And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the LORD.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Hannah's naming of Samuel is more than just a statement of answered prayer; it's a profound declaration that her son belongs to God from the very beginning. By calling him "Samuel," which sounds like the Hebrew word for "name of God" or "heard of God," she's publicly dedicating him, acknowledging that his very existence is a gift from the Lord and a testament to His faithfulness.
And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the LORD.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After years of barrenness, intense prayer, and a vow made in her distress at the sanctuary, Hannah finally conceives and gives birth to the son she so desperately longed for. This miraculous birth is not just a personal triumph for Hannah and her husband Elkanah, but it directly answers the prayers and fulfills the promises that set the stage for Samuel's extraordinary life and future leadership.
Hannah's journey through barrenness and deep anguish is one of the most poignant stories in the Old Testament. But it culminates in a powerful act of God's faithfulness.
The verse opens with "And in due time..." This isn't just a casual phrase; it speaks to God's perfect timing. Hannah had prayed intensely, pouring out her soul before the Lord, even making a vow.
God's Sovereign Plan
Hannah's prayer in chapter 1 was not forgotten. The text explicitly states that God "remembered her" (1 Samuel 1:19). This shows us a God who is not distant or indifferent, but one who is intimately aware of our deepest desires and struggles, and who acts according to His perfect plan and timing. Samuel’s birth wasn't accidental; it was a divine intervention.
The Meaning of His Name
Hannah’s naming of her son, Samuel, directly reflects her experience. She says, “for she said, ‘I have asked for him from the LORD.’” The name Samuel likely derives from a Hebrew root meaning 'heard of God' or 'name of God.' It's a constant, public declaration of God's gracious response to her plea.
Hannah's story isn't just about receiving a gift; it's about responding to that gift with faith and devotion. Her prayer led to a remarkable commitment.
Before Samuel was even conceived, Hannah made a significant vow to God in 1 Samuel 1:11: "O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and give to your servant a son, then I will give him back to the LORD all the days of his life..."
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The Cost of Her Request
This verse, 1 Samuel 1:20, is the immediate result of that desperate, faith-filled prayer. God answered, and Hannah kept her word. She didn’t hold onto her long-awaited son as a prize, but dedicated him to the LORD's service from his earliest years. This demonstrates a profound level of trust and obedience.
Samuel's Lifelong Calling
Samuel grew up in the tabernacle under Eli the priest, becoming a pivotal figure in Israel's history – a prophet, priest, and judge. His entire life was shaped by his mother's prayer and her courageous fulfillment of her vow. This shows that answered prayer often leads to a greater calling and responsibility.
Understand the original words
Shemu'el · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew name meaning 'heard of God' or 'God has heard.' It serves as a permanent memorial to the fact that God pays attention to the prayers of His people and intervenes in human history.
Hannah's personal prayer and vow are set against the backdrop of a spiritually declining Israel, where the priesthood was corrupt and the nation was increasingly vulnerable to its enemies, highlighting the personal faith that God uses to bring about national change.
c. 1170 BC
Israelite settlement and tribal confederation
Following their exodus from Egypt and conquest of Canaan, the twelve tribes of Israel established themselves in the land, forming a loose confederation with charismatic leaders called Judges. This period was marked by frequent struggles with surrounding nations.
c. 1130 BC
Eli serves as High Priest
Eli, a descendant of Aaron, served as the High Priest at the sanctuary in Shiloh. He was a judge of Israel and oversaw the spiritual life of the nation, though his own sons were corrupt.
c. 1100 BC
Hannah's barrenness and vow
Elkanah's wife, Hannah, was barren and deeply grieved by this, especially as Elkanah also had a second wife, Peninnah, who bore him children. During a pilgrimage to Shiloh, Hannah wept and prayed fervently to God for a son.
c. 1099 BC— this verse
Hannah prays for a son
While at Shiloh, Hannah made a solemn vow to the LORD: if He would grant her a son, she would dedicate him to the LORD's service for his entire life.
c. 1098 BC
Birth of Samuel
In God's time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son, whom she named Samuel, believing he was a gift from the LORD in answer to her prayer.
c. 1091 BC
Samuel dedicated to the LORD
After Samuel was weaned, Hannah brought him to Shiloh and presented him to Eli the priest, fulfilling her vow. The boy then began his lifelong service at the sanctuary.
c. 1050 BC
The Ark captured by Philistines
Later in Samuel's life, the Israelites suffered a devastating defeat against the Philistines. The Ark of the Covenant was captured, and Eli's corrupt sons were killed, marking a low point for Israel and its leadership.
This passage parallels Hannah's situation with Sarah's, showing God's faithfulness in granting children in unexpected or seemingly impossible circumstances after a period of waiting and prayer.
Luke 1:36-37Similar to Hannah's prayer for Samuel, Elizabeth conceived her son John the Baptist in her old age, emphasizing God's power to bring about His promises, even when humanly improbable.
Psalm 127:3This verse speaks to children as a gift from the LORD, reinforcing the theme of Hannah's prayer and naming of Samuel, highlighting that children are a blessing received from God.
1 Samuel 2:1-2Hannah's prayer of thanksgiving immediately following Samuel's birth beautifully expands on her personal joy and entrusts her son back to the LORD, demonstrating a deep faith and dedication beyond mere personal desire.
Hannah's naming of Samuel is more than just a statement of answered prayer; it's a profound declaration that her son belongs to God from the very beginning. By calling him "Samuel," which sounds like the Hebrew word for "name of God" or "heard of God," she's publicly dedicating him, acknowledging that his very existence is a gift from the Lord and a testament to His faithfulness.
After years of barrenness, intense prayer, and a vow made in her distress at the sanctuary, Hannah finally conceives and gives birth to the son she so desperately longed for. This miraculous birth is not just a personal triumph for Hannah and her husband Elkanah, but it directly answers the prayers and fulfills the promises that set the stage for Samuel's extraordinary life and future leadership.
After years of barrenness, intense prayer, and a vow made in her distress at the sanctuary, Hannah finally conceives and gives birth to the son she so desperately longed for. This miraculous birth is not just a personal triumph for Hannah and her husband Elkanah, but it directly answers the prayers and fulfills the promises that set the stage for Samuel's extraordinary life and future leadership.
"And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the LORD.”" — Hannah's naming of Samuel is more than just a statement of answered prayer; it's a profound declaration that her son belongs to God from the very beginning. By calling him "Samuel," which sounds li…
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Last reviewed October 2026