Elkanah comforts Hannah, but she finds her ultimate solace in seeking God’s provision.
Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” (v.8). In this moment, Elkanah speaks tenderly to his wife Hannah, who is deeply distraught because she has not been able to bear children. This verse takes place in the town of Ramathaim-zophim, within the hill country of Ephraim, around 1100 BC—near the end of Israel’s period of the judges. Hannah’s longing for a child has grown so intense that she weeps inconsolably and even loses her appetite, showing how infertility in ancient Israel cut to the heart of a woman’s honor and sense of identity.
Elkanah’s question, “Am I not better to you than ten sons?” (v.8), indicates his genuine concern for her well-being. He wishes to reassure Hannah that her worth is not defined by motherhood alone, and that she already has his unwavering love and affection. Even so, Elkanah’s question also highlights a reality that no amount of human devotion could fully soothe Hannah’s deep spiritual ache for a child. As the chapter goes on, Hannah turns toward the LORD, pouring her anguish out in prayer at the tabernacle, asking God to grant her the desire of her heart. In the course of time, God answers her prayer with the birth of Samuel, who becomes a prophet and the final judge of Israel, pointing forward to God’s ongoing provision for His people.
Hannah’s story foreshadows the faith of all believers who bring their deepest needs before the Lord, trusting Him to provide far beyond human assistance (Luke 1:37). By surrendering her sorrow and leaning on divine sufficiency, Hannah experiences both emotional and tangible restoration. This highlights how even our deepest pains can be met by the hope and healing found in relationship with God, a theme continued and fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who extends mercy to the brokenhearted (Matthew 5:4).
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1 Samuel 1:8 meaning
Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” (v.8). In this moment, Elkanah speaks tenderly to his wife Hannah, who is deeply distraught because she has not been able to bear children. This verse takes place in the town of Ramathaim-zophim, within the hill country of Ephraim, around 1100 BC—near the end of Israel’s period of the judges. Hannah’s longing for a child has grown so intense that she weeps inconsolably and even loses her appetite, showing how infertility in ancient Israel cut to the heart of a woman’s honor and sense of identity.
Elkanah’s question, “Am I not better to you than ten sons?” (v.8), indicates his genuine concern for her well-being. He wishes to reassure Hannah that her worth is not defined by motherhood alone, and that she already has his unwavering love and affection. Even so, Elkanah’s question also highlights a reality that no amount of human devotion could fully soothe Hannah’s deep spiritual ache for a child. As the chapter goes on, Hannah turns toward the LORD, pouring her anguish out in prayer at the tabernacle, asking God to grant her the desire of her heart. In the course of time, God answers her prayer with the birth of Samuel, who becomes a prophet and the final judge of Israel, pointing forward to God’s ongoing provision for His people.
Hannah’s story foreshadows the faith of all believers who bring their deepest needs before the Lord, trusting Him to provide far beyond human assistance (Luke 1:37). By surrendering her sorrow and leaning on divine sufficiency, Hannah experiences both emotional and tangible restoration. This highlights how even our deepest pains can be met by the hope and healing found in relationship with God, a theme continued and fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who extends mercy to the brokenhearted (Matthew 5:4).