1 Samuel 2:1 Meaning and Explanation
“And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Hannah, once barren and grieving, breaks into a song of praise after God grants her a son, rejoicing not in the child but in the Lord who saved her.
What Does 1 Samuel 2:1 Mean?
Having vowed to give her son to the Lord and now having brought young Samuel to the tabernacle, Hannah lifts a prayer of pure exultation. The woman who had wept in bitterness of soul now sings. Her words open one of Scripture's great hymns, a song Mary would later echo when she magnified the Lord.
Hannah's joy is fixed not on her gift but on the Giver. Her heart rejoices in the Lord; her strength, her 'horn,' is lifted by him alone. She glories in his salvation, not her changed circumstance. True praise looks past the blessing to the One who blesses, and finds its deepest gladness there. Every answered prayer is meant to lead the heart back to God himself.
1 Samuel 2:1 in the Original Language
qeren (קֶרֶן), 'horn' -- an animal's horn, a symbol of strength and dignity lifted up in victory.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 2:1
What does 1 Samuel 2:1 mean?
Hannah, once barren and grieving, breaks into a song of praise after God grants her a son, rejoicing not in the child but in the Lord who saved her.