Hannah’s faithful petitions to the Lord bore fruit in the birth of Samuel, demonstrating that God answers persistent and heartfelt prayer.
So it came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the Lord.” (v.20) This verse marks the extraordinary moment when Hannah, who had long endured the pain of childlessness, finally sees her prayers answered. The phrase in due time (v.20) points to God’s perfect timing, highlighting that Hannah’s persistent faith and patient reliance on the Lord resulted in the blessing she longed for. Hannah is an important figure in Israel’s history around the late 11th century BC, living with her husband Elkanah in the region of Ramathaim-zophim (often shortened to Ramah) in the hill country of Ephraim, located roughly 20 miles north of Jerusalem. By naming her son “Samuel,” she declares his name as a testimony that God had indeed heard her requests.
In the wider context of 1 Samuel, Hannah’s perseverance in prayer can be seen in her consistent journey to Shiloh—where the tabernacle was located—to present her heartfelt pleas to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:9-11). That location, Shiloh, was roughly in the central hill country north of Ramah, acting as the center of Israelite worship before Jerusalem became prominent centuries later. By specifically invoking the Lord’s name, Hannah also connects her personal story to the ongoing covenant relationship between Israel and God. Her experience mirrors other instances in Scripture where the Lord answers the prayers of the faithful in surprising ways, such as Elizabeth giving birth to John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-7).
Through Hannah’s example, readers can see a foreshadowing of how God uses humble and devoted individuals to achieve significant purposes in the unfolding of His plan. Her son Samuel will become one of Israel’s most influential prophets, bridging the time of the judges to the establishment of Israel’s monarchy. And in the New Testament, this theme is ultimately expressed through Jesus, whose miracles and teachings emphasize that God’s favor and salvation come to those who trust Him wholeheartedly (Matthew 21:22).
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1 Samuel 1:20 meaning
So it came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the Lord.” (v.20) This verse marks the extraordinary moment when Hannah, who had long endured the pain of childlessness, finally sees her prayers answered. The phrase in due time (v.20) points to God’s perfect timing, highlighting that Hannah’s persistent faith and patient reliance on the Lord resulted in the blessing she longed for. Hannah is an important figure in Israel’s history around the late 11th century BC, living with her husband Elkanah in the region of Ramathaim-zophim (often shortened to Ramah) in the hill country of Ephraim, located roughly 20 miles north of Jerusalem. By naming her son “Samuel,” she declares his name as a testimony that God had indeed heard her requests.
In the wider context of 1 Samuel, Hannah’s perseverance in prayer can be seen in her consistent journey to Shiloh—where the tabernacle was located—to present her heartfelt pleas to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:9-11). That location, Shiloh, was roughly in the central hill country north of Ramah, acting as the center of Israelite worship before Jerusalem became prominent centuries later. By specifically invoking the Lord’s name, Hannah also connects her personal story to the ongoing covenant relationship between Israel and God. Her experience mirrors other instances in Scripture where the Lord answers the prayers of the faithful in surprising ways, such as Elizabeth giving birth to John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-7).
Through Hannah’s example, readers can see a foreshadowing of how God uses humble and devoted individuals to achieve significant purposes in the unfolding of His plan. Her son Samuel will become one of Israel’s most influential prophets, bridging the time of the judges to the establishment of Israel’s monarchy. And in the New Testament, this theme is ultimately expressed through Jesus, whose miracles and teachings emphasize that God’s favor and salvation come to those who trust Him wholeheartedly (Matthew 21:22).