1 Samuel 2:1

Hannah Exalts the Lord in Prayer

2:1 Hannah prayed, ¹ 

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;

my horn ²  is exalted high because of the Lord.

I loudly denounce ³  my enemies,

for I am happy that you delivered me. ⁴ 

1 Samuel 2:30

2:30 Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘I really did say ⁵  that your house and your ancestor’s house would serve ⁶  me forever.’ But now the Lord says, ‘May it never be! ⁷  For I will honor those who honor me, but those who despise me will be cursed!

[2:1]  ¹ tn Heb “prayed and said.” This is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified in the translation.

[2:1]  ² sn Horns of animals have always functioned as both offensive and defensive weapons for them. As a figure of speech the horn is therefore often used in the Bible as a symbol of human strength (see also in v. 10). The allusion in v. 1 to the horn being lifted high suggests a picture of an animal elevating its head in a display of strength or virility.

[2:1]  ³ tn Heb “my mouth opens wide against.”

[2:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “for I rejoice in your deliverance.”

[2:30]  ⁵ tn The infinitive absolute appears before the finite verb for emphasis.

[2:30]  ⁶ tn Heb “walk about before.”

[2:30]  ⁷ tn Heb “may it be far removed from me.”