1 Samuel 1:25-28 Meaning: Holding Loosely
25They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli.
26She said, “Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Yahweh.
27I prayed for this child, and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him.
28Therefore I have also given him to Yahweh. As long as he lives he is given to Yahweh.” He worshiped Yahweh there.
25And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.
27For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.
25And they slew the bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26And she said, Oh, my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto Jehovah.
27For this child I prayed; and Jehovah hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28therefore also I have granted him to Jehovah; as long as he liveth he is granted to Jehovah. And he worshipped Jehovah there.
25And they slaughter the bullock, and bring in the youth unto Eli,
26and she saith, `O, my lord, thy soul liveth! my lord, I am the woman who stood with thee in this place , to pray unto Jehovah;
27for this youth I prayed, and Jehovah doth give to me my petition which I asked of Him;
28and also I have caused him to be asked for Jehovah, all the days that he hath lived--he is asked for Jehovah;' and he boweth himself there before Jehovah.
25And they slaughtered the bullock, and brought the boy to Eli.
26And she said, Oh my lord, [as] thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here to pray to Jehovah.
27For this boy I prayed; and Jehovah has granted me my petition which I asked of him.
28And also I have lent him to Jehovah: all the days that he lives, he is lent to Jehovah. And he worshipped Jehovah there.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Hannah bring three bulls but sacrifice only one? Discover the meaning of her dedication of Samuel and what it teaches about giving our best to God.
Context
The opening chapters of First Samuel give us a rare picture of faithful worship in a time when the people of Israel had little direction. Hannah lived with the pain of barrenness until she cried out to God at the tabernacle in Shiloh and promised that any son she received would serve the Lord all his life. God heard her. After Samuel was born and weaned, Hannah brought him to the house of the Lord. She came with three bulls, flour and wine, and when the first bull was slaughtered she brought the boy to Eli. This is the moment she keeps her vow. Every detail, from the sacrifice to the handover, is deliberate. She is not just visiting. She is fulfilling what she said she would do.
Key Words
Two Hebrew words in this passage share the same root, and Hannah uses them on purpose. The word she uses for ‘asked’ is sha’al, the same verb behind the name Samuel, which means ‘heard of God’ or ‘asked of God.’ She prayed, she asked, and God gave. But then she says, ‘I have lent him to the Lord.’ The Hebrew here is the same root in a different form: hish’altihu, meaning ‘I have given him on request’ or ‘I have dedicated him.’ It is not a loan that can be reclaimed. It is a returning of what was always meant to be His. The word ‘petition’ (she’elah) also comes from this family. Every word echoes her original vow. This is not a mother letting go reluctantly. This is a mother keeping her word with joy.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have found in Hannah a model of faithful dedication. Many see a parallel to Mary presenting Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:22), where another mother brings her firstborn to the Lord. Some emphasize Hannah’s willingness to release her son, a picture of surrendering our dearest treasures to God. Others note that the dedication of Samuel to lifelong service foreshadows the call of prophets and priests. In Reformed and Wesleyan traditions, Hannah’s prayer and vow are read as examples of fervent, persistent prayer. In Catholic teaching, the presentation of Samuel is seen as a type of Christ’s offering and a foreshadowing of religious vocation. Across traditions, the central truth holds: what God gives, we can give back.
A common misunderstanding
Some read the words ‘I have lent him to the Lord’ and imagine Hannah is making a temporary arrangement, like borrowing a book from a library. In fact, the Hebrew word here (sha’al in the Hiphil form) means to dedicate or to give over permanently. The translators use ‘lent’ because the same root can mean ‘ask for’ and ‘give on request,’ but the context makes clear: Samuel is given to the Lord for all the days of his life. This is not a loan with a return date. It is a joyful surrender.
Living This Out
This week you may hold something tight. A relationship. A hope you prayed for. Hannah shows us another way. She received Samuel as a gift, and she gave him back to the Giver. You do not have to move to a temple or give away your child. But you can open your hands in prayer and say, ‘Lord, this is Yours. I trusted You for it, and I trust You with it.’ That kind of surrender does not mean you stop caring. It means you stop clutching. You start trusting.
Main takeaway: What God gives us in answer to prayer is never truly ours to keep; it is ours to offer back to Him.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Hannah prayed very hard for a baby boy. When God gave her Samuel, she kept her promise and brought him to the temple to serve God. She showed that when God gives us something good, we can share it with Him.
For ages 9, 12
Hannah wanted a son more than anything. She made a promise to God: if He gave her a son, she would give him back to serve God all his life. When Samuel was old enough, she brought him to the tabernacle and gave him to Eli the priest. It must have been hard to say goodbye, but Hannah trusted God. She knew that Samuel was always God’s child first. You can learn from Hannah: the things you love most can be given back to God in trust.
Questions People Ask
Why did Hannah bring three bulls but only one is sacrificed?
She brought three bulls as part of the offering for Samuel’s dedication. One was likely offered as a burnt offering, and the others may have been used for a fellowship offering and a meal for the family. The text focuses on the primary sacrifice, but the others were also used in the celebration.
What does “lent to the Lord” really mean?
In the original Hebrew, the word is the same root as “asked” (sha’al). It means to give on request, to dedicate. It is not a temporary loan but a permanent offering. Samuel was given to serve the Lord for his whole life. The English word “lent” can be misleading; it is more like “given back.”
Did Hannah ever see Samuel again after she gave him to Eli?
Yes, Hannah visited Samuel each year when she came to Shiloh for the yearly sacrifice (1 Samuel 2:19). She would bring him a little robe. So she did not lose her son; she released him into God’s service and still saw him regularly.
What is the connection between the name Samuel and this passage?
The name Samuel sounds like the Hebrew phrase “heard of God” or “asked of God.” Hannah says, “Because I have asked him of the Lord” (1:20). In this passage, she uses the same verb sha’al to describe her prayer and her dedication. The name itself is a constant reminder that Samuel was given in answer to prayer and given back to God.
How did Eli respond to Hannah’s words?
The text does not record Eli’s words, but it says “he worshipped Yahweh there” (v.28). The Hebrew verb shachah (bowed down) likely refers to Eli, acknowledging the Lord’s work. Eli recognized God’s hand in Hannah’s story and joined her in worship.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study