But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
1 SAMUEL 1:22KJVWhat does 1 Samuel 1:22 mean?
1 Samuel 1:22 explains that Hannah chose not to go up to the house of the LORD with her husband because she wanted to wait until her child, Samuel, was weaned. She told her husband that after Samuel was weaned, she would bring him to appear before the LORD and leave him there permanently.
In this verse, Hannah is speaking to her husband, Elkanah, about her decision to stay home with their young son. The setting is after Samuel’s birth, and Hannah is fulfilling her vow to dedicate Samuel to God’s service. The verse highlights Hannah’s commitment and the practical steps she takes to prepare Samuel for a life devoted to the LORD.
The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 1:22
- "Weaned" (גָּמַל, gamal) means to finish nursing or to be old enough to eat solid food. In ancient Israel, this could be around three years old, showing Hannah’s careful timing in fulfilling her vow.
- "Abide" (יָשַׁב, yashav) means to stay, dwell, or remain. Hannah’s plan was not just a visit; she intended for Samuel to live at the house of the LORD permanently.
- "For ever" (עַד־עוֹלָם, ad-olam) is often understood as "for all time" or "permanently." In this context, it stresses the seriousness and lasting nature of Hannah’s promise.
Why 1 Samuel 1:22 matters
- This verse clarifies that Hannah’s dedication of Samuel was not a symbolic act but a real, lifelong commitment, as shown by her intent for him to "abide for ever."
- The verse shows the importance of timing and preparation in fulfilling vows, as Hannah waits until Samuel is ready before bringing him to the LORD.
- It connects to the wider story by setting up Samuel’s unique upbringing in the house of the LORD, which shapes his future as a prophet and leader in Israel.