1
There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim, in the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
2
He had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
3
Year by year this man would go up from his city to worship and to offer sacrifices to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh. There the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD.
4
On the day when Elkanah offered sacrifice, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters, each one a share.
5
But to Hannah he would give only one portion, because the LORD had closed her womb.
6
Her rival would provoke her bitterly, to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.
7
So it went on year after year; whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, Peninnah would provoke her, and she would weep and would not eat.
8
Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
9
Once, after they had finished eating and drinking at Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.
10
In bitterness of soul she prayed to the LORD, weeping greatly.
11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
12
As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth.
13
Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.
14
So Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put away your wine.”
15
But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.
16
Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and grief all this time.”
17
Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
18
After that the woman said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” Then the woman went away, and she ate, and her face was no longer sad.
19
They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they returned to their house at Ramah. When Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, the LORD remembered her.
20
In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named the child Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the LORD.”
21
Then the man Elkanah went up with all his household to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow offering.
22
But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “When the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear before the presence of the LORD and remain there all his life.”
23
Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems good to you; stay until you have weaned him; only, may the LORD fulfill his word.” So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24
When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. The child was still very young.
25
Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.
26
And she said, “Please, my lord, as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the LORD.
27
For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.
28
So I have given him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he is given over to the LORD.” Then they worshiped the LORD there.
👶🙏🕊️ Summary of 1 Samuel 1 – Hannah’s Prayer and Samuel’s Birth
1 Samuel 1 opens an important story about a turning point in Israel — from the time of the judges to the time of the kings — and begins with the personal story of a woman named Hannah, who was barren yet devout. Her tearful prayer brought forth Samuel, a great prophet and a bridge in Israel’s history. This chapter emphasizes the power of prayer, personal faithfulness, and divine intervention in affliction.
📌 1. Elkanah, Hannah, and Peninnah (verses 1–8)
➡️ Elkanah had two wives: Hannah (without children) and Peninnah (with children)
➡️ Peninnah often hurt Hannah deeply, because Hannah was barren
➡️ Though Hannah was loved by Elkanah, she was very distressed and wept because she had no child
🎯 Faithfulness and God’s love are not measured by our circumstances — but by the response of the heart.
📌 2. Hannah Prays at the House of God (verses 9–18)
➡️ Hannah went to the house of God in Shiloh and prayed with a broken heart
➡️ She made a vow: if given a child, she would give him to the Lord for all his life
➡️ The priest Eli first thought Hannah was drunk, but then he blessed her
🎯 Honest and personal prayer before God is never in vain — even if others misunderstand it.
📌 3. The Lord Remembers Hannah (verses 19–20)
➡️ The Lord remembered Hannah, and she conceived a son
➡️ She named the child Samuel, meaning: “I have asked him from the Lord.”
🎯 The name Samuel became a testimony that God answers the prayers of His people.
📌 4. Hannah Keeps Her Vow (verses 21–28)
➡️ After Samuel was weaned, Hannah brought him to the house of God
➡️ She gave him to Priest Eli to serve the Lord all his life
➡️ Hannah said, “For this child I prayed…”
🎯 True faith is not only asking, but also keeping our promises to God.
📖 Main Lessons
- God cares about personal suffering, even the tears of an unknown woman
- Sincere and trusting prayer can change destiny
- Waiting does not mean rejection — God has His perfect time
- A promise to God is not a small matter — Hannah becomes an example of faith and integrity
- A child born of prayer can become a great instrument in God’s plan
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 Luke 1:13
“Your prayer has been heard; your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son.”
➡️ Like Hannah, Zechariah and Elizabeth were barren — but God answered their prayer with John the Baptist.
📖 James 5:16
“The prayer of a righteous person, when prayed in faith, is very powerful.”
➡️ Hannah’s prayer is a model of effective and powerful prayer.
📖 Romans 12:1
“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice…”
➡️ Hannah offered Samuel to the Lord — we too are called to offer our lives.
📖 Philippians 4:6
“Do not be anxious… but make your requests known to God in prayer.”
➡️ Hannah came with honesty and faith — that is the attitude of true prayer.
🕊️ “Because the Lord had closed her womb.” – 1 Samuel 1:5
🕊️ “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has given me…” – 1 Samuel 1:27
🕊️ “I have lent him to the Lord…” – 1 Samuel 1:28
🕊️ “Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved.” – 1 Samuel 1:13
