1Sa 1:11 | NET2full | STEP | She made a vow saying , “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies , if you would truly look on the suffering of your servant , and would keep me in mind and not neglect your servant , and give your servant a male child , then I will dedicate him to the Lord all the days of his life . His hair will never be cut .”

‏ 1 Samuel 1:11

11 She made a vow saying, “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you would truly look ^{▼▼tn Heb “looking you look.” The expression can refer, as here, to looking favorably upon another, in this case with compassion. The paronomastic infinitive absolute, emphasizing the modality of the verb is rendered here as “truly.”} on the suffering of your servant, ^{▼▼tn Heb “handmaid.” The use of this term (translated two more times in this verse and once each in vv. 16, 17 simply as “servant” for stylistic reasons) is an expression of humility.} and would keep me in mind and not neglect ^{▼▼tn The verbs זָכַר (zakar) and שָׁכַח (shakhakh) are often translated “remember” and “forget.” But their meaning is not as narrow as the English terms. Hannah is not concerned with God’s memory capacity but about keeping her in mind to grant her request.} ^{▼▼tc The LXX omits “and not neglect your servant.”} your servant, and give your servant a male child, ^{▼▼tn Heb “seed of men.”} then I will dedicate him to the Lord all the days of his life. His hair will never be cut.” ^{▼▼tc The LXX adds “wine and strong drink he will not drink.”} ^{▼▼tn Heb “a razor will not go up upon his head.”} ^{▼▼sn This alludes to the vow of the נָזִיר (nazir) in Num 6:5. A Nazirite, or consecrated person, would make a vow for a time or for a lifetime. Among the outer signs of consecration were abstinence from alcohol and not cutting the hair for the duration of the vow. Sampson was also dedicated as a Nazirite from birth (Judg 13:7).}