1 Samuel 1: A Mother's Desperate Prayer
Barren and provoked, Hannah pours out her soul to the Lord, who remembers her and gives her a son she gives back to him.
1 Samuel 1 (WEB)
1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite:
2 and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there.
4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5 but to Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had shut up her womb.
6 Her rival provoked her severely, to make her fret, because Yahweh had shut up her womb.
7 As he did so year by year, when she went up to Yahweh’s house, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and didn’t eat.
8 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why don’t you eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of Yahweh’s temple.
10 She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Yahweh, and wept bitterly.
11 She vowed a vow, and said, “Yahweh of Armies, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give to your handmaid a boy, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head.”
12 As she continued praying before Yahweh, Eli saw her mouth.
13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunken? Put away your wine from you.”
15 Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh.
16 Don’t count your handmaid for a wicked woman; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation.”
17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.”
18 She said, “Let your handmaid find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way, and ate; and her facial expression wasn’t sad any more.
19 They rose up in the morning early, and worshiped before Yahweh, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Yahweh remembered her.
20 When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of Yahweh.”
21 The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22 But Hannah didn’t go up; for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before Yahweh, and stay there forever.”
23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may Yahweh establish his word.” So the woman waited and nursed her son, until she weaned him.
24 When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to Yahweh’s house in Shiloh. The child was young.
25 They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli.
26 She said, “Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Yahweh.
27 For this child I prayed; and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him.
28 Therefore also I have granted him to Yahweh. As long as he lives he is granted to Yahweh.” He worshiped Yahweh there.
1 Samuel 1 (KJV)
1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim–zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.
4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.
6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.
7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.
13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.
16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.
20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.
21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever.
23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the Lord establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.
27 For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.
1 Samuel 1 (ASV)
1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill-country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite:
2 and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 And this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice unto Jehovah of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests unto Jehovah, were there.
4 And when the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5 but unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Jehovah had shut up her womb.
6 And her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Jehovah had shut up her womb.
7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of Jehovah, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
8 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting upon his seat by the door-post of the temple of Jehovah.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto Jehovah, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Jehovah of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto Jehovah all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before Jehovah, that Eli marked her mouth.
13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Jehovah.
16 Count not thy handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto.
17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18 And she said, Let thy handmaid find favor in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat; and her countenance was no more sad.
19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before Jehovah, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Jehovah remembered her;
20 and it came to pass, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bare a son; and she called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of Jehovah.
21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto Jehovah the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned; and then I will bring him, that he may appear before Jehovah, and there abide for ever.
23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only Jehovah establish his word. So the woman tarried and gave her son suck, until she weaned him.
24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of Jehovah in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25 And they slew the bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, Oh, my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto Jehovah.
27 For this child I prayed; and Jehovah hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 therefore also I have granted him to Jehovah; as long as he liveth he is granted to Jehovah. And he worshipped Jehovah there.
Summary
Elkanah, a man of the hill country of Ephraim, goes up year by year to worship Yahweh of Armies at Shiloh, where Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas serve as priests. He has two wives, Peninnah who has children and Hannah whom he loves but whose womb the Lord has shut. Peninnah provokes Hannah severely, and year after year Hannah weeps and will not eat, until her husband's tender words cannot console her. In bitterness of soul she rises and prays at the temple, weeping bitterly and vowing that if God gives her a son she will give him back to the Lord all his days. Eli the priest, watching only her moving lips, mistakes her silent prayer for drunkenness, but when Hannah explains she has been pouring out her soul, he blesses her petition. She goes away and eats, her face no longer sad, and in time Yahweh remembers her and she bears a son, naming him Samuel because she asked him of the Lord. When the child is weaned she brings him to Shiloh with sacrifices and presents him to Eli, granting him to the Lord for as long as he lives. This quiet opening of grief turned to praise sets the stage for all that God will do through this child. It teaches us that God hears the cry of the lowly and answers the prayer of faith.
Main Characters
- Hannah — The beloved but barren wife of Elkanah, who pours out her soul in prayer, vows her son to the Lord, and bears Samuel.
- Elkanah — An Ephraimite who worships faithfully at Shiloh, loves Hannah deeply, and tries to comfort her in her grief.
- Eli — The aging priest at Shiloh who at first mistakes Hannah's prayer for drunkenness but then blesses her petition.
- Peninnah — Elkanah's other wife, who has children and provokes Hannah severely year after year over her barrenness.
Key Verse
1 Samuel 1:27 (WEB)
For this child I prayed; and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him.
Lessons Learned
- God invites us to bring our deepest griefs and longings honestly before him in prayer.
- The Lord hears the cry of the barren and the lowly and answers in his own time.
- True faith holds God's gifts with open hands, ready to give them back to him.
- We should be slow to judge the worship of others, as Eli was wrong about Hannah.
- Pour out your soul to the Lord. Hannah was “in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Yahweh, and wept bitterly” (1 Samuel 1:10, WEB). God welcomes our raw and honest prayers.
- God remembers the forgotten. “Yahweh remembered her” and gave her a son (1 Samuel 1:19-20, WEB). The Lord does not overlook those whom others provoke and despise.
- Vows of faith trust God to provide. Hannah vowed that if God gave her a son she would “give him to Yahweh all the days of his life” (1 Samuel 1:11, WEB). Faith both asks boldly and gives generously.
- What we receive from God we return to God. “I have granted him to Yahweh. As long as he lives he is granted to Yahweh” (1 Samuel 1:28, WEB). Our greatest blessings are stewardships, not possessions.
- How does Hannah respond to years of provocation and disappointment, and what does her response teach us?
- Why does Eli misjudge Hannah, and how does she answer him?
- What does Hannah's vow reveal about how she views her longed-for child?
- How does the phrase “Yahweh remembered her” shape the way we think about unanswered prayer?
- What deep longing or grief do you need to bring honestly before the Lord, and can you hold the answer with open hands?
- Rather than retaliating against Peninnah, Hannah brings her grief to God, weeping and praying (1:10-11). Her example shows that the right response to provocation and pain is to take it to the Lord rather than into our own hands.
- Eli sees only Hannah's moving lips and assumes she is drunk (1:13-14). When she explains she has been pouring out her soul, he blesses her. Help the group see how easily we misread one another's hearts and how grace corrects the misjudgment.
- Hannah's vow to give the boy back to the Lord shows she desires the child not merely for herself but as one consecrated to God (1:11). Her longing is real, yet held in surrender.
- “Yahweh remembered her” (1:19) does not mean God had forgotten, but that he acted at the right time. It assures us that delays are not denials and that God is at work even in long silences.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name, even silently, a longing they have carried, and to practice both honest prayer and open-handed trust. As leader, keep the tone gentle and hopeful, pointing to the God who hears.