God’s Word Translation
1 Samuel 2:5
5Those who were well-fed hire themselves out for a piece of bread, but those who were hungry hunger no more. Even the woman who was childless gives birth to seven children, but the mother of many children grieves all alone.
1 Samuel 2:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
- New International Version (NIV)Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry are hungry no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble.
Context of 1 Samuel 2:5
3“Do not boast ⌞or⌟ let arrogance come out of your mouth because the Lord is a God of knowledge, and he weighs ⌞our⌟ actions. 4“The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumble are armed with strength. Those who were well-fed hire themselves out for a piece of bread, but those who were hungry hunger no more. Even the woman who was childless gives birth to seven children, but the mother of many children grieves all alone. 6“The Lord kills, and he gives life. He makes ⌞people⌟ go down to the grave, and he raises them up ⌞again⌟. 7The Lord causes poverty and grants wealth. He humbles ⌞people⌟; he also promotes them.
Read all of 1 Samuel 21 Samuel 2:5 word by word
שְׂבֵעִ֤ים בַּלֶּ֙חֶם֙ נִשְׂכָּ֔רוּ וּרְעֵבִ֖ים חָדֵ֑לּוּ עַד־עֲקָרָה֙ יָלְדָ֣ה שִׁבְעָ֔ה וְרַבַּ֥ת בָּנִ֖ים אֻמְלָֽלָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- fullשָׂבֵעַώâbêa‛ · satedH7649
- have hired outשָׂכַרώâkar sâkar · to hireH7936
- themselves for breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
- hungryרָעֵבrâ‛êb · hungryH7457
- ceasedחָדַלchâdal · to ceaseH2308
- so that the barrenעָקָר‛âqâr · barrenH6135
- hath bornיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
- sevenשֶׁ֫בַעsheba‛ shib‛âh · sevenH7651
- and she that hath manyרַבrab · manyH7227
- childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- is waxed feebleאָמַל'âmal · be weakH535
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 2:5
- Psalms 34:10Young lions go hungry and may starve, but those who seek the Lord’s help have all the good things they need.
- Luke 1:53He fed hungry people with good food. He sent rich people away with nothing.
- Luke 16:25“Abraham replied, ‘Remember, my child, that you had a life filled with good times, while Lazarus’ life was filled with misery. Now he has peace here, while you suffer.
- 1 Samuel 1:20Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel [God Hears], because she said, “I asked the Lord for him.”
- Psalms 113:9He makes a woman who is in a childless home a joyful mother. Hallelujah!
- 1 Samuel 1:6Because the Lord had made her unable to have children, her rival ⌞Peninnah⌟ tormented her endlessly in order to make her miserable.
- Isaiah 54:1Sing with joy, you childless women who never gave birth to children. Break into shouts of joy, you women who never had birth pains. “There will be more children of women who have been deserted than there are children of married women,” says the Lord.
- Jeremiah 15:9A mother who gives birth to seven sons will grow faint and breathe her last. She will die, ashamed and humiliated, while it is still daylight. I will put survivors from these people to death in the presence of their enemies,” declares the Lord.
- Galatians 4:27Scripture says: “Rejoice, women who cannot get pregnant, who cannot give birth to any children! Break into shouting, those who feel no pains of childbirth! Because the deserted woman will have more children than the woman who has a husband.”
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 2:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5They that were full - All the things mentioned in these verses frequently happen in the course of the Divine providence; and indeed it is the particular providence of God that Hannah seems more especially to celebrate through the whole of this simple yet sublime ode.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5See an instance in 1 Samuel 2:36. See, too, in Ezekiel 13:19, another example of hire paid in bread. Ceased - i. e. were at rest, did no work. The general sense is expressed by the translation of the Latin Version, “they were filled.”Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5Those who were hungry now have enough to eat (see 1 Samuel 1:7, 18). The phrase seven children poetically means that a woman without children would be blessed with a home full of children (see 1 Samuel 2:21).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. they that were hungry ceased--that is, to hunger. the barren hath born seven--that is, many children.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 2:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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