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.

1 SAMUEL 1:11KJV
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1 Samuel 1:11 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 1:11 mean?

1 Samuel 1:11 describes Hannah making a solemn promise to God: if God will see her suffering and give her a son, she will dedicate that child to God for his entire life, with the sign that no razor will ever touch his head. This is Hannah’s heartfelt prayer in her distress over being childless.

In this verse, Hannah is speaking directly to God in the temple, pouring out her grief and longing for a child. She calls God “LORD of hosts,” recognizing His power, and refers to herself as His “handmaid,” showing humility. The promise that no razor will touch her son’s head means she is vowing to make him a Nazirite—someone set apart for God in a special way.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 1:11

  • LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): Hannah addresses God by His personal name, emphasizing a close and direct appeal.
  • hosts (צְבָאוֹת, tseva’ot): This title, “LORD of hosts,” highlights God’s authority over heavenly armies, underlining His power to help in impossible situations.
  • handmaid (אָמָה, ’amah): Hannah calls herself God’s servant three times, stressing her humility and dependence on God’s mercy.
  • razor (מֹרָה, morah): The mention of a razor not coming upon the child’s head points to the Nazirite vow, which involved special dedication and separation to God.

Why 1 Samuel 1:11 matters

  • This verse shows the depth of Hannah’s faith and desperation, as she is willing to give up the very thing she longs for most if God will answer her prayer.
  • The reference to the Nazirite vow connects Samuel’s life to other figures in Israel’s history who were specially dedicated to God, like Samson.
  • Hannah’s prayer sets the stage for the birth of Samuel, who will become a major leader and prophet in Israel, showing how personal faith can have a wide impact.