1 Samuel 2:9
He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
Original Language Analysis
רַגְלֵ֤י
the feet
H7272
רַגְלֵ֤י
the feet
Strong's:
H7272
Word #:
1 of 11
a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
חֲסִידָו֙
of his saints
H2623
חֲסִידָו֙
of his saints
Strong's:
H2623
Word #:
2 of 11
properly, kind, i.e., (religiously) pious (a saint)
יִשְׁמֹ֔ר
He will keep
H8104
יִשְׁמֹ֔ר
He will keep
Strong's:
H8104
Word #:
3 of 11
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
וּרְשָׁעִ֖ים
and the wicked
H7563
וּרְשָׁעִ֖ים
and the wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
4 of 11
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ
in darkness
H2822
בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ
in darkness
Strong's:
H2822
Word #:
5 of 11
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
יִדָּ֑מּוּ
shall be silent
H1826
יִדָּ֑מּוּ
shall be silent
Strong's:
H1826
Word #:
6 of 11
to be dumb; by implication, to be astonished, to stop; also to perish
כִּי
H3588
כִּי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
7 of 11
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
8 of 11
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
בְכֹ֖חַ
for by strength
H3581
בְכֹ֖חַ
for by strength
Strong's:
H3581
Word #:
9 of 11
vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce)
Cross References
Psalms 121:3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.1 Peter 1:5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.Psalms 37:28For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.Psalms 94:18When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.Psalms 97:10Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.Job 5:24And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.Zechariah 4:6Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.Psalms 121:8The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.Proverbs 16:9A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.Deuteronomy 33:3Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.
Historical Context
The term chasidim later becomes a significant designation for the pious in Israel, eventually giving name to the Hasidic movement. In context, it describes those who, like Hannah, maintain covenant faithfulness despite difficult circumstances.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God 'keep your feet' in your daily walk?
- What areas of life are you trying to prevail in by your own strength?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Hannah's prophetic vision turns to God's protective care for His own. 'Keeping the feet' of saints implies guiding their path and preventing stumbling. The Hebrew chasidim (saints, faithful ones) describes those in covenant relationship with God. In contrast, the wicked shall be 'silent in darkness' - silenced in judgment and condemned to the shadowy realm of death. The crucial statement 'by strength shall no man prevail' returns to Hannah's core theme: human power cannot ultimately succeed against divine purposes. Victory belongs to God alone.