Hannah endures constant provocation over her barrenness yet demonstrates unwavering trust in God, showing that persistent faith and humility can transform deep sorrow into joyful fulfillment.
“Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.” (v.6) In this verse, Hannah is faced with ongoing torment from Peninnah, the other wife of her husband Elkanah. The context of 1 Samuel places these events in Israel’s history around 1100 BC, a time between the period of the judges and the beginning of Israel’s monarchy. Peninnah’s actions exploit Hannah’s grief by highlighting the heartbreak of her barrenness, for it explicitly states that the LORD had closed her womb. This illustrates God’s sovereignty, showing that even in the most delicate matters of life, such as bearing children, the outcome depends on His divine will. Hannah’s anguish repeatedly surfaces because her inability to conceive was viewed as an immense misfortune in ancient Israel, where children secured a family’s legacy.
Still, in her heartbreak, Hannah turned to the LORD and made a vow, asking God to grant her a son so she could dedicate him to His service. Her desperation to have children represents not just personal sorrow but also a plea to fulfill what she believed was her God-given purpose. Rather than harboring bitterness toward God, she persistently sought Him, demonstrating a faith similar to others in Scripture who waited on the LORD for deliverance (Luke 18:1-8). Hannah’s humility and prayerful spirit ultimately mirror the posture of dependence God desires from all believers. When the Lord did allow her to conceive, she followed through with her vow, presenting Samuel in the house of the priest (1 Samuel 1:25-28), thus confirming her devotion to God’s purposes.
In a broader sense, Hannah’s adversity and her rival’s taunts foreshadow the many instances in the Bible where God’s people endure ridicule yet cling to divine promises and find redemption in unexpected ways. Her faith also points forward to the New Testament, where Jesus reminds His followers that perseverance in prayer and faithful trust in God’s plan lead to spiritual fruitfulness (John 15:7). Hannah’s story, beginning with this verse, reveals a God who uses trials to shape the hearts of His people so that, in their weakness, His power and mercy become gloriously evident.
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1 Samuel 1:6 meaning
“Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.” (v.6) In this verse, Hannah is faced with ongoing torment from Peninnah, the other wife of her husband Elkanah. The context of 1 Samuel places these events in Israel’s history around 1100 BC, a time between the period of the judges and the beginning of Israel’s monarchy. Peninnah’s actions exploit Hannah’s grief by highlighting the heartbreak of her barrenness, for it explicitly states that the LORD had closed her womb. This illustrates God’s sovereignty, showing that even in the most delicate matters of life, such as bearing children, the outcome depends on His divine will. Hannah’s anguish repeatedly surfaces because her inability to conceive was viewed as an immense misfortune in ancient Israel, where children secured a family’s legacy.
Still, in her heartbreak, Hannah turned to the LORD and made a vow, asking God to grant her a son so she could dedicate him to His service. Her desperation to have children represents not just personal sorrow but also a plea to fulfill what she believed was her God-given purpose. Rather than harboring bitterness toward God, she persistently sought Him, demonstrating a faith similar to others in Scripture who waited on the LORD for deliverance (Luke 18:1-8). Hannah’s humility and prayerful spirit ultimately mirror the posture of dependence God desires from all believers. When the Lord did allow her to conceive, she followed through with her vow, presenting Samuel in the house of the priest (1 Samuel 1:25-28), thus confirming her devotion to God’s purposes.
In a broader sense, Hannah’s adversity and her rival’s taunts foreshadow the many instances in the Bible where God’s people endure ridicule yet cling to divine promises and find redemption in unexpected ways. Her faith also points forward to the New Testament, where Jesus reminds His followers that perseverance in prayer and faithful trust in God’s plan lead to spiritual fruitfulness (John 15:7). Hannah’s story, beginning with this verse, reveals a God who uses trials to shape the hearts of His people so that, in their weakness, His power and mercy become gloriously evident.