I Samuel 2:21 · Bible study
1 Samuel 2:21 Commentary: Yahweh Visits Hannah; Samuel Grows Before the Lord
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
God's faithful visitation to Hannah after her dedication of Samuel, and the boy's growth in the presence of Yahweh, a study in divine faithfulness and
Research Summary
- Meaning: God answered Hannah’s dedication of Samuel by giving her more children, while Samuel himself matured in God’s presence at the tabernacle.
- Key words: ‘visited’ (H6485 paqad, divine intervention with covenantal force); ‘grew’ (H1431 gadal, increase in stature, wisdom, and spiritual stature).
- Main debate: Whether ‘before the Lord’ indicates physical location (residence at Shiloh) or a spiritual condition of living in God’s awareness; the Hebrew preposition im (‘with’) supports close relationship.
- Theological theme: God’s faithfulness to those who entrust their dearest gifts to Him, and the possibility of spiritual growth even in a corrupt religious environment.
- Best use: A text for sermons on answered prayer, parental dedication, and the nurture of faith in children and young people.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So the LORD attended to Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Yahweh visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. The child Samuel grew before Yahweh.
KJV King James Version 1769
And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Jehovah visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before Jehovah.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
When Jehovah hath looked after Hannah, then she conceiveth and beareth three sons and two daughters; and the youth Samuel groweth up with Jehovah.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
So Jehovah visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew before Jehovah.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the Lord visited Anna, and she conceived, and bore three sons, and two daughters: and the child Samuel became great before the Lord.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y visitó Jehová á Anna, y concibió, y parió tres hijos, y dos hijas. Y el joven Samuel crecía delante de Jehová.
E visitou o SENHOR a Ana, e concebeu, e pariu três filhos, e duas filhas. E o jovem Samuel crescia diante do SENHOR.
Lorsque l’ Éternel eut visité Anne, elle devint enceinte, et elle enfanta trois fils et deux filles. Et le jeune Samuel grandissait auprès de l’ Éternel.
Und der HERR suchte Hanna heim, daß sie schwanger ward und gebar drei Söhne und zwei Töchter. Aber Samuel, der Knabe, nahm zu bei dem HERRN.
Want de HEERE bezocht Hanna, en zij werd bevrucht, en baarde drie zonen en twee dochters; en de jongeling Samuel werd groot bij den HEERE.
E l’Eterno visitò Anna, la quale concepì e partorì tre figliuoli e due figliuole. E il giovinetto Samuele cresceva presso l’Eterno.
Tedy nawiedził Pan Annę, która poczęła i porodziła trzech synów, i dwie córek; a pacholę Samuel urósł przed Panem.
И посетил Господь Анну, и зачала она и родила еще трех сыновей и двух дочерей; а отрок Самуил возрастал у Господа.
耶和華 眷顧 哈拿，她就懷孕 生了 三個 兒子，兩個 女兒。那孩子 撒母耳 在 耶和華 面前漸漸長大。
And the Lord had mercy on Hannah and she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. And the young Samuel became older before the Lord.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 2:21
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse marks God's faithful answer to Hannah's prayer and Eli's blessing. Gill calls it a 'visitation in mercy', God confirming the blessing Eli pronounced by giving Hannah power to conceive. The Hebrew verb paqad (visited) carries covenantal weight, as at Genesis 21:1 when God visited Sarah. Matthew Henry observes that God 'visited' Hannah as a friend, fulfilling the vow she made when she lent Samuel to the Lord. On Samuel's growth, the Cambridge Bible notes three stages: physical (this verse), moral (2:26), and spiritual (3:19). Wesley adds that Samuel grew 'not only in age and stature, but especially in wisdom and goodness' before the all-seeing God. Barnes points out that 'before the Lord' refers specifically to Samuel's residence at the tabernacle, a life set apart.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God responded to Hannah’s dedication of Samuel by granting her more children, and Samuel grew up in close relationship with Yahweh.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'visited' (paqad) | God actively intervened to enable Hannah to conceive, fulfilling His covenant faithfulness. | Some see this as a specific answer to Eli's blessing (v.20), while others view it as a broader divine reward for Hannah's dedication. |
| Samuel's growth 'before the Lord' | Samuel matured physically, morally, and spiritually in the presence of God. | Whether 'before the Lord' (Heb. im Yahweh) refers primarily to his service at the tabernacle or to his personal relationship with God. |
| The number of Hannah's children | The text states three sons and two daughters were born after Samuel. | Josephus (Ant. 5.10.3) reports that Elkanah had other sons and three daughters by Hannah, possibly conflating or adding to the biblical account. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits within a stark contrast at Shiloh. Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are described as 'sons of Belial' who despised Yahweh's offering (1 Sam 2:12, 17). They abused their priestly office, taking meat by force and sleeping with women who served at the tent of meeting. Against this corruption, the child Samuel 'ministered before Yahweh' wearing a linen ephod, a simple white garment associated with priestly service (1 Sam 2:18). His mother Hannah brought him a new little robe each year when she and Elkanah made their pilgrimage for the yearly sacrifice.
Eli's blessing in verse 20 picks up Hannah's own language from her vow: 'for the petition which was asked of Yahweh.' The verb 'asked' (sha'al) echoes Samuel's name (Shemu'el, 'heard of God' or 'his name is El'). When verse 21 says 'Yahweh visited Hannah,' it connects directly to that earlier moment of desperate prayer recorded in 1 Samuel 1. The visitation is not a one-time event but a sustained act of faithfulness: Hannah conceived and bore three sons and two daughters in addition to Samuel. The wording deliberately mirrors Genesis 21:1, where God visited Sarah in her barrenness.
The final clause, 'the child Samuel grew before Yahweh,' uses the Hebrew preposition im ('with'). While English translations often render it 'before,' the original suggests a close, ongoing relationship: Samuel grew up with Yahweh. Keil and Delitzsch emphasize that Samuel's growth occurred 'in the presence of Jehovah' as one set apart for lifelong service. The contrast with Eli's sons could not be sharper: they grew up in the same sanctuary but knew not the Lord.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for 1 Samuel 2:21. The Hebrew text is stable across the Masoretic tradition, and all major English translations render the verse with nearly identical wording. The main difference is the rendering of the final preposition: most translations use 'before the Lord,' while the Hebrew has ‘im Yahweh (‘with Yahweh’). The Darby and YLT catch this nuance more closely than the KJV or WEB. The clause is not textually disputed, only translated with slight variation.
Reception History
In Christian tradition, this verse has been read as a pattern of God’s faithfulness to those who dedicate their children to Him. Early commentators connected Hannah’s visitation with Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), seeing both as examples of God exalting the humble. The phrase ‘Samuel grew before the Lord’ became a proof-text for the possibility of genuine piety in childhood, used in catechisms and devotional literature to encourage parents to nurture faith in young children. Protestant reformers such as Calvin and Luther pointed to Samuel’s growth in a corrupt priesthood as evidence that God preserves a faithful remnant even in compromised institutions. The verse continues to be cited in sermons on the blessing of surrendered lives and the importance of spiritual formation from an early age.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God visits those who trust Him. Hannah’s years of barrenness and her tearful vow at the tabernacle were not forgotten. The verb paqad implies a purposeful, saving intervention. God does not merely notice suffering; He enters it with power.
- Dedication leads to blessing. Hannah gave up her firstborn son, and God gave her five more children. The pattern is not transactional, she did not bargain, but the Lord honours a heart that releases its dearest possession back to Him.
- Spiritual growth happens in God’s presence. Samuel grew ‘with Yahweh.’ The measure of maturity is not age or achievement but proximity to God. In a corrupt environment, Samuel thrived because his life was oriented toward the Lord.
Five-point outline
- The setting: corruption in the sanctuary (1 Sam 2:12-17, 22)
- The model: Samuel’s faithful service as a boy (1 Sam 2:18-19)
- The blessing: Eli’s prayer turned into reality (1 Sam 2:20)
- The visitation: God’s answer in new children (1 Sam 2:21a)
- The growth: Samuel maturing in the Lord (1 Sam 2:21b)
Illustration hooks
- The empty nest filled. A mother who sends her child off to missions or ministry sometimes feels the loss keenly. This verse suggests that God does not leave such sacrifices unrewarded, not always with more biological children, but with fruitfulness in other ways.
- Growing up in a broken church. Samuel was surrounded by clergy who exploited their position. His growth ‘before the Lord’ shows that a toxic religious environment does not prevent personal holiness when a person stays close to God.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God still ‘visit’ people today? How do we recognise His intervention in our lives?
- I dedicated my child (or my career, my dream) to God. What if I don’t see visible fruit like Hannah did?
- How can a young person grow spiritually when the adults around them are not good examples?
Leading a Discussion
Hannah’s story begins in anguish and ends in abundance. In 1 Samuel 2:21, we see that God not only remembered her earlier prayer but poured out additional blessing. Yet the real focus of the verse is Samuel, the boy who grew up ‘with Yahweh’ even while Eli’s sons disgraced the priesthood. This passage invites us to consider what it means to live in God’s presence and to trust His timing.
Discussion questions
- Read 1 Samuel 1:9-11 and 2:20-21. What connections do you see between Hannah’s vow and God’s visitation?
- The Hebrew word paqad (visited) is used in Genesis 21:1 for Sarah and in Luke 1:68 for the coming of Christ. What kind of ‘visitation’ is happening here?
- Why do you think the narrator includes the detail about three sons and two daughters? What does this tell us about God’s character?
- Samuel grew ‘before the Lord’ or ‘with the Lord.’ What does that phrase imply about his daily life at Shiloh? Compare his environment with that of Eli’s sons.
- How does Samuel’s growth challenge our assumptions about when and where spiritual formation happens?
- Have you ever felt that a sacrifice or dedication you made went unnoticed? How does this verse speak to that feeling?
- What one change could you make this week to ‘grow before the Lord’ more intentionally?
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 21:1 | Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said, and Yahweh did to Sarah as he had spoken. |
| Judges 13:24 | The woman bore a son and named him Samson. The child grew, and Yahweh blessed him. |
| I Samuel 1:19 | They rose up in the morning early and worshiped Yahweh, then returned and came to their house to Ramah. Then Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Yahweh remembered her. |
| I Samuel 1:20 | When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of Yahweh.” |
| I Samuel 2:26 | The child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with Yahweh and also with men. |
| I Samuel 3:19 | Samuel grew, and Yahweh was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. |
| Luke 1:68 | “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people; |
| Luke 1:80 | The child was growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel. |
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
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
See the marginal references. The words “before the” Lord have special reference to his residence at the tabernacle.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes three distinct dimensions in Samuel's growth: physical, moral, and spiritual. Each stage is marked by a different aspect of development, with moral growth demonstrated in gaining favour and spiritual growth in prophetic experience.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes emphasize that Samuel grew "before the Lord," meaning his entire development was lived in God's conscious presence. The note also highlights that God "visited" Hannah, underscoring that both her children and Samuel's growth came by divine initiative, not human effort.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill sees God visiting Hannah as a merciful confirmation of Eli's blessing, granting her three sons and two daughters and fulfilling her earlier prophecy. He notes that these other children are recorded nowhere else in Scripture, while Samuel grew in stature and grace before the Lord.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch stresses that Samuel's linen ephod was simple white cloth, unlike the high priest's ornate version. This modest dress suited his lifelong service at the sanctuary. Eli's blessing on his parents was fulfilled when God gave Hannah more children, while Samuel grew up near the Lord, protected and blessed.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange highlights the sharp contrast between Samuel's faithful service and the corrupt priesthood of Eli's sons, who "knew not the Lord." He argues the priesthood had failed its mediating role, so God raised Samuel—a Levite, not a priest—as the true servant who would become the living center of the theocracy and the channel for new revelations.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry contrasts young Samuel's faithful ministry in the sanctuary with Eli's sons, who were wicked and profaned the offerings. While the sons abused their priestly position, Samuel grew in favor with God and man. God also blessed Hannah with more children, showing He never forgets what is lent to Him.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses that Jesus’ growth was not merely physical but especially in wisdom and goodness. He also distinguishes between human and divine perception: what appears virtuous before people can be deceptive, but Jesus truly grew in God’s all-seeing judgment.