I Samuel 1:20 · Bible study
1 Samuel 1:20 Commentary: Samuel: Asked of God
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore 1 Samuel 1:20: Hannah names Samuel as a memorial of answered prayer.
Research Summary
- Meaning: "Asked of God" or "Heard of God"; a name memorializing answered prayer.
- Key words: sha'al (H7592, to ask), Shemuel (H8050, Samuel).
- Main debate: Whether the name etymologically means "asked of God" (shaul meEl) or "heard of God" (shamua El).
- Theological theme: God hears the cries of the humble and responds in His timing; answered prayer becomes a testimony.
- Best use: Preaching on the faithfulness of God, the power of persistent prayer, and the importance of memorializing God's works.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of Yahweh.”
KJV King James Version 1769
Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
and it came to pass, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bare a son; and she called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of Jehovah.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and it cometh to pass, at the revolution of the days, that Hannah conceiveth, and beareth a son, and calleth his name Samuel, `for, from Jehovah I have asked him.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And it came to pass when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bore a son, and called his name Samuel, [saying,] Because I have asked him of Jehovah.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And it came to pass when the time was come about, Anna conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel: because she had asked him of the Lord.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y fué que corrido el tiempo, después de haber concebido Anna, parió un hijo, y púsole por nombre Samuel, diciendo: Por cuanto lo demandé á Jehová.
E sucedeu que, corrido o tempo, depois de Ana haver concebido, deu à luz um filho, e pôs-lhe o nome de Samuel, dizendo: “Pois eu o pedi ao SENHOR”.
Dans le cours de l’ année, Anne devint enceinte, et elle enfanta un fils, qu’ elle nomma Samuel, car, dit-elle, je l’ ai demandé à l’ Éternel.
Und da die Tage um waren, ward Hanna schwanger und gebar einen Sohn und hieß ihn Samuel: “ denn ich habe ihn von dem HERRN erbeten.”
En het geschiedde, na verloop van dagen, dat Hanna bevrucht werd, en baarde een zoon, en zij noemde zijn naam Samuel: Want, zeide zij, ik heb hem van de HEERE gebeden.
Nel corso dell’anno, Anna concepì e partorì un figliuolo, al quale pose nome Samuele, “perché”, disse, “l’ho chiesto all’Eterno”.
I stało się po wypełnieniu dni, jako poczęła Anna, że porodziła syna, i nazwała imię jego Samuel; bo rzekła: U Panam go uprosiła.
Чрез несколько времени зачала Анна и родила сына и дала ему имя: Самуил, ибо, [говорила она], от Господа [Бога Саваофа] я испросила его.
哈拿 就懷孕。 日期 滿足，生了 一個兒子，給他起 名 叫撒母耳，說：「這是 我從耶和華 那裡求來的。」
Now the time came when Hannah, being with child, gave birth to a son; and she gave him the name Samuel, Because, she said, I made a prayer to the Lord for him.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 1:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Hannah names Samuel as a perpetual memorial of God's response to her prayer. The name itself is a witness to divine intervention. Adam Clarke points out that the Hebrew components shaul meEl ("asked of God") are contracted into the name Samuel, while Keil and Delitzsch argue the name means "heard of God" (from shamua El). Barnes also favors "heard of God," noting the parallel with Ishmael. Gill, following the same line, sees the name as a reminder both to Hannah and Samuel of the mercy shown. Matthew Henry emphasizes that the naming shows thankfulness and faith. The Cambridge Bible summarizes three possible meanings: "Name of God," "Asked of God," or "Heard of God," with the last being most probable. In all cases, the commentators affirm that the name is rooted in the fact that the Lord gave the child in answer to Hannah's earnest request.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Etymology: 'Asked of God': Based on Hebrew root sha'al (ask) + El (God). Supported by Clarke, Gill, and the plain reading of Hannah's explanation.
- Etymology: 'Heard of God': Based on root shama (hear) + El, similar to Ishmael. Supported by Keil & Delitzsch, Barnes, Cambridge Bible.
- Etymology: 'Name of God': Based on shem (name) + El. A minority view mentioned in the Cambridge Bible as an alternative.
What is clear: Hannah named her son Samuel to create a lasting memorial that God had heard her prayer and granted her request.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of the name Samuel | The name is meant as a memorial that God answered Hannah's prayer for a son. | Some interpreters (Clarke, Gill) take the name as 'asked of God,' drawing a direct line from sha'al (ask) to the name. Others (Keil, Barnes) see the name as 'heard of God,' arguing the etymology is based on shama (hear). The Cambridge Bible notes multiple possibilities and favors 'heard of God.' All sides agree the name points to divine intervention. |
| Who has the right to name a child | In this text, Hannah gives the name. Old Testament examples show both mothers and fathers naming children (Gen 4:25; 5:29; 19:37). | No substantial debate; commentators note that it was customary for either parent to name a child. Hannah, as the mother, takes this action, likely with her husband's consent (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). |
| How the name relates to Hannah's vow | The name Samuel is connected to Hannah's earlier vow (1:11) to dedicate her child to the Lord. | Some see the name itself as part of fulfilling the vow; others note that the dedication ceremony occurs later (vv. 24, 28). The naming is the first public acknowledgment of God's gift. |
| Theological significance of the name in Israel's history | Samuel became a pivotal figure, prophet, priest, and judge, and his name would remind Israel of God's faithfulness. | Interpreters vary on whether the name's meaning was later seen as prophetic of Samuel's ministry of intercession (Matthew Henry) or simply a record of his origin (Keil). |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits at the climax of a story steeped in the anguish of barrenness and the hope of prayer. Hannah had been taunted for years by her rival Peninnah, and her longing for a son drove her to the sanctuary at Shiloh, where she poured out her soul before the Lord (1:10, 11). The tabernacle at Shiloh was the central place of worship during the late period of the judges, though the priesthood, the sons of Eli, was morally corrupt.
The phrase "when the time had come" translates the Hebrew litekufot hayamim, meaning "at the revolution of days" or "at the circuit of days" (Gill, Poole). This suggests a full term from conception to birth, underscoring that the child arrived in God's appointed time. Hannah names her son herself, a practice seen elsewhere when mothers give names reflecting a divine encounter (Genesis 4:25; 29:32, 35; 30:6). The name "Samuel" binds together the Hebrew verb sha'al (ask) and the divine name El, literally meaning "asked of God" (Clarke).
Hannah's explanation, "Because I have asked him of Yahweh", serves not as a precise etymology but as a theological commentary (Keil & Delitzsch). Every time she or Samuel heard that name, it would recall the Lord's faithfulness. This naming also fulfilled the deeper longing: Samuel would become a pivotal figure in Israel's history, the last judge and the prophet who anointed Israel's first kings.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries and lexical data note no significant textual variants for 1 Samuel 1:20. The Masoretic Text and the ancient versions (LXX, Vulgate, Peshitta) all read consistently. The main interpretative issue is not textual but lexical: the etymology of the name Samuel and how it relates to Hannah's explanation.
Reception History
This verse has been treasured across Jewish and Christian traditions as a witness to the power of prayer. In Jewish thought, Hannah is a model of devout petition, and her song (1 Samuel 2) is read on Rosh Hashanah. Early Christian writers, such as Origen, saw Hannah as a type of the Church, and Samuel as a type of Christ, born in answer to longing. Through the centuries, the story has comforted those struggling with infertility and has been sung in hymns that celebrate the God who hears the afflicted. The Reformation era highlighted Hannah's faith against the corrupt priesthood at Shiloh. In contemporary preaching, 1 Samuel 1:20 is often used to teach that God answers heartfelt prayer and that our testimonies should be passed down to the next generation.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Long Wait, Hannah endured years of barrenness, but she kept praying. The phrase "when the time had come" reminds us that God's answers arrive in His calendar, not ours.
- The Gracious Gift, The Lord remembered Hannah. She conceived, bore a son, and the child was a direct answer to her desperate vow (1:11).
- The Perpetual Memorial, Hannah names her son Samuel, a word that forever links the boy to the prayer that brought him. Every time she called his name, she praised God.
Five-point outline
- Context of Conflict, Hannah's barrenness and Peninnah's provocation (1:6, 7).
- Cry of Faith, Her prayer and vow at Shiloh (1:10, 11).
- Confirmation in Worship, Eli's blessing and Hannah's changed countenance (1:17, 18).
- Conception of Promise, The Lord remembered her (1:19, 20).
- Commemoration through Naming, Samuel: a testimony that God hears the humble.
Illustration hooks
- A couple waiting years for a child finally receives a positive pregnancy test, the joy that turns a generic due date into a sacred story.
- A parent names a child after a significant family event, creating a living memory of God's goodness.
- A answered prayer that you still speak of with wonder years later: the name becomes shorthand for divine faithfulness.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I trust God when my prayer feels unanswered for years?
- What does it mean to "lend" my child to the Lord, as Hannah later does (v.28)?
- Why does God sometimes delay answers to prayer?
Leading a Discussion
This small-group study examines the link between Hannah's prayer and the naming of Samuel. The passage shows us that God not only hears but answers, and that our response should include remembering His work.
Discussion questions
- Read 1 Samuel 1:19, 20 in your preferred translation. What words or phrases stand out to you?
- Hannah names her son Samuel and explains: "Because I have asked him of Yahweh." What does this naming reveal about her heart?
- Compare this naming with other biblical mothers who named children (Genesis 4:25; 29:32). What patterns do you see in their naming?
- The Hebrew word sha'al (asked) appears in Hannah's explanation. How does her persistent asking in chapter 1 (vv. 10, 18) prepare us to understand this name?
- Why do you think the narrator includes the note that Hannah called his name Samuel? What does the act of naming accomplish in this story?
- Do you have a "Samuel" in your life, a person, event, or memory that reminds you of a specific answer to prayer?
- How can we, like Hannah, intentionally remember and celebrate God's answers in our daily lives?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 4:25 | Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, “for God has given me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” |
| Genesis 5:29 | He named him Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, caused by the ground which Yahweh has cursed.” |
| Genesis 16:11 | Yahweh’s angel said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction. |
| Genesis 29:32 | Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” |
| Genesis 29:35 | She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise Yahweh.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing. |
| Genesis 30:6 | Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan. |
| Genesis 30:21 | Afterwards, she bore a daughter, and named her Dinah. |
| Genesis 41:51 | Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, “For”, he said, “God has made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke observes that the name Samuel is a contraction of the Hebrew words meaning "asked of God," directly reflecting Hannah's petition. He notes that this name would keep both mother and son continually mindful of the divine intervention surrounding his birth.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes explains that the name Samuel means "heard of God," given because he was received in answer to prayer. He also notes that the names Ishmael and Elishama share this same meaning.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible suggests that Samuel's name most likely means "Heard of God," not "Asked of God" as often assumed. Hannah chose it as a permanent reminder that God heard her prayer, and it later proved fitting for Samuel's own powerful prayers.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note explains that Hannah named her son Samuel, meaning "asked of God," because his birth was a direct answer to her persistent prayer and request to the Lord. This highlights that the child's very name memorialized God's faithful response to her petition.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill addresses why Hannah named her son Samuel rather than Saul, given that both names relate to "asked." He explains the name means "asked before God," combining Saul, mul, and El. Hannah chose it to remind herself of her vow and to encourage Samuel toward God's service.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB draws attention to the common ancient Hebrew practice of forming names with one part including the name of God, which Samuel's name exemplifies. The commentator also notes that while naming a child was sometimes done by the father or the mother, Hannah acted with her husband's consent.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argue that Samuel's name means "heard of God," not "name of God." They derive it from the Hebrew for "heard" combined with "El," with a letter dropped. Hannah's explanation about asking for him is not a direct etymology but an interpretation based on the event.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange views the opening of Samuel as a deliberate turning point: the priesthood had failed, and a new prophetic order was necessary to restore the nation's heart. Hannah's devout vow and her son's birth are not merely personal blessings but God's providential preparation of the reformer who would reunite Israel around the living God.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights that the family rose early on their departure day specifically to worship before traveling. His point is that God should have the first part of every day, even when the day is busy with a journey home. Beginning with God is the pattern he draws from their example.