1 Samuel 1:10
She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
1 Samuel 1:10
She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
It's not just that Hannah is sad; the Hebrew word used to describe her distress suggests a deep, internal suffering, a profound anguish that goes beyond mere unhappiness. Her bitter weeping isn't a plea for sympathy, but a raw, uninhibited pouring out of her soul before God in a moment of absolute desperation. This raw emotional honesty is exactly what God hears and responds to.
Hannah is feeling utter despair because she is unable to have children, and Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah, constantly taunts her about it. In this moment of intense personal pain and humiliation, Hannah turns to God in a raw, emotional prayer, pouring out her anguish in tears. This prayer leads to a pivotal encounter with Eli the priest, which ultimately sets the stage for the birth of Samuel.
Hannah's grief was so profound it spilled out in tears. But notice where she took it: straight to God. What does this tell us about bringing our deepest pain to prayer?
Honesty in the Heart
This verse doesn't present prayer as a polite request; it's a raw, emotional outpouring. Hannah was 'deeply distressed' and 'wept bitterly.' This wasn't a quiet sigh; it was a heart laid bare before the Lord.
Prayer as Sanctuary
In her anguish, Hannah turned to the LORD. This highlights prayer not just as an act of worship, but as a sanctuary—a safe place to bring our messiest feelings and most desperate needs. God can handle our tears, our anger, our sorrow, and our honest pleas.
Hannah's weeping wasn't a one-time event; it was the start of a persistent prayer journey. What can we learn from her determined faith when answers don't come immediately?
Beyond a Single Sentence
Hannah's 'wept bitterly' and 'prayed' signifies more than a fleeting moment. The surrounding narrative (which we'll see later) reveals this was an ongoing struggle, a deep yearning expressed repeatedly.
Faith in the Waiting
This isn't just about asking; it's about continuing to ask, even when the situation seems hopeless. Hannah's intense sorrow fueled her persistence. Her prayer wasn't defeated by her circumstances but became a testament to her trust that God heard and would act, even if the timing was His.
Understand the original words
palal · Hebrew Verb
To communicate with God, often involving petition, thanksgiving, or confession. Biblical prayer is grounded in the belief that God hears, cares, and has the power to intervene in human circumstances.
c. 1100-1050 BC
Eli Serves as High Priest
Eli, a priest and judge in Israel, oversaw the tabernacle at Shiloh during a time of spiritual decline.
c. 1100-1050 BC— this verse
Hannah's Barrenness
Hannah, a devout woman, experiences years of deep sorrow due to her inability to conceive a child, a source of shame in that culture.
c. 1100-1050 BC
Peninnah Provokes Hannah
Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah, relentlessly taunts Hannah about her barrenness, intensifying Hannah's anguish.
c. 1100-1050 BC
Hannah's Vow at Shiloh
In her desperation, Hannah makes a solemn vow to God at the tabernacle, promising to dedicate her future son to the Lord's service.
c. 1100-1050 BC
Eli's Misunderstanding
Eli the priest initially mistakes Hannah's fervent prayer for drunkenness, but later blesses her.
Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow, highlighting the importance of unceasing prayer, much like Hannah’s bitter weeping and desperate plea.
Psalm 6:6-7The psalmist expresses a similar profound grief and weariness from sorrow, crying out to God with tears, mirroring Hannah's deep distress and fervent prayer.
Jeremiah 9:1The prophet Jeremiah also weeps bitterly over the sin and suffering of his people, showing that deep anguish before God can be a response to devastating circumstances.
John 11:35This verse, 'Jesus wept,' shows that even Jesus was moved to tears by suffering and sorrow, validating the depth of emotion Hannah expressed in her prayer.
It's not just that Hannah is sad; the Hebrew word used to describe her distress suggests a deep, internal suffering, a profound anguish that goes beyond mere unhappiness. Her bitter weeping isn't a plea for sympathy, but a raw, uninhibited pouring out of her soul before God in a moment of absolute desperation. This raw emotional honesty is exactly what God hears and responds to.
Hannah is feeling utter despair because she is unable to have children, and Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah, constantly taunts her about it. In this moment of intense personal pain and humiliation, Hannah turns to God in a raw, emotional prayer, pouring out her anguish in tears. This prayer leads to a pivotal encounter with Eli the priest, which ultimately sets the stage for the birth of Samuel.
Hannah is feeling utter despair because she is unable to have children, and Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah, constantly taunts her about it. In this moment of intense personal pain and humiliation, Hannah turns to God in a raw, emotional prayer, pouring out her anguish in tears. This prayer leads to a pivotal encounter with Eli the priest, which ultimately sets the stage for the birth of Samuel.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about 1 Samuel 1:10 is available in the Sola app.
"She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly." — It's not just that Hannah is sad; the Hebrew word used to describe her distress suggests a deep, internal suffering, a profound anguish that goes beyond mere unhappiness. Her bitter weeping isn't a p…