1 Samuel 2:6

The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

The LORD {H3068} killeth {H4191}, and maketh alive {H2421}: he bringeth down {H3381} to the grave {H7585}, and bringeth up {H5927}.

"ADONAI kills and makes alive; he brings down to the grave, and he brings up.

The LORD brings death and gives life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

Jehovah killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to Sheol, and bringeth up.

Commentary

1 Samuel 2:6, part of Hannah's powerful song of thanksgiving and prophecy, encapsulates a profound truth about God's absolute sovereignty. Following the miraculous birth of Samuel and his dedication to the Lord, Hannah pours out her heart, acknowledging God's unique and ultimate control over all aspects of existence.

Context

This verse is found within Hannah's prayer (1 Samuel 2:1-10), a prophetic hymn uttered after she fulfilled her vow to dedicate her son, Samuel, to the Lord. Having experienced the pain of barrenness and the joy of divine intervention, Hannah's song is not merely personal praise but a sweeping declaration of God's character and power. It contrasts the proud and the humble, the strong and the weak, demonstrating that the Lord alone orchestrates human destinies and the course of history.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty over Life and Death: The core message is God's supreme authority. He is the ultimate arbiter of life and death, illustrating that no human power can supersede His will. This speaks to His creative power and His right to sustain or end life.
  • Control Over Destiny and Fortune: "He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up" extends beyond physical death to encompass the rise and fall of individuals and nations. It highlights God's ability to humble the proud and exalt the lowly, reversing human expectations and demonstrating His justice. This resonates with the broader theme in Hannah's song of God making poor and rich, bringing low and lifting up.
  • Foreshadowing of Resurrection: While not explicitly a New Testament concept of resurrection, the phrase "maketh alive" and "bringeth up" carries a powerful implication of restoration and renewal, even from the brink of death or despair. It foreshadows the ultimate victory over the grave found in Christ.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "grave" here is Sheol (Χ©Φ°ΧΧΧ•ΦΉΧœ), which in Old Testament contexts often refers to the realm of the dead, the underworld, or the common abode of departed spirits. It doesn't always carry the specific New Testament understanding of hell or heaven, but rather the destination of all humanity after death. The phrase "bringeth up" implies not just a physical rising but also a spiritual or existential restoration from a state of lowliness or despair.

Related Scriptures

This declaration by Hannah finds echoes throughout Scripture, emphasizing God's absolute power:

  • Deuteronomy 32:39 states, "See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand." This direct parallel underscores the uniqueness of God's power.
  • Psalm 75:7 similarly declares, "But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another," reinforcing the theme of divine control over human status.
  • The New Testament provides the ultimate fulfillment of God's power over death in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, demonstrating God's supreme authority to bring life out of death.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 Samuel 2:6 offers profound comfort and challenge. It reminds us that God is ultimately in control, even amidst life's most challenging circumstances. When faced with loss, sickness, or despair, we can find hope in His ability to "make alive" and "bring up." Conversely, it serves as a powerful call to humility, recognizing that any position of strength or prominence is ultimately by His grace. This verse encourages absolute trust in the Lord's sovereign plan, knowing that His ways are just and His power is limitless, offering a deep sense of security and a proper perspective on our place in His grand design.

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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 32:39 (18 votes)

    ΒΆ See now that I, [even] I, [am] he, and [there is] no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither [is there any] that can deliver out of my hand.

  • Isaiah 26:19 (11 votes)

    Thy dead [men] shall live, [together with] my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew [is as] the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

  • 2 Kings 5:7 (7 votes)

    And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, [Am] I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

  • Jonah 2:2 (6 votes)

    And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, [and] thou heardest my voice.

  • Jonah 2:6 (6 votes)

    I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars [was] about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.

  • Revelation 1:18 (6 votes)

    [I am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

  • Job 5:18 (5 votes)

    For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.