1 Samuel 1:27For this child I prayed; and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him.
The setting
Shiloh sanctuary, ~1100 BC. Hannah's declaration of God's faithfulness echoes through the courtyard. She holds 3-year-old Samuel one last time before leaving him. Modern-day West Bank, Palestine.
The emotion here: overwhelmed with gratitude but bittersweet about the sacrifice ahead
The original word
šāʾaltî (שָׁאַלְתִּי) — I asked/requested, root of Samuel's name meaning 'asked of God'
Why it matters
Samuel's name becomes a permanent reminder of this prayer - every time someone calls him, they're saying 'asked of God'
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 1:27
The wordplay - Hannah 'asked' (sha'al) and received 'Samuel' (sha'ul) - God literally gave her what she asked for in the name itself
Common misconceptionPeople think this proves God always gives us exactly what we ask for, but Hannah's getting her request AND losing her child - answered prayer often comes with unexpected costs.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Samuel 1:27
Bible Genome reading
1 Samuel 1:27 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Samuel 1:27 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the judges period. The setting is the Temple. These words are attributed to Hannah. The dominant emotion in this verse is grateful, with a comfort power of 80% and a tone that is joyful. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include answered prayer, gratitude, testimony. Notable phrases: For this child I prayed; Yahweh has given me my petition.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grateful
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16
“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.”
— 2 Timothy 4:7
“It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”
— Acts 2:21
“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”
— Ephesians 2:8
“So now it wasn't you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land o…”
— Genesis 45:8
Your reflection
What does 1 Samuel 1:27 mean to you, today?
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