1 Samuel 2:7

KJV

The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

KJV (with Strong's)

The LORD {H3068} maketh poor {H3423}, and maketh rich {H6238}: he bringeth low {H8213}, and {H637} lifteth up {H7311}.

Complete Jewish Bible

ADONAI makes poor, and he makes rich; he humbles, and he exalts.

Berean Standard Bible

The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts.

American Standard Version

Jehovah maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, he also lifteth up.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 2:7, a profound declaration from Hannah's prayer, encapsulates the absolute sovereignty of the LORD over all human affairs. It asserts that God is the ultimate arbiter of wealth and poverty, status and humility, demonstrating His comprehensive power to orchestrate destinies and reverse fortunes according to His divine will and righteous character. This verse serves as a foundational statement regarding God's active involvement in the lives of individuals and nations, highlighting His omnipotence and control over all circumstances.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of Hannah's magnificent prayer, often referred to as a "song" or "psalm," recorded in [1 Samuel 2:1-10](/1_samuel/2-1 "1 Samuel 2:1-10 - Hannah's Prayer of Thanksgiving"). This prayer is offered by Hannah at the Tabernacle in Shiloh after she has fulfilled her vow to dedicate her miraculously conceived son, Samuel, to the LORD's service. Coming immediately after the narrative of her long-suffering barrenness, her rival Peninnah's taunts, and God's gracious intervention, the prayer overflows with profound theological insight, joy, and humility. It serves as a prophetic overture to the entire book of Samuel, establishing key theological themes such as divine sovereignty, the reversal of fortunes, and God's justice in exalting the humble and bringing down the proud, themes that will be vividly illustrated through the rise of Samuel and David, and the fall of Eli's house and Saul.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Hannah's prayer takes place during the period of the Judges, a time characterized by spiritual and moral decline in Israel, as noted in [Judges 21:25](/judges/21-25 "Judges 21:25 - Everyone did what was right in their own eyes"). The narrative unfolds at Shiloh, the central place of worship where the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant were located. The practice of polygamy, though not God's ideal, was common, leading to domestic strife as seen in the rivalry between Hannah and Peninnah. Barrenness in ancient Israel was often perceived as a divine curse or a source of deep shame, making Hannah's eventual conception of Samuel a powerful testament to God's intervention and favor. The societal structure was largely agrarian, with wealth tied to land and livestock, and status often linked to family size and male offspring. Hannah's declaration about God making "poor" and "rich," "low" and "lifted up" directly addresses the socio-economic realities and status hierarchies of her time, asserting God's ultimate control over all such human distinctions.

* **Key Themes:** The central theme underscored by [1 Samuel 2:7](/1_samuel/2-7 "1 Samuel 2:7 - The LORD's Sovereignty Over Fortune") is **Divine Sovereignty**. Hannah emphatically declares that God is the ultimate orchestrator of all circumstances, not merely an observer but an active agent who controls matters of wealth, poverty, status, and destiny. This highlights His omnipotence and omnipresence, asserting that all aspects of life are ultimately under His authority. Closely related is the theme of **Reversal of Fortunes**, where God demonstrates His power to humble the proud and exalt the lowly, as seen in Hannah's own life and later in the rise of David over Saul. This powerful theme is echoed throughout Scripture, from the [Psalms](/psalms/75-7 "Psalm 75:7 - God is the Judge") to Mary's Magnificat in [Luke 1:52](/luke/1-52 "Luke 1:52 - Mary's Magnificat"). Furthermore, the verse implicitly connects to **Divine Justice and Righteousness**, suggesting that God's actions are not arbitrary but often reflect His righteous judgment, His care for the humble and oppressed, and His opposition to the arrogant.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _YHWH_):** This is the covenant name of God, Yahweh, emphasizing His personal, relational, and active involvement in the world and His covenant faithfulness to Israel. Unlike generic titles for deity, _YHWH_ signifies the self-existent, eternal God who is sovereign over all creation and actively intervenes in human history. Hannah's use of _YHWH_ here underscores that it is the one true God, the God of Israel, who holds absolute power over destiny.
* **Maketh poor / Maketh rich (Hebrew, _rashash_ / _ashar_):** The verbs denote active causation, not passive observation. _Rashash_ means "to be poor, impoverished," while _ashar_ means "to be rich, prosperous." The pairing highlights God's direct agency in controlling economic and material circumstances. It's not merely that God allows poverty or wealth, but that He actively "makes" or "causes" these conditions, demonstrating His comprehensive authority over material fortunes.
* **Bringeth low / Lifteth up (Hebrew, _shafel_ / _rum_):** These verbs refer to status, honor, and position. _Shafel_ means "to be low, humble, abased," while _rum_ means "to be high, exalted, lifted up." This pair extends God's sovereignty beyond material wealth to include social standing, power, and influence. God's ability to humble the proud and exalt the lowly is a recurring motif in biblical theology, reflecting His justice and His preference for the humble heart.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich:"** This opening clause immediately establishes the LORD's absolute control over material prosperity and deprivation. It asserts that wealth and poverty are not solely the result of human effort, luck, or socio-economic systems, but are ultimately under the direct, sovereign hand of God. This challenges human pride in riches and offers a theological framework for understanding economic disparities, grounding them in divine prerogative rather than mere chance.
* **"he bringeth low, and lifteth up."** This second clause expands the scope of God's sovereignty from material conditions to social status, power, and honor. "Bringing low" refers to abasement, humiliation, or loss of position, while "lifting up" signifies exaltation, promotion, or restoration of dignity. This parallelism reinforces the comprehensive nature of God's authority, demonstrating His power to overturn human hierarchies and reverse fortunes, often in unexpected ways that reveal His justice and His heart for the humble.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in 1 Samuel 2:7 is **Antithetical Parallelism**. This involves the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas or phrases, where the second line presents the opposite of the first, to emphasize a comprehensive truth. Here, "maketh poor" is contrasted with "maketh rich," and "bringeth low" with "lifteth up." This structure powerfully illustrates the breadth and completeness of God's control, encompassing the entire spectrum of human experience from one extreme to the other. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Merism**, a figure of speech where two contrasting parts represent the whole. By stating that God controls both poverty and wealth, and lowliness and exaltation, Hannah implies that everything in between these extremes is also under His dominion. This reinforces the idea of God's total and absolute sovereignty over all human circumstances and destinies. The direct, declarative statements also lend a sense of **Authority** and **Emphasis** to Hannah's theological pronouncement.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 2:7 is a cornerstone declaration of God's absolute sovereignty, a theme woven throughout the fabric of Scripture. It asserts that God is not merely a distant observer but an active, decisive agent in the affairs of humanity, controlling both the material and social dimensions of life. This profound truth shapes our understanding of divine providence, reminding us that all circumstances, whether favorable or adverse, ultimately fall under His wise and righteous governance. Hannah's personal experience of barrenness and subsequent miraculous conception directly illustrates this principle of God's power to reverse fortunes, bringing low the proud and exalting the humble. This verse serves as a theological foundation for trusting God in all seasons, acknowledging that true security and honor come from Him alone, not from earthly possessions or status.

* [Deuteronomy 8:18](/deuteronomy/8-18 "Deuteronomy 8:18 - God gives power to get wealth")
* [Psalm 75:6-7](/psalms/75-6-7 "Psalm 75:6-7 - God is the Judge")
* [Luke 1:52-53](/luke/1-52-53 "Luke 1:52-53 - Mary's Magnificat")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Samuel 2:7 offers profound comfort and challenge for believers today, shaping our perspective on life's inevitable ups and downs. It calls us to a radical trust in God's ultimate authority, even when circumstances are difficult or seemingly unjust. If God is the one who "maketh poor" or "bringeth low," He also has the power to "maketh rich" and "lifteth up." This provides an unshakeable foundation for hope in adversity, knowing that our ultimate destiny rests in His capable hands, and a necessary humility in prosperity, recognizing that any success, position, or abundance we hold is ultimately by His grace. This verse encourages us to hold worldly possessions and social standing loosely, understanding that they are temporary and subject to God's will. Our true security and honor are found not in earthly gains but in our relationship with the sovereign God who governs all things with perfect wisdom and justice.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's sovereignty over wealth and status challenge your personal aspirations or anxieties about material possessions?**
* **In what areas of your life do you find it most difficult to trust God's control, especially when you feel "brought low" or "made poor"?**
* **How might acknowledging God as the one who "lifts up" encourage you to serve others, particularly those who are marginalized or struggling?**
* **What practical steps can you take to cultivate humility when you experience success or abundance, remembering that it ultimately comes from God?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse mean that God actively causes poverty and suffering, or merely allows it?**

Answer: 1 Samuel 2:7 uses active verbs ("maketh poor," "bringeth low"), implying that God is not merely a passive observer but an active agent in orchestrating circumstances. This does not mean God is arbitrary or malicious; rather, it speaks to His absolute sovereignty and providential control over all things, including the full spectrum of human experience. Sometimes, God "brings low" for discipline, to humble the proud, or to prepare someone for a greater purpose, as seen in the life of Joseph, who was [brought low in slavery and prison](/genesis/39-20 "Genesis 39:20 - Joseph in Prison") before being [lifted up to power](/genesis/41-40 "Genesis 41:40 - Joseph's Exaltation"). Ultimately, all circumstances are under His wise and righteous governance, serving His ultimate purposes, which often include revealing His glory, teaching humility, or demonstrating His justice.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Samuel 2:7 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the supreme example of the one "brought low" and then "lifted up" by God. Though existing in the very nature of God, Christ "made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" ([Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7 - Christ's Humiliation")). He embraced poverty, having "no place to lay his head" ([Matthew 8:20](/matthew/8-20 "Matthew 8:20 - Jesus' Poverty")), and endured the ultimate abasement of the cross, being "made low" in death ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")). Yet, it was precisely through this profound humility and sacrifice that God "highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name" ([Philippians 2:9](/philippians/2-9 "Philippians 2:9 - Christ's Exaltation")). Jesus's life, death, and resurrection are the definitive demonstration of God's power to bring low and lift up, not based on human merit, but on divine purpose and grace. Furthermore, Christ's teachings consistently echoed this principle, promising that "whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" ([Matthew 23:12](/matthew/23-12 "Matthew 23:12 - Humility and Exaltation")), and that the "poor in spirit" are blessed, for "theirs is the kingdom of heaven" ([Matthew 5:3](/matthew/5-3 "Matthew 5:3 - The Beatitudes")). Thus, 1 Samuel 2:7 is not merely a statement about God's general sovereignty, but a prophetic foreshadowing of the gospel, where God's ultimate reversal of fortunes is achieved through the humble, crucified, and resurrected Christ, offering spiritual riches and eternal exaltation to all who believe.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 75:7

But God [is] the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Job 5:11

To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.

Deuteronomy 8:17

And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of [mine] hand hath gotten me this wealth.

Deuteronomy 8:18

But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for [it is] he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as [it is] this day.

Job 1:21

And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

James 4:10

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

James 1:9

Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: