The Hebrew name Šemûʾēl (שְׁמוּאֵל) is understood to mean 'heard by God' (from shama — to hear + El — God) or possibly 'his name is God.' It is the name of the great prophet and judge of Israel whose life and ministry are recorded in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. The name reflects his origin: his mother Hannah prayed and God heard her petition, resulting in Samuel's miraculous birth.
Samuel stands at one of history's great turning points — the transition from judges to monarchy in Israel. He is the last of the judges and the first of the classical prophets (Acts 3:24). His life illustrates the power of intercessory prayer (his mother Hannah's prayer, and his own intercession for Israel in 1 Samuel 7:5). Samuel was the prototype of the prophet-priest who anointed kings. He anointed both Saul and David, connecting the covenant promises to specific historical persons. His birth narrative (1 Samuel 1) is a template for miraculous divine intervention in response to faithful prayer.