Hannah's Song of Praise
1 Samuel 2:1-11
1 S.2.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותתפלל: VERB,hitp,impf,3,f,sg
- חנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- עלץ: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לבי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1cs
- ביהוה: PREP+PN,sg
- רמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- קרני: NOUN,f,sg,suff1
- ביהוה: PREP+PN,sg
- רחב: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- פי: NOUN,m,sg,construct
- על: PREP
- אויבי: NOUN,m,pl,suff1
- כי: CONJ
- שמחתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- בישועתך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff2
Parallels
- Luke 1:46-55 (thematic): Mary's Magnificat echoes Hannah's themes of personal exultation in God, divine reversal (lifting the lowly/bringing down the proud), and praise for God's salvific action; the opening lines and overall shape are closely parallel.
- Psalm 112:9 (verbal): Uses the image of the 'horn' being exalted for the righteous—parallel to Hannah's 'my horn is exalted' (cf. symbolic language of strength and vindication).
- Exodus 15:11 (verbal): The Exodus song's rhetorical question 'Who is like you, O LORD?' and its emphasis on God's uniqueness and holiness parallels Hannah's declaration that there is none holy like the LORD and her exaltation of God.
- Psalm 18:46-49 (cf. 2 Samuel 22:47-49) (thematic): A victory/thanksgiving song that celebrates God as savior who exalts the speaker over enemies—echoes Hannah's joy in God's salvation and the motifs of deliverance and vindication.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD; my mouth has grown wide over my enemies; I rejoice in your salvation."
- Hannah prayed and said, My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD; my mouth is enlarged over my enemies, for I rejoice in your saving help.
1 S.2.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אין: PART,neg
- קדוש: ADJ,m,sg
- כיהוה: PREP+PN,sg,m
- כי: CONJ
- אין: PART,neg
- בלתך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- ואין: CONJ+PART,exist
- צור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כאלהינו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,pl
Parallels
- Exodus 15:11 (verbal): Both passages use the rhetorical question 'Who/There is none like the LORD' and celebrate God's uniqueness and holiness in triumphant praise.
- 2 Samuel 22:32 (verbal): Direct verbal parallel in the declaration 'Who is God but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?' closely echoing 'there is no rock like our God.'
- Psalm 86:8 (verbal): Affirms the theme that 'among the gods there is none like you, O Lord,' emphasizing God's incomparable status similarly to 1 Samuel 2:2.
- Isaiah 40:25 (thematic): Rhetorical challenge 'To whom then will you liken me?' expresses the same theological claim of God's uniqueness and incomparability found in 1 Samuel 2:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- There is no one holy like the LORD; for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
- There is no one holy like the LORD; for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
1 S.2.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אל: NEG
- תרבו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- תדברו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- גבהה: ADJ,f,sg
- גבהה: ADJ,f,sg
- יצא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עתק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מפיכם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,pr,2,pl
- כי: CONJ
- אל: NEG
- דעות: NOUN,f,pl,cstr
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ולו: CONJ+PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- נתכנו: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,pl
- עללות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 139:1 (verbal): ’O LORD, you have searched me and known me’ — echoes the idea that God knows/investigates inner life, paralleling ‘the LORD is a God of knowledge.’
- Proverbs 5:21 (verbal): ‘For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths’ — similar motif that God weighs and examines human actions.
- Proverbs 16:5 (thematic): ‘Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD’ — parallels the warning against proud/arrogant speech in 1 Sam 2:3.
- Psalm 138:6 (verbal): ‘Though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he knows from afar’ — connects God’s knowledge/judgment of the haughty and his stance toward the proud.
- James 4:6 (quotation): ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’ — New Testament echo of the OT theme condemning pride and affirming God’s scrutiny of the proud.
Alternative generated candidates
- Do not speak with pride, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him deeds are weighed.
- Do not boast, do not speak with a haughty mouth; let not arrogance come from your lips—for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him deeds are weighed.
1 S.2.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- קשת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גברים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- חתים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ונכשלים: VERB,niphal,part,3,m,pl
- אזרו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- חיל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Sam. 2:7-8 (structural): Immediate context within Hannah’s song; neighboring lines develop the same theme of divine reversal — God raises the lowly and brings down the proud.
- Luke 1:52 (allusion): Mary’s Magnificat echoes Hannah’s hymn of reversal: 'he has brought down the mighty' parallels the image of the mighty’s bows being broken.
- Isaiah 40:29 (thematic): Both passages stress God’s empowerment of the weak: 'He gives power to the faint' corresponds to 'those who stumbled are girded with strength.'
- Psalm 18:34 (verbal): Shared bow imagery about God and strength — Psalm’s 'my arms can bend a bow' contrasts and complements Hannah’s depiction of the mighty’s bows being broken by God.
Alternative generated candidates
- He breaks the bow of the mighty, and those who stumbled gird themselves with strength.
- The bows of the mighty are broken, while those who stumbled have girded themselves with strength.
1 S.2.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שבעים: NUM,card,m,pl
- בלחם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נשכרו: VERB,niphal,perf,3,pl
- ורעבים: CONJ+ADJ,m,pl,abs
- חדלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- עד: PREP
- עקרה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- ילדה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- שבעה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ורבת: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אמללה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Luke 1:52-53 (allusion): Mary’s Magnificat echoes Hannah’s song of reversal language—God brings down the mighty, fills the hungry, and sends the rich away empty—mirroring the social and theological reversals in 1 Sam 2:5.
- Psalm 113:9 (verbal): Explicitly links God’s action to the barren woman becoming a joyful mother, paralleling the line about the barren bearing seven and God’s reversal of fortune.
- Isaiah 54:1 (thematic): Uses the motif of the barren woman rejoicing and bearing many children; thematically echoes the promise of transformation from sterility to fruitful increase found in 1 Sam 2:5.
- 1 Samuel 1:20 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel within the Hannah cycle: after her prayer/song (1 Sam 2), the account in 1 Sam 1:20 records Hannah’s conception and birth of Samuel, illustrating the fulfillment of the barrenness-to-childbearing motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- The well-fed hire themselves for bread and the hungry cease; the barren has borne seven, and she who had many children grows weak.
- The full hire themselves for bread, while the hungry cease to be hungry; the barren has borne seven, and she who has many children languishes.
1 S.2.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ממית: VERB,hif,perf,3,m,sg
- ומחיה: VERB,hif,ptc,3,m,sg
- מוריד: VERB,hif,ptc,3,m,sg
- שאול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויעל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 32:39 (verbal): Uses nearly the same language of divine sovereignty over life and death: 'I kill and I make alive' (Hebrew parallel to 1 Sam 2:6).
- Ezekiel 37:12-14 (thematic): God promises to open graves and bring the exiles up from Sheol—a development of the motif 'brings down to the grave and brings up.'
- Job 1:21 (thematic): Affirms the same theological idea of Yahweh's control over giving and taking life ('The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away'), emphasizing divine sovereignty in life/death events.
- Psalm 104:29-30 (thematic): Speaks of God taking away breath so people die and of sending forth his Spirit to give life—juxtaposing divine action that kills and makes alive, similar to 1 Sam 2:6.
- Acts 3:15 (allusion): New Testament reflection on God's power over death: God raised Jesus 'whom God raised from the dead,' echoing the OT claim that God brings down to the grave and brings up.
Alternative generated candidates
- The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
- The LORD brings death and gives life; he brings down to Sheol and brings up.
1 S.2.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מוריש: VERB,hiph,ptcp,m,sg
- ומעשיר: CONJ+VERB,piel,ptc,3,m,sg
- משפיל: VERB,piel,ptc,3,m,sg
- אף: ADV
- מרומם: VERB,piel,ptc,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Luke 1:52 (allusion): Mary’s Magnificat echoes Hannah’s song (1 Sam 2), using the same reversal language—bringing down the mighty and exalting the humble.
- Psalm 75:6-7 (verbal): Speaks of God’s sovereign justice: ‘no one is exalted by human origin… God brings down one and exalts another,’ closely paralleling the language of humbling and lifting up.
- Psalm 113:7-8 (thematic): Describes God raising the poor from the dust and seating the needy with princes—the same theme of God reversing social fortunes.
- Daniel 4:17 (thematic): Asserts the Most High’s sovereign rule to give and remove kingdoms and to set over them the lowliest—reflecting divine power to humble and exalt.
Alternative generated candidates
- The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he humbles and also exalts.
- The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and lifts up.
1 S.2.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- מקים: VERB,qal,ptc,NA,m,sg
- מעפר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דל: ADJ,m,sg
- מאשפת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ירים: VERB,qal,yiqtol,3,m,sg
- אביון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- להושיב: VERB,hifil,inf,NA,NA,NA
- עם: PREP
- נדיבים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וכסא: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כבוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ינחלם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- מצקי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וישת: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- תבל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 113:7-8 (quotation): Nearly identical language and thought: God raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap to seat them with princes (verbal and situational parallel to Hannah's song).
- Luke 1:52-53 (allusion): Mary’s Magnificat echoes Hannah’s hymn: God brings down the mighty and lifts the lowly, filling the hungry and sending the rich away — same reversal-of-fortunes theme and likely deliberate echo.
- Isaiah 61:1-3 (thematic): Proclaims divine vindication and restoration (comfort for the oppressed, ‘beauty for ashes’), resonating with the image of lifting the poor from ashes and elevating them to honor.
- Job 5:11 (verbal): Uses comparable wording about God ‘setting on high those who are low,’ reflecting the motif of divine exaltation of the humble and afflicted.
- James 4:6 (thematic): New Testament ethical application of the theme: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble — echoes the motif that God exalts the lowly and humbles the proud.
Alternative generated candidates
- He raises the poor from the dust, lifts the needy from the ash heap, to seat them with princes— with the princes of his people— and to give them a seat of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world.
- He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to set them among princes and to give them a seat of honor; for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world.
1 S.2.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- רגלי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- חסידיו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss3ms
- ישמר: VERB,qal,imprf,3,m,sg
- ורשעים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בחשך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ידמו: VERB,qal,imprf,3,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- בכח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יגבר: VERB,qal,imprf,3,m,sg
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ps.121:3 (verbal): ‘He will keep the feet of his saints’ echoes Ps 121:3’s ‘He will not let your foot be moved’ — both speak of God’s protection of the believer’s steps.
- Zech.4:6 (verbal): ‘For by strength shall no man prevail’ corresponds to Zech 4:6’s formula ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit’ — a statement that divine success is not by human strength.
- Ps.37:23-24 (thematic): The idea that the LORD establishes and upholds the righteous’ steps (though they may stumble) parallels 1 Sam 2:9’s promise that he will guard the feet of his faithful, contrasted with the fate of the wicked.
- Ps.1:6 (thematic): ‘The LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish’ thematically matches the contrast in 1 Sam 2:9 between God’s preservation of the faithful and the doom/silencing of the wicked.
Alternative generated candidates
- He will guard the steps of his faithful ones; the wicked shall be silent in darkness—for by strength no one prevails.
- He will guard the feet of his faithful; but the wicked shall be silenced in darkness, for no one prevails by force.
1 S.2.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- יחתו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- מריביו: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3,m,sg
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- בשמים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ירעם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ידין: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אפסי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עז: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- למלכו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- וירם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- קרן: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- משיחו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 132:17 (verbal): Uses the same imagery of a 'horn' for David and 'my anointed' (Heb. mashiach): 'There I will make the horn of David to bud; I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.' — a close verbal parallel to 1 Sam 2:10's 'raise the horn of his anointed.'
- Psalm 18:50 (2 Samuel 22:51) (verbal): Speaks of God giving victories to his king and showing steadfast love to his anointed (David), echoing 1 Sam 2:10's idea that the LORD gives strength to his king and exalts his anointed.
- Psalm 2:8-12 (thematic): Portrays Yahweh's installation and vindication of his king and the theme of divine judgment on the nations—'Ask of me... and I will give you the nations'—which parallels 1 Sam 2:10's themes of God judging foes and exalting the king/Anointed.
- 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (structural): The Davidic covenant promises God will establish David's house and offspring and secure his throne forever—structurally related to 1 Sam 2:10's affirmation that God will strengthen the king and exalt the horn of his anointed.
Alternative generated candidates
- The LORD will thunder against them that contend with him; from heaven he will judge. The LORD will give strength to his king and will exalt the horn of his anointed.
- The LORD will strike down his adversaries; from heaven the LORD will thunder and judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.
1 S.2.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אלקנה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הרמתה: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs+3,f,sg
- על: PREP
- ביתו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והנער: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משרת: NOUN,m,sg,cstr
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- עלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 1:24-28 (structural): Hannah brings and dedicates the child to the house of the LORD, providing the narrative basis for the boy’s service before Eli.
- 1 Samuel 2:18 (verbal): Repeats the language that Samuel, though a child, 'ministered before the LORD' (girded with a linen ephod), directly paralleling the service described in 2:11.
- 1 Samuel 3:1 (verbal): States again that the boy Samuel 'ministered unto the LORD before Eli,' continuing the same setting and role noted in 2:11.
- 1 Samuel 2:26 (thematic): Summarizes Samuel’s growth: the child 'grew in favor with the LORD and with men,' linking his early service before Eli to his maturation and standing.
- Luke 2:41-52 (esp. v.52) (thematic): Like Samuel’s early service and subsequent growth, Jesus’ temple episode and verse 52 ('Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man') echo the theme of a boy serving/taught in the sanctuary and prospering before God and people.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Elkanah went up to his house, and the child ministered before the LORD, at the presence of Eli the priest.
- And Elkanah went up to his house at Ramah. The boy ministered before the LORD, serving in the presence of Eli the priest.
And Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted by the LORD; my mouth has been enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation."
"There is no one holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is no Rock like our God."
"Do not boast, do not speak with proud lips—let not haughtiness come from your mouths; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him deeds are weighed."
"The bows of the mighty are broken, and those who stumble are girded with strength."
"The full hire themselves for bread, and the hungry cease; the barren has borne seven, while she who has many children grows faint."
"The LORD kills and gives life; he brings down to Sheol and brings up."
"The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he humbles, and he also exalts."
"He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap to seat them with princes and to give them a throne of honor; for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he has set the world upon them."
"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be silenced in darkness; for by might no one prevails."
"The LORD will bring low those who contend with him; he will thunder against them from heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and will exalt the horn of his anointed." And Elkanah went up to Ramah to his house; and the boy ministered before the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest.