1 Samuel 1:10 kjv

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

1 Samuel 1:10 nkjv

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish.

1 Samuel 1:10 niv

In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly.

1 Samuel 1:10 esv

She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.

1 Samuel 1:10 nlt

Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD.

1 Samuel 1 verses

1 Samuel 1 10 Meaning

This verse profoundly describes Hannah's inner turmoil, depicting her in a state of extreme emotional distress, identified as "bitterness of soul." Overwhelmed by deep sorrow due to her barrenness and the constant provocation from her rival, Peninnah, she poured out her heart in a direct, intense, and tearful plea to YHWH, the personal, covenant-keeping God. Her actions exemplify a desperate, heartfelt turning to divine power amidst profound personal suffering.

1 Samuel 1 10 Context

This verse occurs early in the Book of 1 Samuel, introducing Hannah, one of Elkanah’s two wives. The immediate preceding verses establish Elkanah’s annual pilgrimage to Shiloh to offer sacrifices and his familial arrangements, specifically noting that Hannah was childless, while Peninnah, his other wife, had children. Peninnah relentlessly provoked and distressed Hannah because of her barrenness (1 Sam 1:6). The "bitterness of soul" described in verse 10 is the culmination of years of emotional anguish, humiliation, and the social stigma of being barren in ancient Israel, where childbearing was considered a profound blessing and necessary for legacy. The scene is set at the tabernacle in Shiloh, making Hannah's personal lament and petition a spiritual act taking place in the formal worship setting.

1 Samuel 1 10 Word analysis

• And she was: Connects the deep emotional state directly to Hannah's character and ongoing experience, indicating her constant suffering rather than a momentary sadness.
• in bitterness of soul:
  • Hebrew: mar-nephesh (מַר-נֶפֶשׁ).
  • Mar (bitter) implies sharp, intense, acrid sorrow, a pervasive sense of anguish, despair, or grief that affects the entire being. It’s more than sadness; it’s a deep spiritual and emotional pain.
  • Nephesh (soul, self, life) indicates that this bitterness permeated her entire person—her emotions, mind, and very existence. It was a profound internal state. This is a common Hebrew idiom for deep internal suffering.
• and prayed:
  • Hebrew: va'titpalel (וַתִּתְפַּלֵּל). This verb form, palal, specifically means "to intercede," "to pray," or "to judge oneself," often implying a direct, earnest, and personal petition to God. It highlights Hannah’s active, conscious decision to appeal to the divine.
• unto the LORD:
  • Hebrew: YHWH (the unutterable personal name of God, often rendered "the LORD" in English translations). This signifies that Hannah directed her desperate plea not to an idol or an impersonal force, but to the covenant-keeping, living God of Israel. Her trust was in the God who had historically intervened for His people.
• and wept sore:
  • Hebrew: bakhoh tibkeh (בָּכוֹ תִּבְכֶּה). This is an emphatic construction (infinitive absolute followed by finite verb) that literally means "weeping, she wept." It conveys an extremely intense, uncontrolled, and profuse weeping, indicating the depth of her anguish and desperation being physically manifested. This was not quiet crying but deep, heart-wrenching sobs.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "in bitterness of soul... and wept sore": This pairing reveals the profound internal agony (bitterness of soul) exploding into an external, visible demonstration of grief (wept sore). It speaks to an uncontainable suffering. This complete outpouring suggests total emotional vulnerability before God.
  • "prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore": This juxtaposes action with emotion, showing that Hannah’s prayer was not a cold, formal ritual, but an earnest and agonizing plea fueled by deep distress and despair. Her weeping was part of her prayer, communicating a level of desperation that words alone might not convey. Her genuine spiritual state was intertwined with her emotional suffering.

1 Samuel 1 10 Bonus section

Hannah's prayer here is a precursor to a shift in Israelite spirituality. While sacrifices and offerings were normative, her individual, passionate pouring out of her soul set a precedent for personal piety that contrasted with the more formal, often rote, rituals seen through Eli and his sons. Her genuine spiritual desperation foreshadows the deeper, more intimate relationship God desires with His people, a relationship often explored through the Psalms. Her example highlights that a truly penitent and contrite heart (Psa 51:17), laid bare before God in desperation, is often the very type of prayer God delights to answer. The scene at Shiloh, despite being a place of formal worship, becomes a place of intimate, personal encounter due to Hannah's vulnerability and earnest seeking.

1 Samuel 1 10 Commentary

1 Samuel 1:10 portrays Hannah at her lowest ebb, a moment that defines the trajectory of her story and impacts the course of Israel’s history. Her "bitterness of soul" encapsulates the deep anguish of barrenness compounded by taunts. Yet, instead of succumbing to despair or resentment towards her husband or God, she channels her overwhelming grief into direct, fervent prayer to YHWH. The raw intensity indicated by her "weeping sore" signifies an unreserved pouring out of her deepest being to God. This verse underscores the foundational truth that genuine prayer often emerges from a place of profound brokenness, turning desperate human need into an earnest appeal to divine grace. Hannah's action serves as a timeless example that God hears the cries of the afflicted, especially those who approach Him with a sincere heart, even if through tears rather than eloquent words. It teaches that profound spiritual encounters often stem from our deepest suffering, as sorrow can drive us intimately into the presence of God.