1 Samuel 2:7 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 2:7 mean?

1 Samuel 2:7 says that the LORD is the one who has the power to make someone poor or rich, to bring someone low or to lift them up. The verse highlights that changes in a person’s situation—whether good or bad—are ultimately in God’s hands.

Hannah is speaking these words as part of her prayer after God answered her and gave her a son, Samuel. She is expressing her understanding that God is in control of all circumstances, not just her own, and that He can reverse fortunes as He chooses. This verse is part of a larger song that praises God’s sovereignty and ability to change people’s lives in unexpected ways.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 2:7

• LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that it is Israel’s covenant God who acts with authority in these matters.
• poor (יָרַשׁ, yarash): This word often means “to dispossess” or “to make poor,” suggesting not just a lack of money but a loss of position or security.
• rich (עָשַׁר, ashar): This word means “to make rich” or “to enrich,” pointing to God’s ability to provide abundance or prosperity.
• low (שָׁפֵל, shaphel): This means “to bring low” or “to humble,” indicating a lowering of status or honor.
• up (רוּם, rum): This means “to lift up” or “to exalt,” showing that God can raise someone to a higher position or restore dignity.

Why 1 Samuel 2:7 matters

• 1 Samuel 2:7 makes it clear that wealth, poverty, honor, and humility are not just the result of human effort or luck, but are ultimately under God’s control.
• The verse is part of Hannah’s prayer, which sets the tone for the whole book by highlighting God’s ability to reverse human fortunes and act in surprising ways.
• This verse helps correct the idea that people’s circumstances always reflect their own merit or failure, reminding readers that God’s purposes are often bigger than what can be seen.