1 Samuel 1:5 kjv
But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
1 Samuel 1:5 nkjv
But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb.
1 Samuel 1:5 niv
But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb.
1 Samuel 1:5 esv
But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb.
1 Samuel 1:5 nlt
And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portion because the LORD had given her no children.
1 Samuel 1 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:30 | And Sarai was barren; she had no child. | Similar biblical accounts of barrenness |
| Gen 16:2 | And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children...” | God's active role in fertility/infertility |
| Gen 20:18 | For the Lord had closed every womb of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. | Explicit divine action in closing wombs |
| Gen 25:21 | Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer... | Prayer for barrenness, God answers |
| Gen 29:31 | When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. | God's sovereignty over who conceives |
| Gen 30:22 | Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. | God remembers and opens the womb |
| Judg 13:2-3 | There was a certain man... whose wife was barren and had no children... an angel appeared... | Another significant birth from a barren woman |
| Lk 1:7 | But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. | New Testament example of divine reversal of barrenness |
| Lk 1:25 | “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach...” | God removing the societal shame of barrenness |
| Ps 127:3 | Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. | Children as a divine gift, under God's control |
| Ps 139:13 | For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. | God's hand in creation and life from conception |
| Jer 1:5 | “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you...” | God's pre-birth knowledge and purpose for individuals |
| 1 Cor 1:27 | But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak... | God uses weakness for His glory, as with barren Hannah |
| 2 Cor 12:9 | But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” | God's power made manifest in human limitation |
| Eph 5:25 | Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... | Elkanah's love exemplifies biblical marital love |
| Col 3:19 | Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. | Command to husbands, shown by Elkanah's action |
| Job 2:10 | Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil? | Acknowledging God's sovereignty in all circumstances |
| Rom 9:15-16 | “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”.. | God's sovereign choice, not human striving |
| Isa 66:9 | “Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?” says the Lord... | God initiates and completes His work, including birth |
| Ps 34:18 | The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. | God's comfort to Hannah in her distress |
| Heb 10:23 | Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. | Holding onto God's faithfulness despite struggle |
1 Samuel 1 verses
1 Samuel 1 5 Meaning
First Samuel 1:5 details Elkanah’s specific provision and affection for Hannah, his childless wife, during the yearly sacrificial feast at Shiloh. Despite his other wife Peninnah having children, Elkanah demonstrably showed greater love and honor to Hannah by giving her a unique and preferential portion of the sacrifice. This tender affection for Hannah is explicitly stated as the reason for his action, contrasting starkly with the reality that her barrenness was divinely ordained. This verse establishes Hannah’s predicament, Elkanah’s compassionate character, and God’s sovereign hand in human affairs, setting the stage for the miraculous birth of Samuel.
1 Samuel 1 5 Context
First Samuel chapter 1 introduces the family of Elkanah, a Levite from Ramathaim-Zophim. He regularly traveled to Shiloh, the central place of worship, to offer sacrifices to the Lord. The narrative immediately highlights Elkanah’s two wives: Peninnah, who had children, and Hannah, who was barren. This yearly pilgrimage forms the backdrop against which Hannah’s sorrow and Peninnah’s provocation unfold. In ancient Israelite society, the ability to bear children, particularly sons, was highly valued, and barrenness often brought social shame. Elkanah’s consistent display of love and honor to Hannah, even amidst this societal pressure and her deep personal pain, establishes his righteous character and deep affection for her, making his generous "double portion" a profound act of tenderness. This setting lays the theological foundation that Hannah's later child, Samuel, is a direct gift from the sovereign hand of the Lord.
1 Samuel 1 5 Word analysis
- But: (Hebrew: wĕ) - A conjunction indicating contrast and transition. It sets Hannah apart from Peninnah, shifting focus to her unique treatment.
- to Hannah: (Hebrew: lĕ-Ḥannāh) - Specific direct object, emphasizing Elkanah's deliberate and preferential act towards her. Her name means "grace" or "favor," foreshadowing God's grace upon her.
- he gave: (Hebrew: yittēn) - From the root nātan, meaning to give, grant, or provide. It highlights Elkanah’s active choice and generosity in his role as head of the household during the sacrificial feast.
- a double portion: (Hebrew: ’apah ’aḥat ’appayim) - The precise meaning is debated by scholars, but the consensus is not necessarily a literal two times the amount of others. Rather, it is interpreted as "a single, specially chosen portion" or "a worthy double portion" or "one portion that was a choice portion." This signifies an extraordinary portion given out of honor, deep affection, and respect, marking Hannah as particularly valued despite her childlessness. It was a tangible expression of his distinguishing love.
- for he loved Hannah: (Hebrew: kī ’āhēv ’et-Ḥannāh) - This clause directly states Elkanah's motive. The word ’āhēv signifies deep, committed love. This genuine affection transcended the cultural emphasis on fertility, setting Elkanah apart as a devoted husband and providing context for his exceptional act.
- though: (Hebrew: wĕ) - A concessive particle. It introduces a mitigating circumstance that, surprisingly, does not diminish Elkanah's love. It contrasts his unwavering affection with Hannah's sorrowful condition.
- the Lord: (Hebrew: YHWH) - The covenant name of God. This attributes Hannah's barrenness directly to God's sovereign action, not to natural chance or other deities. It emphasizes divine control over life and fruitfulness. This theological statement establishes a central theme of God's direct involvement in human lives and prepares for His future intervention.
- had closed her womb: (Hebrew: ʿāṣar raḥem) - ʿāṣar means to restrain, hold back, shut up; raḥem means womb. This phrase explicitly states God’s sovereign action in causing Hannah's barrenness. It removes any ambiguity, making her condition a result of divine purpose. This sets the stage for God's dramatic and miraculous intervention later in the chapter, demonstrating His power to open what He has closed for His ultimate plan.
1 Samuel 1 5 Bonus section
The Hebrew word for "double portion," ’appayim, literally meaning "two faces" or "two parts," can be confusing. However, contextually and through scholarly insight, it's understood that Elkanah didn't necessarily give her twice the quantity but rather a "choice" or "special" portion worth more, perhaps reflecting the portion given to a firstborn or favored son, or indicating her value was double that of any other, or that it symbolized his desire for "two children" for her eventually. The significant point is the preferential treatment reflecting extraordinary love. This detail immediately tells the reader of Elkanah's profound love, making Hannah’s sorrow even more poignant because she was loved, but deeply desired what her love could not procure: children. This verse foreshadows God's unique calling on Samuel; his life was a result of divine will, not just human biological processes.
1 Samuel 1 5 Commentary
First Samuel 1:5 encapsulates Elkanah’s remarkable love for Hannah in a culture that heavily valued fertility. His provision of a special, honored portion of the sacrificial meat speaks volumes of his deep affection and esteem, setting her above even his wife who bore children. This act was not out of pity but a demonstration of profound love, challenging the cultural norm that might otherwise devalue a barren woman. The most crucial theological detail is the explicit statement: "though the Lord had closed her womb." This immediately removes the naturalistic explanation for barrenness and places it squarely in God’s sovereign control. It implies that Hannah’s infertility was not a random affliction but a divinely ordained state, setting the stage for God’s glorious intervention. It positions Samuel’s future birth as a powerful demonstration of Yahweh's life-giving power and fulfillment of purpose, proving that what God closes, He can also miraculously open. Elkanah's unwavering love, even in the face of this divinely imposed difficulty, highlights faithfulness and hope in challenging circumstances.Example: Elkanah's actions reflect the steadfast love Christians are called to show in marriage, especially when faced with difficulties or unfulfilled expectations.Example: It reminds believers that personal suffering or perceived lack, though difficult, can be part of God's sovereign plan, leading to His ultimate glory.