1 Samuel 1:11 Meaning and Explanation
“And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Hannah vows that if the Lord gives her a son, she will give him back to the Lord for all his life, with no razor touching his head.
What Does 1 Samuel 1:11 Mean?
Hannah pours out a vow to the LORD of hosts. She asks Him to look on her affliction, to remember her, and to give her a son, and she promises that if He does, she will give the child back to God for his whole life, with no razor touching his head. That last sign marks a life set apart wholly for the Lord. Three times she calls herself His handmaid, placing herself entirely at His disposal.
Hannah's prayer is striking because the very gift she longs for she promises to give away. She does not grasp for a son to fill her own emptiness alone but offers him for God's purposes. Such open-handed faith trusts that what we surrender to the Lord is never lost but multiplied. The child she begs for will indeed belong to God, and through him the Lord will speak to all Israel.
1 Samuel 1:11 in the Original Language
zakar (זָכַר), 'remember' -- for God to remember is to act with faithful care, not merely recall.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 1:11
What does 1 Samuel 1:11 mean?
Hannah vows that if the Lord gives her a son, she will give him back to the Lord for all his life, with no razor touching his head.