1 Samuel 2:4 kjv
The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
1 Samuel 2:4 nkjv
"The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are girded with strength.
1 Samuel 2:4 niv
"The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
1 Samuel 2:4 esv
The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength.
1 Samuel 2:4 nlt
The bow of the mighty is now broken,
and those who stumbled are now strong.
1 Samuel 2 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 37:17 | "For the arms of the wicked shall be broken..." | God shatters the strength of the wicked. |
| Psa 46:9 | "He makes wars cease... He breaks the bow..." | God renders human military power useless. |
| Psa 76:3 | "There he broke the flaming arrows, the shield, the sword..." | God overcomes all human weaponry. |
| Jer 49:35 | "Behold, I will break the bow of Elam..." | Prophecy of God destroying national military might. |
| Hos 1:5 | "I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel." | God punishes unfaithful Israel by removing their power. |
| Job 5:11 | "He sets on high those who are lowly..." | God elevates the humble. |
| Job 12:19 | "He leads princes away stripped, and overthrows the mighty." | God disposes and humbles powerful rulers. |
| Psa 113:7-8 | "He raises the poor from the dust... to make them sit with princes..." | God elevates the needy to positions of honor. |
| Luke 1:52-53 | "He has brought down the mighty from their thrones... He has filled the hungry with good things..." | Mary's Magnificat echoes Hannah's theme of reversal. |
| Jas 4:6 | "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." | NT affirmation of God humbling the proud. |
| 1 Cor 1:27 | "God chose what is foolish... God chose what is weak..." | God uses the weak to shame the strong and wise. |
| 2 Cor 12:9-10 | "My power is made perfect in weakness." | God's strength is revealed through human weakness. |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction..." | Humbling inevitably follows pride. |
| Prov 21:31 | "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD." | Victory depends on God's sovereignty. |
| Isa 2:11-12 | "The haughty looks... brought low... Day of the LORD... against all that is proud." | God's future judgment on human pride. |
| Isa 2:17 | "And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled..." | Reiterates God's humbling of human arrogance. |
| Isa 40:29 | "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength." | God empowers the weary and weak. |
| Isa 41:10 | "I will strengthen you..." | God's promise to strengthen His reliant people. |
| Zech 4:6 | "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit..." | God's work achieved by His Spirit, not human force. |
| Phil 4:13 | "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." | Believers are empowered by Christ. |
| Eze 21:26 | "Exalt that which is low and abase that which is high." | God's directive for a change in status. |
| Psa 29:11 | "The LORD gives strength to His people..." | God provides strength for His followers. |
| Hab 3:19 | "God, the Lord, is my strength..." | The Lord as the ultimate source of strength. |
1 Samuel 2 verses
1 Samuel 2 4 Meaning
This verse articulates a profound truth about God's character and active sovereignty: He consistently reverses human expectations and power dynamics. He dismantles the self-reliance and might of the strong and arrogant, symbolizing the breaking of their foundational power. Simultaneously, He empowers and strengthens the weak, the vulnerable, and those who acknowledge their dependency on Him, elevating them beyond their natural capabilities or perceived status. It highlights that ultimate power and control reside solely with God, and He orchestrates the world according to His righteous will.
1 Samuel 2 4 Context
This verse is a cornerstone within Hannah's exultant song of praise and prayer found in 1 Samuel 2:1-10, following her dedication of Samuel to the LORD. Her song transcends personal joy over childbirth, becoming a profound theological declaration about God's just and sovereign rule over history and human affairs. This context is critical: Hannah, previously barren and humiliated, now triumphs over her rival Peninnah, who had children. Her song foresees not only personal reversal but universal divine judgment against the proud and exultation of the humble. It sets a theological tone for the entire narrative of 1 Samuel, predicting the downfall of powerful, corrupt figures like Eli's sons and the Philistines, and foreshadowing the eventual rise of a righteous king (like David) from humble origins, signifying that divine power would reshape the political and spiritual landscape of Israel, replacing human reliance with a trust in God alone.
1 Samuel 2 4 Word analysis
- The bows (קֶשֶׁת - qeshet): This refers to the primary long-range weapon, a potent symbol of military power, strength, aggression, and human self-reliance. Its destruction implies the nullification of armed might.
- of the mighty (גִּבֹּרִים - gibborim): Literally "heroes" or "warriors." This term designates individuals distinguished by their physical strength, worldly power, social standing, or martial prowess, often signifying those who trust in their own capabilities.
- are broken (חַתִּים - ḥattim): Derived from a root meaning "to be dismayed" or "to be shattered." Here it implies complete destruction, defeat, or the rendering of something useless. It highlights divine judgment making human power ineffective.
- and those who stumbled (וְנִכְשָׁלִים - wĕniḵšālîm): This refers to "the stumbling ones," "the weak," "the faint," or "those who are falling." It describes individuals who lack physical or social strength, are oppressed, or appear insignificant and vulnerable in the eyes of the world.
- are clothed with strength (חָֽגְרוּ־חָֽיִל - ḥāḡĕrū ḥāyil): Literally "girded with strength." "Clothed" signifies receiving an endowment that fundamentally alters their condition, equipping them with divine power, vigor, or military capacity. Chayil denotes various forms of power, wealth, or fortitude. This signifies God's empowering of the humble and weak.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "The bows of the mighty are broken": This powerful image symbolizes God's direct intervention to disarm and disable human pride, aggression, and self-sufficient strength. It asserts that no human power, no matter how formidable or reliant on its own might, can withstand God's decree. This implies divine judgment upon those who are arrogant and oppressive, undermining their very foundation of control.
- "and those who stumbled are clothed with strength": This depicts a complete reversal of fortune for the downtrodden, the vulnerable, and the humble. God Himself empowers them, adorning them with divine strength, capabilities, and perhaps even honor or protection. This demonstrates that God chooses to work through the seemingly weak, vindicating them and proving His unmatched power over human weakness and societal standing. It emphasizes God’s preference for the humble and His capacity to elevate them.
1 Samuel 2 4 Bonus section
Hannah's song is frequently referred to as a "microcosm" of biblical theology, summarizing the narrative arc of God's redemptive plan through history. It not only sets the stage for the book of Samuel, foreshadowing the fate of Saul (a "mighty" king whose "bows" would be "broken") and the ascent of David (who seemed to "stumble" compared to his brothers but was "clothed with strength"), but also serves as a thematic blueprint for later prophetic writings and even the New Testament. The structural parallels between Hannah's song and Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1) are particularly striking, indicating a consistent divine pattern of God using the humble and weak (both mothers, barren then bearing instruments of God's plan) to accomplish His grand purposes, bringing down the proud and elevating the lowly across generations. This verse, therefore, embodies an enduring testament to divine justice, reversal of fortunes, and the supremacy of God’s power over all human might.
1 Samuel 2 4 Commentary
Hannah’s prophetic words in 1 Samuel 2:4 distill the biblical principle that God's sovereignty is supreme over all human power. It's a foundational declaration that worldly might, pride, and self-reliance ultimately prove futile against the will of the Almighty. The "bows of the mighty" represent human systems of power, whether military, economic, or social, built upon human strength and often pride. God declares His ability and intent to "break" them, nullifying their effectiveness and humbling those who trust in them. Conversely, "those who stumbled," the weak, the oppressed, or the marginalized, are supernaturally "clothed with strength." This highlights God's grace and active intervention to uplift the humble and vindicate the righteous who rely on Him. This verse offers both a stern warning to the proud and an enduring message of hope to the struggling, illustrating God’s just nature in bringing about cosmic and personal reversals that defy human logic.
- Example: Faced with overwhelming institutional injustice, remembering this verse calls us to trust God's ability to dismantle oppressive systems, rather than despair or rely solely on limited human efforts.
- Example: When feeling personally inadequate or defeated, realizing that God empowers the weak prompts us to lean into His grace and strength for our challenges, rather than succumb to self-pity or giving up.