Samuel
The Last Judge and First ProphetThe prophet who bridged the era of judges and kings, anointing both Saul and David as Israel's first kings
Samuel was the last of Israel's judges and the first of the prophets in the formal sense, bridging two eras. Born to a barren Hannah who dedicated him to God, Samuel heard God's voice as a child and grew to be a faithful prophet. He anointed Israel's first two kings: Saul (whom he later rejected) and David (the man after God's own heart). Samuel established schools of prophets, served as priest, judge, and prophet, and his life represents the transition from theocracy to monarchy. Even after death, his spirit was summoned by the witch of Endor to prophesy Saul's doom.
Original Name
שְׁמוּאֵל (Shemu'el)
Meaning
Heard by God, Name of God, or Asked of God
Etymology
The name Samuel likely combines 'shem' (name) with 'El' (God), meaning 'Name of God' or 'His name is God.' Hannah's explanation connects it to 'sha'al' (to ask): 'I asked him of the LORD' - a wordplay rather than strict etymology.
Linguistic Insights
Samuel's name reflects his miraculous birth - Hannah 'asked' (sha'al) God for a son, so she named him 'Heard by God' (Shemu'el). Interestingly, the name's etymology fits Saul (Sha'ul - 'asked') better than Samuel, leading some scholars to see a deliberate contrast: Samuel was truly 'asked of God' and given back to God, while Saul was 'asked' by the people who rejected God's direct rule. Samuel's declaration 'to obey is better than sacrifice' (shama' tov mizevach) uses 'shama' (to hear/obey), connecting to his name - the one 'heard by God' calls Israel to 'hear' God. The word 'navi' (prophet) is used programmatically of Samuel, marking the formal beginning of Israel's prophetic institution.
Translation Notes
- •Name explained by Hannah as 'asked of the LORD'
- •Greek Septuagint renders as 'Samouel' (Σαμουήλ)
- •Acts 3:24 marks Samuel as beginning of prophetic line
- •Called 'seer' (ro'eh) - older term for prophet (navi)
Related Terms
Born to barren Hannah after prayer
1 Samuel 1:1-20Dedicated to God at the tabernacle
1 Samuel 1:21-28Called by God as a child
1 Samuel 3:1-21Prophesied judgment on Eli's house
1 Samuel 3:11-18Led Israel to victory over Philistines at Mizpah
1 Samuel 7:3-14Judged Israel from Ramah
1 Samuel 7:15-17Warned Israel about requesting a king
1 Samuel 8:10-18Anointed Saul as first king
1 Samuel 10:1Rejected Saul's kingship
1 Samuel 15:10-29Secretly anointed David as king
1 Samuel 16:1-13Death and burial at Ramah
1 Samuel 25:1Spirit summoned by witch of Endor
1 Samuel 28:3-191 Samuel 3:10
"The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'"
1 Samuel 15:22
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice."
1 Samuel 16:7
"The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Acts 3:24
"Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days."
Hebrews 11:32
"And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets."
Born
c. 1100 BC
Died
c. 1020 BC
Lifespan
Approximately 80 years