1 Samuel 1:12 kjv

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

1 Samuel 1:12 nkjv

And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth.

1 Samuel 1:12 niv

As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.

1 Samuel 1:12 esv

As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.

1 Samuel 1:12 nlt

As she was praying to the LORD, Eli watched her.

1 Samuel 1 verses

1 Samuel 1 12 Meaning

1 Samuel 1:12 describes Hannah's sustained and fervent prayer before the Lord in the tabernacle at Shiloh. While she continued praying intensely, Eli, the High Priest, closely observed her external actions, specifically the movement of her lips. This detailed observation from Eli sets the stage for the significant interaction and initial misunderstanding that immediately follows.

1 Samuel 1 12 Context

This verse is situated at a critical moment in the life of Hannah, immediately following her anguished vow before the Lord in the tabernacle at Shiloh. Hannah, long-barren and continually provoked by her rival Peninnah, was in deep distress, pouring out her soul in prayer. The annual pilgrimage to Shiloh, where the Ark of the Covenant was housed, was a central event for Elkanah's family. Eli, as the High Priest, sat by the doorpost of the Lord's house, observing the scene. Hannah's persistent, tearful, and silent prayer is unique, especially given that traditional public prayer often involved vocalization. Eli's observation, focusing solely on the physical movement of her lips without sound, sets up his misinterpretation of her state, accusing her of being drunk, thereby highlighting the contrast between human perception and the depth of Hannah's heartfelt supplication to the Almighty.

1 Samuel 1 12 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (וַיְהִי, va-ye-hi): This is a common Hebrew narrative marker, indicating a new event or a continuation, often significant. It translates as "and it was," or "and it happened," initiating the next stage of the story. It denotes the sequential development of the plot.
• as she continued praying (בְּהַרְבּוֹתָהּ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל, be-har-bo-tah le-hit-pa-lel):
  • be-har-bo-tah (בְּהַרְבּוֹתָהּ): From the root רָבָה (ravah), meaning "to multiply," "to increase," "to be much or many." Here, in the Hiphil participle with a feminine suffix, it implies doing much, or doing repeatedly and continuously. It emphasizes the persistence and prolonged nature of Hannah's prayer. She was not just praying, but "multiplying" her prayer, indicating intensity and duration.
  • le-hit-pa-lel (לְהִתְפַּלֵּל): The infinitive of the verb פָּלַל (palal), "to pray," in the Hithpael stem. The Hithpael form often denotes reflexive action, intensive action, or reciprocal action. Here, it suggests that Hannah was making an earnest, heartfelt appeal to God, "judging herself" or "intervening on her own behalf." It reflects a deep inner anguish poured out before God.
• before the Lord (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה, lif-nei YHVH): "Before the face of YHVH (Yahweh)." This phrase indicates direct access and communion with the living God. It signifies prayer offered in His direct presence, implying reverence, submission, and an earnest appeal to His authority and mercy. It grounds Hannah's prayer in the sacred space and implies God's full attention.
• that Eli marked (וְעֵלִי מִתְבּוֹנֵן, ve-Ei-li mit-bo-nen):
  • ve-Ei-li: "And Eli."
  • mit-bo-nen (מִתְבּוֹנֵן): From the root בִּין (bin), "to understand," "to discern." Here, in the Hithpael participle, it implies a careful, continuous process of observation, examination, or discernment. Eli was "giving close attention," "observing attentively," or "pondering" what he saw. This suggests he was actively trying to figure out her behavior.
• her mouth (פִּיהָ, pi-ha): Refers specifically to her physical mouth. This detail is crucial. While Hannah's lips were moving, no sound came forth (as described in the subsequent verse). Eli, therefore, observed only the outward physical manifestation, unaware of the profound spiritual and emotional travail occurring within her heart. His observation of her mouth but not her words (because there were none audible) is the precise reason for his immediate misjudgment.

Words-group Analysis:

• "as she continued praying before the Lord": This phrase emphasizes the exceptional nature of Hannah's prayer. It wasn't a casual or brief petition but a sustained, deep, and intimate communion directly with God. The intensity of her supplication suggests a soul utterly desperate yet wholly reliant on divine intervention.
• "that Eli marked her mouth": This highlights Eli's outward, limited perception. He was focused on her physical demeanor and the visible movement of her lips, failing to perceive the profound spiritual experience occurring within her. This immediately sets up the thematic contrast between human judgment based on appearances and God's insight into the heart, and Eli's spiritual blindness.

1 Samuel 1 12 Bonus section

• A Paradigm of True Prayer: Hannah's "continued praying" that Eli "marked her mouth" sets forth a profound understanding of genuine prayer. It's not about outward show or eloquent words, but about an unburdening of the soul, a heart pouring itself out persistently before the living God, even to the point of silence (verse 13). This resonates with New Testament teachings on prayer from the heart, where the Spirit intercedes with "groanings too deep for words."
• Shiloh's Significance: While Shiloh was the primary religious center, the behavior of Eli's sons was a stark contrast to the piety of individuals like Hannah. Eli's inability to discern Hannah's sincere prayer foreshadows his wider spiritual decline and his failure to properly govern God's house, indicating the spiritual low point in Israel before the rise of Samuel.
• Literary Setup: This verse expertly sets up the subsequent dialogue (1 Sam 1:13-16), where Hannah's character and deep faith are contrasted sharply with Eli's initial misjudgment, thereby elevating Hannah as a spiritual prototype while subtly hinting at Eli's diminishing spiritual authority.

1 Samuel 1 12 Commentary

1 Samuel 1:12 presents a pivotal scene highlighting the depth of Hannah's spiritual anguish and Eli's lack of spiritual discernment. Hannah's prayer is characterized by extreme persistence and intensity ("continued praying," meaning "multiplied her prayer"). It was offered "before the Lord," indicating direct communion in the divine presence, implying sincere devotion and expectation of an answer from the Sovereign God. Uniquely, Hannah was praying in her heart, with only her lips moving, making no audible sound. This quiet, inner supplication reveals a profound spiritual struggle and a level of earnestness that transcended conventional vocal prayer.

Eli, in his capacity as High Priest, was observing those who came to worship. His attention was drawn to Hannah due to the visible, unusual activity of her mouth. However, his "marking" of her mouth, focusing on the external, led to his immediate and gravely mistaken conclusion that she was intoxicated (as revealed in verse 13). This incident serves to illustrate Eli's spiritual dullness, a theme that will reoccur throughout his narrative. He failed to perceive the spiritual brokenness and fervent faith underlying Hannah's actions. The verse subtly underscores that while man looks at the outward appearance, God looks upon the heart. Hannah's model of persistent, heartfelt, and humble prayer from a place of deep desperation and faith, despite its unorthodox silent nature, was precisely the kind of prayer God hears and honors.