1 Samuel

1 Samuel 1:1–8

1Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophima in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu,b the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

3Year after year Elkanah would go up from his city to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the LORD. 4And whenever the day came for Elkanah to present his sacrifice, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5But to Hannah he would give a double portion,c for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb.

6Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her viciously to taunt her. 7And this went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival taunted her until she wept and would not eat.

8“Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

Footnotes

  • a 1:1 Or from Ramathaim, a Zuphite; see LXX and 1 Chronicles 6:26|1CH 6:26and 35.
  • b 1:1 Elihu is also called Eliab and Eliel; see 1 Chronicles 6:27|1CH 6:27and 34.
  • c 1:5 Or a choice portion

Read all of 1 Samuel 1

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Samuel 1:1

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Now there wasוַיְהִי֩way·hîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
aאֶחָ֜ד’e·ḥāḏNumber - masculine singularH259 one
manאִ֨ישׁ’îšNoun - masculine singularH376 man
namedוּשְׁמ֡וֹū·šə·mōwConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH8034 name
Elkanahאֶ֠לְקָנָה’el·qā·nāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH511 Elkanah
fromמִן־min-PrepositionH4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
Ramathaim-zophimצוֹפִ֖יםṣō·w·p̄îmNoun - proper - feminine singularH7436 Ramathajim-Tsophim
in the hill countryמֵהַ֣רmê·harPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH2022 mountain, hill, hill-country
of Ephraimאֶפְרָ֑יִם’ep̄·rā·yimNoun - proper - masculine singularH669 Ephraim
the sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Jerohamיְרֹחָ֧םyə·rō·ḥāmNoun - proper - masculine singularH3395 Jerocham
the sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Elihuאֱלִיה֛וּא’ĕ·lî·hūNoun - proper - masculine singularH453 Elihu
the sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Tohuתֹּ֥חוּtō·ḥūNoun - proper - masculine singularH8459 Tochu
the sonבֶן־ḇen-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Zuphצ֖וּףṣūp̄Noun - proper - masculine singularH6689 Tsuph, Tsophai, Tsiph
an Ephraimiteאֶפְרָתִֽי׃’ep̄·rā·ṯîNoun - proper - masculine singularH673 Ephrathite

1 Samuel 1:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
He hadוְלוֹ֙wə·lōwConjunctive waw; Preposition; third person masculine singular
twoשְׁתֵּ֣יšə·têNumber - feminine dual constructH8147 two
wivesנָשִׁ֔יםnā·šîmNoun - feminine pluralH802 woman, wife, female
oneאַחַת֙’a·ḥaṯNumber - feminine singularH259 one
namedשֵׁ֤םšêmNoun - masculine singular constructH8034 name
Hannahחַנָּ֔הḥan·nāhNoun - proper - feminine singularH2584 Channah
and the otherהַשֵּׁנִ֖יתhaš·šê·nîṯArticle; Number - ordinal feminine singularH8145 second
Peninnahפְּנִנָּ֑הpə·nin·nāhNoun - proper - feminine singularH6444 Peninnah
And Peninnahלִפְנִנָּה֙lip̄·nin·nāhPreposition-l; Noun - proper - feminine singularH6444 Peninnah
hadוַיְהִ֤יway·hîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
childrenיְלָדִ֔יםyə·lā·ḏîmNoun - masculine pluralH3206 child, son, boy, youth
but Hannahוּלְחַנָּ֖הū·lə·ḥan·nāhConjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - proper - feminine singularH2584 Channah
had noneאֵ֥ין’ênAdverbH369 nothing, nought

1 Samuel 1:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Year after yearמִיָּמִ֣ים׀mî·yā·mîmPreposition-m; Noun - masculine pluralH3117 day
would go upוְעָלָה֩wə·‘ā·lāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH5927 go up, ascend, climb
from his cityמֵֽעִירוֹ֙mê·‘î·rōwPreposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH5892 excitement
to worshipלְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֧תlə·hiš·ta·ḥă·wōṯPreposition-l; Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive constructH7812 bow down
and sacrificeוְלִזְבֹּ֛חַwə·liz·bō·aḥConjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH2076 slaughter for sacrifice
to the LORDלַיהוָ֥הYah·wehPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
of Hostsצְבָא֖וֹתṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯNoun - common pluralH6635 army, war, warfare
at Shilohבְּשִׁלֹ֑הbə·ši·lōhPreposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singularH7887 Shiloh
whereוְשָׁ֞םwə·šāmConjunctive waw; AdverbH8033 there, thither
Eli’sעֵלִ֗י‘ê·lîNoun - proper - masculine singularH5941 Eli
twoשְׁנֵ֣יšə·nêNumber - masculine dual constructH8147 two
sonsבְנֵֽי־ḇə·nê-Noun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
Hophniחָפְנִי֙ḥā·p̄ə·nîNoun - proper - masculine singularH2652 Chophni
and Phinehasוּפִ֣נְחָ֔סū·p̄in·ḥāsConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH6372 Pinechas
were priestsכֹּהֲנִ֖יםkō·hă·nîmNoun - masculine pluralH3548 priest
to the LORDלַיהוָֽה׃Yah·wehPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh

1 Samuel 1:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And whenever the dayהַיּ֔וֹםhay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
cameוַיְהִ֣יway·hîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
for Elkanahאֶלְקָנָ֑ה’el·qā·nāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH511 Elkanah
to present his sacrificeוַיִּזְבַּ֖חway·yiz·baḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH2076 slaughter for sacrifice
he would giveוְנָתַ֞ןwə·nā·ṯanConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
portionsמָנֽוֹת׃mā·nō·wṯNoun - feminine pluralH4490 part, portion
to his wifeאִשְׁתּ֗וֹ’iš·tōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH802 woman, wife, female
Peninnahלִפְנִנָּ֣הlip̄·nin·nāhPreposition-l; Noun - proper - feminine singularH6444 Peninnah
and to allוּֽלְכָל־ū·lə·ḵāl-Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
her sonsבָּנֶ֛יהָbā·ne·hāNoun - masculine plural construct; third person feminine singularH1121 son
and daughtersוּבְנוֹתֶ֖יהָū·ḇə·nō·w·ṯe·hāConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine plural construct; third person feminine singularH1323 daughter

1 Samuel 1:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But to Hannahוּלְחַנָּ֕הū·lə·ḥan·nāhConjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - proper - feminine singularH2584 Channah
he would giveיִתֵּ֛ןyit·tênVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
aאַחַ֖ת’a·ḥaṯNumber - feminine singular constructH259 one
doubleאַפָּ֑יִם’ap·pā·yimNoun - mdH639 nostril, nose, face, anger
portionמָנָ֥הmā·nāhNoun - feminine singularH4490 part, portion
forכִּ֤יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
he lovedאָהֵ֔ב’ā·hêḇVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH157 love
herחַנָּה֙ḥan·nāhNoun - proper - feminine singularH2584 Channah
even though the LORDוַֽיהוָ֖הYah·wehConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
had closedסָגַ֥רsā·ḡarVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH5462 shut, close
her wombרַחְמָֽהּ׃raḥ·māhNoun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singularH7358 womb

1 Samuel 1:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Becauseכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
had closedסָגַ֥רsā·ḡarVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH5462 shut, close
wombרַחְמָֽהּ׃raḥ·māhNoun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singularH7358 womb
her rivalצָֽרָתָהּ֙ṣā·rā·ṯāhNoun - feminine singular construct; third person feminine singularH6869 id.
would provoke herהַרְּעִמָ֑הּhar·rə·‘i·māhVerb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; third person feminine singularH7481 thunder
viciouslyכַּ֔עַסka·‘asNoun - masculine singularH3708 vexation, anger
to taunt herוְכִֽעֲסַ֤תָּהwə·ḵi·‘ă·sat·tāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular; third person feminine singularH3707 be vexed, angry

1 Samuel 1:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And this went onוְכֵ֨ןwə·ḵênConjunctive waw; AdverbH3651 right, veritable, honest
yearשָׁנָ֣הšā·nāhNoun - feminine singularH8141 year
after yearבְשָׁנָ֗הḇə·šā·nāhPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singularH8141 year
Wheneverמִדֵּ֤יmid·dêPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH1767 sufficiency, enough
went upעֲלֹתָהּ֙‘ă·lō·ṯāhVerb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person feminine singularH5927 go up, ascend, climb
to the houseבְּבֵ֣יתbə·ḇêṯPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
taunted herתַּכְעִסֶ֑נָּהtaḵ·‘i·sen·nāhVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular; third person feminine singularH3707 be vexed, angry
until she weptוַתִּבְכֶּ֖הwat·tiḇ·kehConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH1058 weep, bewail
and would notוְלֹ֥אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
eatתֹאכַֽל׃ṯō·ḵalVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularH398 eat

1 Samuel 1:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Hannahחַנָּה֙ḥan·nāhNoun - proper - feminine singularH2584 Channah
whyלָ֣מֶהlā·mehInterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
are you cryingתִבְכִּ֗יṯiḇ·kîVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singularH1058 weep, bewail
her husbandאִישָׁ֗הּ’î·šāhNoun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singularH376 man
Elkanahאֶלְקָנָ֣ה’el·qā·nāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH511 Elkanah
askedוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Whyוְלָ֙מֶה֙wə·lā·mehConjunctive waw; InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
won’t youלֹ֣אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
eatתֹֽאכְלִ֔יṯō·ḵə·lîVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singularH398 eat
Whyוְלָ֖מֶהwə·lā·mehConjunctive waw; InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
is your heartלְבָבֵ֑ךְlə·ḇā·ḇêḵNoun - masculine singular construct; second person feminine singularH3824 inner man, mind, will, heart
so grievedיֵרַ֣עyê·ra‘Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH3415 quiver
Am Iאָֽנֹכִי֙’ā·nō·ḵîPronoun - first person common singularH595 I
notהֲל֤וֹאhă·lō·wAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
betterט֣וֹבṭō·wḇAdjective - masculine singularH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
to youלָ֔ךְlāḵPreposition; second person feminine singular
than tenמֵעֲשָׂרָ֖הmê·‘ă·śā·rāhPreposition-m; Number - masculine singularH6235 ten
sonsבָּנִֽים׃bā·nîmNoun - masculine pluralH1121 son

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Samuel 1:1 1 Chronicles 6:34 · 1 Chronicles 6:25–27 · 1 Samuel 1:19 · Judges 17:1 · Ruth 1:2 · Judges 19:1 · 1 Samuel 9:5

1 Samuel 1:3 Luke 2:41 · Joshua 18:1 · Deuteronomy 12:5–7 · Exodus 34:23 · Exodus 23:14 · 1 Samuel 1:21 · Deuteronomy 16:16 · 1 Samuel 1:9 · Judges 18:31

1 Samuel 1:4 Deuteronomy 12:17–18 · Deuteronomy 16:11

1 Samuel 1:5 Genesis 30:2 · Genesis 29:30–31

1 Samuel 1:6 Job 24:21 · Job 6:14 · Leviticus 18:18

1 Samuel 1:8 Ruth 4:15 · Job 6:14 · Isaiah 54:6 · 1 Thessalonians 5:14 · Psalm 43:4 · John 20:13 · John 20:15

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.