1 Samuel 2:2 kjv
There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2:2 nkjv
"No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2:2 niv
"There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2:2 esv
"There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2:2 nlt
No one is holy like the LORD!
There is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 11:44-45 | For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy... | God's command for holiness based on His own nature. |
| Lev 19:2 | Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy. | Reiteration of God's holiness as the basis for human holiness. |
| Isa 6:3 | And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. | Angelic declaration of God's absolute holiness. |
| Rev 4:8 | ...Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. | Worship of God in heaven emphasizing His triune holiness. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. | NT call to holiness, referencing God's holiness. |
| Deut 4:35 | Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him. | Assertion of God's sole deity, no other gods exist. |
| Deut 32:39 | See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. | God's absolute sovereignty and uniqueness in all things. |
| Isa 43:10-11 | Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen... before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. | God's declaration of His unparalleled and eternal uniqueness as Savior. |
| Isa 44:6 | Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. | God's ultimate claim of singular divinity. |
| Isa 45:5-6 | I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me... that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. | Universal declaration of God's sole existence. |
| Deut 32:4 | He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. | Describes God as the "Rock" embodying perfect attributes. |
| Psa 18:2 | The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust... | David's declaration of God as his personal strength and refuge. |
| Psa 18:31 | For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God? | Direct echo of Hannah's statement, emphasizing God's uniqueness as a rock. |
| Psa 31:3 | For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. | Praise to God as a reliable foundation and protector. |
| Psa 62:2 | He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. | Confession of God as the sole source of stability and salvation. |
| Psa 71:3 | Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. | Prayer for God to be a constant, secure refuge. |
| Isa 26:4 | Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: | Exhortation to trust in God's eternal and strong foundation. |
| Hab 1:12 | Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die... O mighty God. | Acknowledging God's eternal nature and holiness. |
| Mal 3:6 | For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. | God's unchangeableness as a basis for His steadfastness and mercy. |
| 1 Cor 10:4 | And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. | New Testament interpretation, identifying Christ as the spiritual Rock. |
1 Samuel 2 verses
1 Samuel 2 2 Meaning
This verse declares the unparalleled nature of the Lord. It states that there is no one who possesses perfect holiness like Him, acknowledging His absolute distinctiveness and moral purity. Furthermore, it affirms that no other divine being or power exists apart from Him, emphasizing His sole existence and unique sovereignty. Finally, it proclaims that there is no secure and unwavering foundation, refuge, or strength comparable to "our God," highlighting His unchanging dependability and protective power for His people.
1 Samuel 2 2 Context
This verse is found within Hannah's prayer of thanksgiving and prophetic praise, offered after she dedicates her son Samuel to the Lord in fulfillment of her vow. Having endured years of barrenness and ridicule, Hannah received divine favor and bore Samuel. Her prayer (1 Sam 2:1-10) is a pivotal theological statement in the book of Samuel, moving beyond her personal circumstances to declare profound truths about God's character and His just governance over the world. The chapter unfolds contrasting themes: the humbling of the proud and the exaltation of the lowly, God's sovereignty over life and death, and His power to establish and protect His anointed one. Verse 2 specifically anchors her entire prayer in the foundational attributes of God – His unique holiness, His exclusive divinity, and His unwavering faithfulness as a "Rock." This declaration is a polemic against the polytheistic and idolatrous practices prevalent among surrounding nations (like the Canaanites and Philistines), firmly establishing Yahweh's incomparability amidst lesser gods.
1 Samuel 2 2 Word analysis
- "There is none holy":
- Original Hebrew: `אֵין קָדוֹשׁ` (`'êlên qādôš`).
- `קָדוֹשׁ` (qādôš) - "holy." This signifies absolute separation, distinctness, and moral purity. God's holiness is not merely a ceremonial state but His inherent, unblemished nature. He is utterly set apart from sin, creation, and any limitations. It highlights His majesty and purity.
- Significance: It establishes God's unique moral perfection and transcendence. No created being or false deity can share this intrinsic holiness.
- "as the Lord":
- Original Hebrew: `כַּיהוָה` (kYHWH).
- `יהוָה` (YHWH) - The Tetragrammaton, God's personal covenant name, often translated "LORD" (all caps). It conveys His self-existence ("I AM WHO I AM") and His personal relationship with Israel.
- Significance: Hannah specifically names the God of Israel, YHWH, as the unique embodiment of holiness, implicitly contrasting Him with the idols of surrounding nations.
- "for there is none beside thee":
- Original Hebrew: `כִּי אֵין בִּלְתֶּךָ` (kî 'êlên biltteḵā).
- `בִּלְתֶּךָ` (biltteḵā) - "beside you" or "apart from you." This strongly affirms monotheism, declaring God's absolute singularity. There are no other gods worthy of worship or existing with divine authority.
- Significance: This is a direct challenge to polytheistic beliefs, emphasizing that God alone is God. It reinforces His sovereignty and omnipotence.
- "neither is there any rock":
- Original Hebrew: `וְאֵין צוּר` (wə'êlên ṣûr).
- `צוּר` (ṣûr) - "rock" or "cliff." In biblical metaphor, a rock represents strength, stability, refuge, defense, and an unchanging foundation.
- Significance: It portrays God as an utterly reliable, secure, and unmoving source of strength and protection, particularly in times of trouble. Unlike transient human power or fragile idols, God is constant.
- "like our God":
- Original Hebrew: `כֵּאלֹהֵינוּ` (kê'lōhêynū).
- `אֱלֹהֵינוּ` ('ĕlōhêynū) - "our God." `אֱלֹהִים` ('elohim) is a general term for God, here with the suffix indicating possession.
- Significance: Hannah highlights the personal and relational aspect of God. He is not just "the God" but "our God"—the one who covenants with and cares for His people. This reinforces His unique trustworthiness and dependability within their personal experience.
- Words-group analysis:
- "There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee": This pair emphasizes God's incomparable nature. First, His ethical and inherent purity (holiness) is unmatched. Second, His unique existence (no one beside Him) reinforces His sole claim to divinity. These two statements together dismantle any claim of other gods or powers to His divine attributes.
- "neither is there any rock like our God": This part shifts to God's function and reliability from the perspective of His people. The metaphor of a "rock" encapsulates God's protective, strengthening, and unchanging character, affirming that no other source provides such dependable security. The personal "our God" grounds this grand theological statement in a lived, relational reality.
1 Samuel 2 2 Bonus section
This verse functions as a concise summary of three core attributes of God:
- His Holiness (Moral Attribute): God's inherent, intrinsic purity and transcendence. He is 'wholly other' from creation and sin. This attribute is the basis for His commands for His people to also be holy.
- His Uniqueness (Existential Attribute): God's singular being. There is no rival god, no co-equal, and nothing that shares His divine essence or power. This forms the bedrock of biblical monotheism.
- His Steadfastness (Relational Attribute): God's reliability as a 'Rock' to His people. This illustrates His unchanging nature (Mal 3:6), His covenant faithfulness, and His enduring capacity to protect and sustain. The "Rock" metaphor recurs throughout the Bible, frequently applied to God's role as a protector and foundation for Israel and, later, Christ as the spiritual Rock for the church.
1 Samuel 2 2 Commentary
Hannah's profound declaration in 1 Samuel 2:2 distills the very essence of Yahweh's character, setting the theological stage for the book of Samuel and indeed, much of the Old Testament. Her statement "There is none holy as the Lord" is a foundational truth asserting God's absolute moral perfection, His being set apart from all sin and impurity. This isn't merely an abstract quality but informs His actions and interactions with humanity, demonstrating His flawless justice and righteous judgments. Her subsequent assertion, "for there is none beside thee," is a bold monotheistic creed, a direct and uncompromising rejection of polytheism. It asserts that Yahweh is the sole true God, nullifying the existence or authority of all other supposed deities worshipped in the surrounding cultures. This serves as a vital polemic, establishing Israel's unique relationship with the One true God. Finally, the metaphor "neither is there any rock like our God" speaks to His unyielding strength, His unwavering dependability, and His constant nature as a refuge. Just as a physical rock provides a steadfast foundation and shelter, God is the ultimate, unchanging source of security and power for those who trust in Him. For Hannah, this meant stability after years of sorrow, and for Israel, it would signify hope and deliverance amidst tumultuous times.