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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Hannah doesn't just give Samuel to God; she explicitly states she lent him, highlighting her ongoing, active participation in his dedication. This isn't a permanent surrender but a profound loan, where she trusts God with what's most precious for as long as He chooses. Her worship, immediately following, shows her deep peace in this sacred trust, even with the inherent uncertainty of a loan.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes right after Hannah, after years of barrenness and taunting, has finally conceived and given birth to her son Samuel. Having prayed desperately for a child, she now fulfills her vow to dedicate him to God's service, presenting him to Eli the priest at the sanctuary. This act is the culmination of her deep faith and a poignant moment of surrender, setting the stage for Samuel's lifelong dedication to the Lord.
Hannah's prayer was answered with Samuel, a longed-for son. But her response wasn't just joy; it was a radical act of trust. What does it mean to 'lend' your greatest treasure to God?
Hannah's declaration, 'Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD,' is breathtaking. This isn't a casual loan; it's the complete surrender of her most precious possession – her promised son.
A Mother's Faith
She had prayed fervently for a son, and God had answered. Yet, instead of clinging to him, she immediately gave him back to God's service. This demonstrates a faith that trusts God's plan even more than her own desires. Her 'yes' to God was unconditional, recognizing that Samuel was never truly hers, but always belonged to the Lord.
Hannah's prayer journey started with tears and desperation, but it ends not just with a promise kept, but with profound worship. What's the connection between giving our all and truly worshiping God?
The verse concludes with a simple yet powerful statement: 'And he worshiped the LORD there.' This worship isn't just an emotional outburst; it's the natural, inevitable response of a heart that has fully surrendered.
The Place of Worship
Hannah didn't just go home and live with her promise. She engaged in active worship right there. This signifies that true worship isn't confined to special occasions or places; it arises from a life given over to God. Her act of lending Samuel to the Lord was an act of worship in itself, and the worship recorded here is the culmination of that faith.
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Understand the original words
sha'al · Hebrew Verb
In this context, it carries the sense of dedicating, giving back, or setting apart someone or something entirely for the service and possession of God.
shachah · Hebrew Verb
To bow down, prostrate oneself, or show supreme reverence and honor to God as the only object of worship.
Hannah's courageous act of dedicating her longed-for son, Samuel, to the LORD sets the stage for Samuel's pivotal role as the last judge and first prophet to anoint Israel's kings, profoundly shaping the nation's future.
c. 1100-1050 BC
Period of the Judges ends
Israel has no king, and the people are increasingly disordered. Theítico and priestly systems are still in place, but national unity is weak.
c. 1100-1050 BC— this verse
Hannah's personal crisis
Hannah, deeply grieved and barren, prays fervently for a son at the sanctuary in Shiloh. She vows to dedicate any son to the LORD's service.
c. 1080 BC
Birth of Samuel
Hannah conceives and bears a son, whom she names Samuel. She waits until he is weaned before taking him to Shiloh.
c. 1076 BC
Samuel dedicated at Shiloh
Hannah presents Samuel to Eli the priest at the tabernacle in Shiloh, fulfilling her vow and leaving him to serve the LORD.
c. 1050 BC
The Ark is captured
The Philistines defeat Israel at Ebenezer and capture the Ark of the Covenant, a major spiritual and national disaster.
c. 1043 BC
Saul Anointed King
Samuel, now a recognized prophet and judge, anoints Saul as the first king of Israel, marking a significant shift in governance.
This passage echoes Hannah's dedication, highlighting the ancient concept of setting apart the firstborn to the Lord as a sacred offering.
Luke 2:22-24This shows Jesus' parents fulfilling the Law by presenting Him at the temple, mirroring the concept of 'lending' a child to God's service, even with the accompanying sacrifices.
John 17:15-19Jesus prays for His followers not to be taken out of the world but to be sanctified and sent into the world, similar to how Samuel was given to the Lord to serve in the tabernacle.
Romans 12:1-2This calls believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is a spiritual parallel to dedicating one's life, and the lives of our children, to God's purposes.
Hannah doesn't just give Samuel to God; she explicitly states she lent him, highlighting her ongoing, active participation in his dedication. This isn't a permanent surrender but a profound loan, where she trusts God with what's most precious for as long as He chooses. Her worship, immediately following, shows her deep peace in this sacred trust, even with the inherent uncertainty of a loan.
This verse comes right after Hannah, after years of barrenness and taunting, has finally conceived and given birth to her son Samuel. Having prayed desperately for a child, she now fulfills her vow to dedicate him to God's service, presenting him to Eli the priest at the sanctuary. This act is the culmination of her deep faith and a poignant moment of surrender, setting the stage for Samuel's lifelong dedication to the Lord.
This verse comes right after Hannah, after years of barrenness and taunting, has finally conceived and given birth to her son Samuel. Having prayed desperately for a child, she now fulfills her vow to dedicate him to God's service, presenting him to Eli the priest at the sanctuary. This act is the culmination of her deep faith and a poignant moment of surrender, setting the stage for Samuel's lifelong dedication to the Lord.
"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." — Hannah doesn't just give Samuel to God; she explicitly states she lent him, highlighting her ongoing, active participation in his dedication. This isn't a permanent surrender but a profound loan,…
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Last reviewed October 2026