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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to skim past the simple statement that Peninnah had children, but this detail is crucial. It immediately establishes the source of Hannah's profound sorrow and the intense pressure she faced in a culture that valued sons above all else. This isn't just a sad situation; it's the stark reality of her barrenness contrasted with her rival's fruitfulness, setting the stage for everything that follows.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage introduces us to a family in Shiloh where Elkanah has two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah, who has children, taunts Hannah relentlessly because Hannah is barren, a source of deep sorrow and shame in that culture. The verses immediately following describe Hannah's profound grief and her prayer in the temple, setting the stage for God's intervention and the birth of Samuel.
In ancient Israel, having children wasn't just a personal desire; it was a sign of blessing and societal standing. Hannah’s inability to conceive in this context was a profound source of pain.
A Deeply Felt Absence
This verse immediately introduces us to Hannah’s sorrow. In a culture where fertility was highly valued, being unable to have children was seen as a deep personal lack, and perhaps even a sign of being overlooked by God. The contrast with Peninnah, who has children, sharpens Hannah's pain. It’s not just about not having a child; it’s about the societal and personal implications of that lack.
Elkanah’s polygamous marriage creates a dynamic ripe for conflict. The presence of Peninnah, who does have children, serves as a constant, painful reminder to Hannah.
More Than Just a Wife
Polygamy in the Old Testament often led to strife and jealousy. Here, Peninnah's role seems to be that of a rival, deliberately highlighting Hannah’s barrenness, likely to assert her own favored status. This isn't just a domestic squabble; it's a spiritual and emotional battleground where Hannah's worth and favor with God are constantly questioned.
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The cultural pressure on women to bear children, especially sons, was immense. Hannah's barrenness in this context made her situation incredibly difficult, highlighting the deep personal suffering that often precedes profound spiritual breakthroughs.
c. 1100-1050 BC
Period of the Judges
This era saw Israel governed by charismatic leaders called judges, rather than a centralized monarchy. It was a time of frequent conflict and spiritual fluctuation.
c. 1080 BC— this verse
Hannah's Life
Hannah lives as one of two wives to Elkanah, enduring the pain of barrenness while her co-wife, Peninnah, bears children. This situation was deeply shaming in that culture.
c. 1075 BC
Elkanah's Annual Pilgrimage
Elkanah makes annual trips to the central sanctuary at Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord. These journeys were significant religious events.
c. 1070 BC
Birth of Samuel
Following Hannah's prayer and vow at Shiloh, she conceives and gives birth to her son, Samuel, whom she dedicates to the Lord's service.
c. 1063 BC
Samuel Serves at Shiloh
Hannah brings young Samuel to serve under Eli the priest at the tabernacle in Shiloh, fulfilling her vow.
c. 1050 BC
Rise of Samuel as Judge
Samuel begins to exercise his prophetic and judicial authority, marking a transition towards a more stable leadership in Israel.
This passage also highlights the deep pain and frustration of a woman unable to have children in ancient times, mirroring Hannah's situation.
Judges 11:30-31This story shows another individual, Jephthah, making a vow to God out of desperation, similar to how Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 1 is a desperate plea.
Luke 1:5-7This passage parallels Hannah's story with that of Elizabeth, who was also barren and later miraculously conceived, underscoring a recurring theme in Scripture of God intervening in situations of infertility.
Galatians 4:27This New Testament passage directly alludes to the Old Testament barren woman (Sarah, in context) who has more children than the one who has a husband, echoing the theme of God's power to bring life from seemingly impossible situations.
It's easy to skim past the simple statement that Peninnah had children, but this detail is crucial. It immediately establishes the source of Hannah's profound sorrow and the intense pressure she faced in a culture that valued sons above all else. This isn't just a sad situation; it's the stark reality of her barrenness contrasted with her rival's fruitfulness, setting the stage for everything that follows.
This passage introduces us to a family in Shiloh where Elkanah has two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah, who has children, taunts Hannah relentlessly because Hannah is barren, a source of deep sorrow and shame in that culture. The verses immediately following describe Hannah's profound grief and her prayer in the temple, setting the stage for God's intervention and the birth of Samuel.
This passage introduces us to a family in Shiloh where Elkanah has two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah, who has children, taunts Hannah relentlessly because Hannah is barren, a source of deep sorrow and shame in that culture. The verses immediately following describe Hannah's profound grief and her prayer in the temple, setting the stage for God's intervention and the birth of Samuel.
"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." — It's easy to skim past the simple statement that Peninnah had children, but this detail is crucial. It immediately establishes the source of Hannah's profound sorrow and the intense pressure she face…
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Last reviewed October 2026