1 Samuel 1:11
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.
Original Language Analysis
וַתִּדֹּ֨ר
And she vowed
H5087
וַתִּדֹּ֨ר
And she vowed
Strong's:
H5087
Word #:
1 of 29
to promise (pos., to do or give something to god)
לַֽיהוָה֙
O LORD
H3068
לַֽיהוָה֙
O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 29
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֜וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֜וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
5 of 29
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
6 of 29
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
תִרְאֶ֣ה׀
if thou wilt indeed
H7200
תִרְאֶ֣ה׀
if thou wilt indeed
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
7 of 29
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
תִרְאֶ֣ה׀
if thou wilt indeed
H7200
תִרְאֶ֣ה׀
if thou wilt indeed
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
8 of 29
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
וּזְכַרְתַּ֙נִי֙
and remember
H2142
וּזְכַרְתַּ֙נִי֙
and remember
Strong's:
H2142
Word #:
11 of 29
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
12 of 29
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִשְׁכַּ֣ח
me and not forget
H7911
תִשְׁכַּ֣ח
me and not forget
Strong's:
H7911
Word #:
13 of 29
to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
14 of 29
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וּנְתַתִּ֤יו
but wilt give
H5414
וּנְתַתִּ֤יו
but wilt give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
16 of 29
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
זֶ֣רַע
child
H2233
זֶ֣רַע
child
Strong's:
H2233
Word #:
18 of 29
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
אֲנָשִׁ֑ים
H376
אֲנָשִׁ֑ים
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
19 of 29
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
וּנְתַתִּ֤יו
but wilt give
H5414
וּנְתַתִּ֤יו
but wilt give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
20 of 29
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לַֽיהוָה֙
O LORD
H3068
לַֽיהוָה֙
O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
21 of 29
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
22 of 29
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יְמֵ֣י
all the days
H3117
יְמֵ֣י
all the days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
23 of 29
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
חַיָּ֔יו
of his life
H2416
חַיָּ֔יו
of his life
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
24 of 29
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
26 of 29
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יַעֲלֶ֥ה
come
H5927
יַעֲלֶ֥ה
come
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
27 of 29
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
Cross References
Judges 13:5For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.Numbers 6:5All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.Genesis 29:32And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.Ecclesiastes 5:4When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.Psalms 25:18Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.Genesis 30:22And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.1 Samuel 1:19And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.Genesis 28:20And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,Numbers 6:8All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD.Judges 11:30And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,
Historical Context
The Nazirite vow typically involved abstaining from wine, avoiding corpses, and not cutting hair. While usually temporary, lifelong Nazirites included Samson (by divine command) and Samuel (by maternal vow). John the Baptist would later follow this pattern (Luke 1:15).
Questions for Reflection
- What does Hannah's willingness to give back the very thing she prayed for teach about true devotion?
- How might God be calling you to dedicate something precious to His service?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Hannah's vow contains several significant elements. She addresses God as 'LORD of hosts,' acknowledging His sovereign power over all creation. Her self-designation as 'handmaid' (amah, female servant) three times emphasizes humble submission. The request for a 'man child' (literally 'seed of men') would provide both personal vindication and national blessing. The Nazirite vow ('no razor upon his head') dedicated the child to lifelong sacred service (Numbers 6:1-21). Hannah's promise to 'give him unto the LORD' transformed a personal petition into an offering for God's purposes.