Bible Strands
1 Samuel 2:9
He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Hannah, in the temple at Shiloh, sings this as a prayer of praise to the LORD after receiving the promise of a son, before Eli the priest.
The words — יִדָּ֑מּוּ (yi-da-mu), "they will be silenced," from the root דָּמָם, carries the sense of being made to cease entirely, stronger than the English "perish."
The thread — The claim that no one prevails by their own strength echoes Psalms 33:16; the image of God guarding a person's steps appears in Psalms 121:3 and 91:11.
Why it lands — It forces a choice: the verse ties divine protection to faithfulness and denies that self-reliance is a viable ground for anyone, faithful or not.
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
King James Version
He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
Cross-references
- Psalms 91:11 For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
- Psalms 121:3 He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.
- Psalms 33:16 No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.
- 1 Peter 1:5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
- Job 5:24 You will know that your tent is secure, and find nothing amiss when inspecting your home.
- Psalms 37:28 For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.
- Psalms 94:18 If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.
- Psalms 97:10 Hate evil, O you who love the LORD! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
- Zechariah 4:6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.
- Deuteronomy 33:3 Surely You love the people; all the holy ones are in Your hand, and they sit down at Your feet; each receives Your words—