1 Samuel 2:2

2:2 No one is holy ¹  like the Lord!

There is no one other than you!

There is no rock ²  like our God!

1 Samuel 2:1

Hannah Exalts the Lord in Prayer

2:1 Hannah prayed, ³ 

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;

my horn ⁴  is exalted high because of the Lord.

I loudly denounce ⁵  my enemies,

for I am happy that you delivered me. ⁶ 

1 Tawarikh 16:25

16:25 For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise,

he is more awesome than ⁷  all gods.

[2:2]  ¹ sn In this context God’s holiness refers primarily to his sovereignty and incomparability. He is unique and distinct from all other so-called gods.

[2:2]  ² tn The LXX has “and there is none righteous like our God.” The Hebrew term translated “rock” refers to a rocky cliff where one can seek refuge from enemies. Here the metaphor depicts God as a protector of his people. Cf. TEV “no protector like our God”; CEV “We’re safer with you than on a high mountain.”

[2:1]  ³ tn Heb “prayed and said.” This is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified in the translation.

[2:1]  ⁴ sn Horns of animals have always functioned as both offensive and defensive weapons for them. As a figure of speech the horn is therefore often used in the Bible as a symbol of human strength (see also in v. 10). The allusion in v. 1 to the horn being lifted high suggests a picture of an animal elevating its head in a display of strength or virility.

[2:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “my mouth opens wide against.”

[2:1]  ⁶ tn Heb “for I rejoice in your deliverance.”

[16:25]  ⁷ tn Or “feared above.”