1 Samuel 2:6

6 "The LORD causes people to die. He also gives people life. He brings people down to the grave. He also brings people up.

1 Samuel 2:6 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 2:6

The Lord killeth, and maketh alive
Which is true of different persons; some he takes away by death, and others he preserves and continues in life; and of the same persons, whom God removes by death, and restores them to life again, of which there are instances both in the Old and New Testament; and be they which they will, both are of God, he is the great Disposer of life and death. Death is of him; it is by his appointment; it is sent by his order; and when it has a commission from him, there is no resisting it; and let it be brought about by what means it will, still it is of God: and life is of him; it is first given by him, and it is preserved by him; and though taken away, it shall be restored at the resurrection of the dead; of which some interpret this clause, as Kimchi and Ben Gersom observe: and what is here said is true, in a spiritual sense; the Lord kills by the law, or shows men that they are dead in sin, and in a legal sense; and he makes alive by his Spirit, through the Gospel, quickening such who were dead in trespasses and sins; which is his own work, and the effect of divine power and grace; (See Gill on Deuteronomy 32:39).

he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up;
he bringeth some very near to the grave, to the very brink of it; so that in their own apprehensions, and in the opinion of their friends, they are just dropping into it, and no hope of recovery left; when he says to them "Return", and brings them back from the pit, and delivers them from going into it, ( Job 33:22 Job 33:28 Job 33:30 ) ( Psalms 90:3 ) and even when they are laid in it, he brings up out of it again, as in the case of Lazarus, and which will be the case in the resurrection, ( John 5:28 John 5:29 ) .

1 Samuel 2:6 In-Context

4 "The bows of great heroes are broken. But those who trip and fall are made strong.

5 Those who used to be full have to work for food. But those who used to be hungry aren't hungry anymore. The woman who couldn't have children has seven of them now. But the woman who has had many children is sad now because hers have died.

6 "The LORD causes people to die. He also gives people life. He brings people down to the grave. He also brings people up.

7 The LORD makes people poor. He also makes people rich. He brings people down. He also lifts people up.

8 He raises poor people up from the trash pile. He lifts needy people out of the ashes. He lets them sit with princes. He gives them places of honor. "The foundations of the earth belong to the Lord. On them he has set the world.