1 Samuel 1:6 kjv

And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

1 Samuel 1:6 nkjv

And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb.

1 Samuel 1:6 niv

Because the LORD had closed Hannah's womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.

1 Samuel 1:6 esv

And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.

1 Samuel 1:6 nlt

So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the LORD had kept her from having children.

1 Samuel 1 verses

1 Samuel 1 6 Meaning

This verse explains the perpetual and deep distress of Hannah. It reveals that her husband Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah, served as a consistent instrument of provocation and emotional torment. Peninnah's deliberate taunts aimed to distress Hannah severely, leveraging Hannah's barrenness as her primary weapon. The ultimate theological insight provided is that Hannah's inability to bear children was not a matter of chance, or lack of divine favor from other gods, but was directly due to the Lord Himself having "closed her womb," highlighting divine sovereignty over life and fertility.

1 Samuel 1 6 Context

Chapter 1 of 1 Samuel introduces us to Elkanah, a Levite (or Ephaimite resident Levite, 1 Chr 6:22-28, 33-38) from Ramathaim-zophim, who had two wives: Hannah, whom he loved dearly but was barren, and Peninnah, who had children. This polygamous household, typical of some patriarchal societies, created an inherent tension. Annually, Elkanah would go to Shiloh to offer sacrifices to the Lord of Hosts. There, he would give portions of the sacrifice to Peninnah and her children, but to Hannah, he gave a double portion, indicating his deep affection, but also perhaps subtly highlighting her childlessness. This unequal situation fueled Peninnah’s envy and prompted her constant torment of Hannah, especially during these spiritual pilgrimages. The immediate context of verse 6 describes the persistent nature of this emotional abuse during these sacred annual gatherings. Historically, in ancient Israelite culture, barrenness was considered a great personal shame and often a divine curse or sign of disfavor, leading to intense social and personal distress for women like Hannah. Children, especially sons, ensured lineage, provided labor, and offered security in old age, making motherhood an essential identity.

1 Samuel 1 6 Word analysis

• And her rival (וְצָרָתָהּ – vəṣārātāh):
  • Tsara (צָרָה) literally means "distress" or "affliction," but in this context, it specifically refers to a "rival wife" in a polygamous marriage (see Lev 18:18 where it speaks of taking one wife alongside her "sister as her rival").
  • Significance: Peninnah was not merely another wife; she was an adversary, intentionally causing emotional pain. This term highlights the inherent conflict and pain that often arose in polygamous households.
• also provoked (גַּם כָּעַס – gam kāʿas):
  • Gam (גַּם) means "also" or "even," intensifying the action.
  • Ka'as (כָּעַס) means to vex, provoke to anger, grieve, or to be grieved/vexed. It denotes causing mental distress and agitation.
  • Significance: Peninnah deliberately caused Hannah emotional anguish. It wasn't an accidental slight but a repeated, purposeful action aimed at producing a negative emotional response. This term also applies to human action causing God to be provoked (e.g., Deut 9:18).
• her sorely (כַּעַס – kaʿas - as noun or infinitive used adverbially):
  • This is a repetition or strong emphasis of the verb "provoked" (ka'as ka'as), serving as an intensifying adverbial phrase meaning "greatly" or "bitterly," implying severe and repeated vexation. Some interpretations see it as 'because of the anguish', referring to Peninnah causing Hannah's existing distress to become worse.
  • Significance: The intensity and likely repetitive nature of the provocation are stressed, indicating emotional torture rather than isolated incidents. It paints a picture of prolonged and intense suffering inflicted upon Hannah.
• to make her fret (לְהַרְגִּזָהּ – ləhargizāh):
  • Ragaz (רָגַז) means to tremble, be agitated, rage, or be troubled/disquieted. Here, it signifies causing deep inner turmoil and emotional distress, leading to grief and perhaps tears.
  • Significance: This phrase reveals Peninnah’s malevolent intent. Her goal was explicitly to unsettle, disturb, and bring emotional pain to Hannah. This was not a passive consequence but an active objective.
• because the Lord (כִּי־יְהוָה – kī-Yahweh):
  • Kī (כִּי) means "because" or "for," introducing the reason.
  • Yahweh (יְהוָה) is the sacred personal name of God, revealing His covenantal relationship and sovereign power.
  • Significance: The verse unequivocally attributes the reason for Hannah's barrenness directly to the sovereign will of the one true God, Yahweh. This immediately elevates the story beyond a simple family drama to a profound theological statement about divine control.
• had closed her womb (סָגַר רַחְמָהּ – sāgar raḥmāh):
  • Sāgar (סָגַר) means to shut, close, or imprison.
  • Raḥam (רַחַם) means womb, also related to compassion or mercy (cf. rechem, the Hebrew word for compassion).
  • Significance: This phrase explicitly states that Hannah's barrenness was not an accident, a natural deficiency, or the work of another deity. It was a deliberate, active closing by God Himself, for His sovereign purpose. This divine action sets the stage for God's eventual, miraculous opening of the womb in His timing and for His glory, ultimately to birth the prophet Samuel. It contrasts sharply with pagan fertility cults and highlights God's absolute authority over life and procreation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And her rival also provoked her sorely": This phrase describes the relentless and intentional nature of Peninnah's cruelty. The repetition in the Hebrew ("provoked her sorely") indicates the intensity and sustained nature of the emotional abuse, underscoring Hannah's profound and continuous suffering from an antagonistic source within her own household.
• "to make her fret": This highlights the malicious intent behind Peninnah's actions. It wasn't merely that Hannah was distressed, but that Peninnah sought to cause this distress. This speaks to a deliberate form of psychological torture aimed at breaking Hannah's spirit.
• "because the Lord had closed her womb": This is the theological lynchpin of the verse. It places Hannah's barrenness squarely in the realm of divine sovereignty, shifting the narrative from human malice to God's ultimate plan. It is crucial for understanding why this seemingly unfortunate situation occurred – it was part of God's overarching purpose. This divine closure is a prelude to a divine opening, which will dramatically reveal His power and faithfulness.

1 Samuel 1 6 Bonus section

The concept of God "closing the womb" is a direct challenge to the pagan deities of the ancient Near East, where fertility cults were prominent. Unlike the fertility gods who needed to be appeased or manipulated, Yahweh demonstrates absolute sovereignty over procreation without human intervention or ritual manipulation. His control is complete, establishing that life is solely from Him. This verse sets the stage for Samuel's birth as a purely miraculous act of God's timing and grace, not as a result of human effort or pagan rites. Furthermore, Hannah's specific situation highlights a common Old Testament motif where barrenness precedes the birth of a significant individual (e.g., Isaac, Jacob, Samson, John the Baptist), emphasizing God's direct involvement in the unfolding of salvation history through seemingly impossible circumstances.

1 Samuel 1 6 Commentary

Verse 6 serves as a pivot point, shifting the focus from the social tension of polygamy to the deeper theological truth underlying Hannah’s distress. Peninnah’s cruelty, while genuinely painful for Hannah, is portrayed as being made possible because of a prior divine action: "the Lord had closed her womb." This immediately frames Hannah’s suffering within God’s sovereign plan. Peninnah acts as an irritant and an antagonist, but also inadvertently serves as a catalyst for Hannah's desperate and fervent prayer life (1 Sam 1:10-11). The intensity of Peninnah’s provocation ("sorely... to make her fret") emphasizes the depth of Hannah's pain, preparing the reader for the profound plea she will make to God. This narrative underscores that God is ultimately in control of all circumstances, even those that bring great pain, and He often uses such trials to bring His people closer to Him and to bring about His purposes. Hannah's experience teaches that the circumstances that cause our deepest pain can become the very catalyst for our most significant breakthroughs in faith and relationship with God. For instance, the isolation or frustration caused by unmet desires can drive one to a profound dependence on God, resulting in unexpected blessings and ministries.