found its echo centuries later in Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), further connecting Hannah's vision to the coming of Jesus Christ.

1 Samuel 2 10 Commentary

Hannah's powerful prophetic hymn culminates in 1 Samuel 2:10, painting a vivid picture of God's complete dominion and future purposes. The verse highlights two overarching themes: divine judgment and divine election leading to the establishment of the Kingdom. First, it asserts the inevitable destruction of all who oppose the Lord, signifying that no human might or resistance can stand against His omnipotent power, vividly portrayed by His "thunder from heaven." This is a profound polemic against human arrogance and reliance on physical strength. Second, and even more significantly, the verse unveils a profound messianic prophecy. Long before Israel had a king, Hannah proclaims that God "will give strength to His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed." This foresight goes beyond a mere human monarch; it points to a divinely empowered and elevated leader who will embody God's reign on earth. This "King," "anointed" by God, clearly anticipates the Davidic dynasty but finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the true Messiah. God's plan is not merely to defeat His enemies but to establish His rule through His chosen one, granting him invincible strength and ultimate authority (the "exalted horn"). This foundational truth provides hope that God's justice will prevail and that His chosen King will reign in righteousness over the "ends of the earth."