Hannah dedicated Samuel to God, and he faithfully served the LORD all his days.
“So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there. (v.28) These words conclude Hannah’s heartfelt vow when she brings her young son Samuel to serve under Eli the priest. Hannah had prayed earnestly in Shiloh, a town in the tribal territory of Ephraim, promising God that if He granted her a son, she would give him back to the LORD’s service. Here, she fulfills that sacred promise, presenting Samuel in the LORD’s house so that he might live entirely set apart for God’s work. This event took place in the late 11th century BC, during Israel’s transitional period from the time of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy.Hannah’s action underscores her deep gratitude and faith. She names her child “Samuel,” meaning “asked of God,” to testify how her petition had been granted. By stating, “as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD,” Hannah acknowledges that Samuel no longer belongs merely to his earthly parents but is fully devoted to the LORD’s purposes. Moreover, the fact that “he worshiped the LORD there” shows that even as a young boy, Samuel embraced the sacred duty bestowed upon him. This dedication is a picture of total surrender, demonstrating how believers can offer their very best to God in response to His blessings.
Spiritually, this verse highlights the concept of a vow to the LORD—an act of placing one’s treasures, even one’s children, into His hands without reserve. Hannah’s example of fulfilling her vow is later mirrored in the Bible by other figures who, having seen God’s hand at work, devote themselves or their possessions back to God.This narrative also foreshadows Samuel’s importance: he will become a great prophet who leads Israel through major shifts in leadership, eventually anointing the nation’s first kings.
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1 Samuel 1:28 meaning
“So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there. (v.28) These words conclude Hannah’s heartfelt vow when she brings her young son Samuel to serve under Eli the priest. Hannah had prayed earnestly in Shiloh, a town in the tribal territory of Ephraim, promising God that if He granted her a son, she would give him back to the LORD’s service. Here, she fulfills that sacred promise, presenting Samuel in the LORD’s house so that he might live entirely set apart for God’s work. This event took place in the late 11th century BC, during Israel’s transitional period from the time of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy.Hannah’s action underscores her deep gratitude and faith. She names her child “Samuel,” meaning “asked of God,” to testify how her petition had been granted. By stating, “as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD,” Hannah acknowledges that Samuel no longer belongs merely to his earthly parents but is fully devoted to the LORD’s purposes. Moreover, the fact that “he worshiped the LORD there” shows that even as a young boy, Samuel embraced the sacred duty bestowed upon him. This dedication is a picture of total surrender, demonstrating how believers can offer their very best to God in response to His blessings.
Spiritually, this verse highlights the concept of a vow to the LORD—an act of placing one’s treasures, even one’s children, into His hands without reserve. Hannah’s example of fulfilling her vow is later mirrored in the Bible by other figures who, having seen God’s hand at work, devote themselves or their possessions back to God.This narrative also foreshadows Samuel’s importance: he will become a great prophet who leads Israel through major shifts in leadership, eventually anointing the nation’s first kings.