1 Samuel 2:26

And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with man.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The narrator describes Samuel’s development in the temple, positioned between Eli’s warning about unintercessable sin against the LORD and the prophetic judgment on Eli’s household.

The words — The Hebrew וְ/הַ/נַּ֣עַר שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל הֹלֵ֥ךְ וְ/גָדֵ֖ל (ve./ha./Na.'ar she.mu.'El ho.Lekh ve./ga.Del) literally renders "and the boy Samuel was going and growing up," while וָ/ט֑וֹב גַּ֚ם עִם\־ יְהוָ֔ה (va./Tov gam 'im- Yah.weh) states "and he was good both with Yahweh."

The thread — This developmental pattern reappears in Luke 2:52 and Luke 2:40, where Jesus similarly grows in stature and wisdom while enjoying divine and human favor.

Why it lands — The text states Samuel grew physically and gained favor with God and people before drawing any theological conclusion. This progression requires the reader to observe faithful development occurring within a corrupt religious environment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְהַנַּ֣עַרve./ha./Na.'arand/ the/ lad שְׁמוּאֵ֔לshe.mu.'ElSamuel הֹלֵ֥ךְho.Lekh[was] going וְגָדֵ֖לve./ga.Deland/ [was] growing up וָט֑וֹבva./Tovand/ he was good גַּ֚םgamboth עִם־'im-with יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh וְגַ֖םve./Gam<and>/ as well as עִם־'im-with אֲנָשִֽׁים׃ ס'a.na.Shimpeople

King James Version

And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men.

Cross-references

Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2:40 And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
1 Samuel 2:21 So the LORD attended to Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.
Luke 1:80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.
Acts 2:47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Romans 14:18 For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
Proverbs 3:3 Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

People named

Samuel