1 Samuel 1:7 kjv

And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

1 Samuel 1:7 nkjv

So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.

1 Samuel 1:7 niv

This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.

1 Samuel 1:7 esv

So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.

1 Samuel 1:7 nlt

Year after year it was the same ? Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat.

1 Samuel 1 verses

1 Samuel 1 7 Meaning

This verse describes a consistent, annual pattern of worship and domestic strife. Elkanah, Hannah's husband, would make his yearly pilgrimage to the tabernacle at Shiloh. During these times, Peninnah, Elkanah's other wife, perpetually provoked and vexed Hannah, intensifying her deep sorrow over her childlessness. As a direct result of Peninnah's cruel torment, Hannah would weep uncontrollably and lose her desire to eat, indicating profound grief and emotional distress. This recurring suffering underscored Hannah's plight and the depth of her longing for a child.

1 Samuel 1 7 Context

First Samuel Chapter 1 introduces Elkanah, a Levite from Ramathaim Zophim, who faithfully made annual pilgrimages to Shiloh to offer sacrifices to the Lord. He had two wives: Peninnah, who had children, and Hannah, who was deeply loved by Elkanah but was barren. This verse is part of the introductory narrative setting the stage for Hannah's desperate prayer and God's intervention. Historically, this was during the chaotic period of the Judges, prior to the establishment of the monarchy. Shiloh served as the central place of worship, housing the Tabernacle where the Ark of the Covenant resided. Barrenness in this culture was considered a great shame and misfortune, often leading to domestic strife, particularly in polygamous households where offspring were highly valued, and one wife having children could provoke intense jealousy and superiority over another who did not. Peninnah's persistent provocation highlights the pain and stigma associated with barrenness.

1 Samuel 1 7 Word analysis

• And as he did so year by year: This phrase highlights the habitual, enduring nature of Elkanah's worship and, consequently, Hannah's suffering. The repetition "year by year" (from the root yōm, meaning "day," and repeated, miyyāmîm yāmîmâ, meaning "from days to days" or "year after year") underscores the chronic, unwavering nature of the domestic strife that accompanied the sacred pilgrimage. It was not an isolated incident but a persistent cycle of pain.
• when she went up to the house of the Lord: Refers to the annual pilgrimage to Shiloh, the location of the tabernacle. "The house of the Lord" (Bêṯ Yahweh) was the central sanctuary where offerings and prayers were made. For Hannah, this meant entering a sacred space, yet the emotional torment followed her even there.
• so she provoked her: The word "provoked" (Hebrew: kaʿas) denotes vexation, irritation, annoyance, and even making angry or causing grief. It implies intentional and persistent harassment rather than accidental offense. Peninnah deliberately aggravated Hannah, likely with verbal taunts and condescending remarks, aiming to deepen her pain and insecurity over her barrenness. This suggests a deep-seated malice or jealousy on Peninnah's part, or perhaps a misguided sense of superiority due to her fertility.
• therefore she wept: "Wept" (Hebrew: bâkâ) signifies intense, unrestrained crying and emotional anguish. This was not quiet sadness but a profound expression of grief that overtook her. It was a direct, understandable response to Peninnah's cruel actions.
• and did not eat: This indicates extreme sorrow, leading to a loss of appetite, often seen in the Bible as a physical manifestation of deep emotional distress, akin to voluntary fasting due to profound mourning or spiritual agony. Hannah's grief was so consuming that it affected her physically.

Words-group analysis

• "And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her": This entire clause emphasizes a tragic paradox. The annual pilgrimage, which should have been a joyful time of worship and communal celebration before the Lord, became for Hannah a season of intensified torment. Peninnah chose these sacred occasions, when their household was together at a spiritual center, to amplify Hannah's sorrow. This might have been done to exert dominance, show off her fertility (as her children were with her), or perhaps because the focus on worship, procreation, and blessings amplified Hannah's perceived curse, making her more vulnerable. The contrast highlights the bitterness of human cruelty invading sacred spaces and times.
• "therefore she wept, and did not eat": This phrase succinctly captures the profound emotional and physical impact of Peninnah's actions on Hannah. Her reaction wasn't merely sadness but incapacitating grief, rendering her unable to participate fully in the festival joy or even sustain herself. Her internal pain was so overwhelming that it manifested outwardly, a testament to the heavy burden she carried.

1 Samuel 1 7 Bonus section

• Shiloh's Significance: Shiloh was the pre-monarchical religious center for Israel, where the tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant resided for centuries. Hannah's consistent journey there, despite her distress, speaks to her deep spiritual commitment even in the midst of profound pain.
• Pain that Propels Prayer: Hannah's story vividly illustrates how severe personal affliction can be the very catalyst that propels an individual into fervent, desperate prayer, moving beyond casual religious observance to deep intercession with the Lord. This aligns with many Biblical narratives where great trials lead to powerful encounters with God.
• God's Sovereignty Amidst Human Cruelty: Even within a context of human jealousy and cruelty, God's divine plan was unfolding. Peninnah's actions, while evil, did not thwart God's ultimate purpose but rather served, unwittingly, to deepen Hannah's longing and dependence on Him, making her ripe for a profound spiritual breakthrough.
• A Precursor to Reversal Themes: Hannah's elevation from a scorned, barren woman to the mother of a great prophet prefigures later Biblical themes of God exalting the humble and overturning societal expectations, famously echoed in Mary's Magnificat (Lk 1:52-53).

1 Samuel 1 7 Commentary

Verse 7 depicts the persistent and poignant sorrow of Hannah, exacerbated by the relentless provocation of her rival wife, Peninnah. The repetition of this torment "year by year" reveals a chronic spiritual and emotional burden that accompanied Hannah even to the very place of worship, Shiloh. It underscores the fact that outward religious observance does not always alleviate inward spiritual torment, and domestic strife can severely impact one's spiritual experience. Peninnah's malicious "provoking" during the sacred festival not only reflects personal cruelty but also highlights a cultural context where barrenness was a significant reproach. Hannah's deep despair, expressed through her weeping and inability to eat, reveals her utter vulnerability and the immense pressure she endured. This sustained affliction, however, paradoxically served as a crucible for Hannah's faith, eventually driving her to a profound, desperate prayer to God that set the stage for divine intervention and the miraculous birth of Samuel. Her suffering thus becomes a prelude to a significant act of God's redemptive plan.