New International Version
1 Samuel 1:8
8Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”
1 Samuel 1:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
- English Standard Version (ESV)And 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 more to you than ten sons?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?”
Context of 1 Samuel 1:8
6Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7This 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. Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” 9Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. 10In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.
Read all of 1 Samuel 11 Samuel 1:8 word by word
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָ֜הּ אֶלְקָנָ֣ה אִישָׁ֗הּ חַנָּה֙ לָ֣מֶה תִבְכִּ֗י וְלָ֙מֶה֙ לֹ֣א תֹֽאכְלִ֔י וְלָ֖מֶה יֵרַ֣ע לְבָבֵ֑ךְ הֲל֤וֹא אָֽנֹכִי֙ ט֣וֹב לָ֔ךְ מֵעֲשָׂרָ֖ה בָּנִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Elkanahאֶלְקָנָה'elqânâh · ElkanahH511
- her husbandאִישׁ'îysh · man: husbandH376
- to her, Hannahחַנָּהchannâh · HannahH2584
- why weepestבָּכָהbâkâh · to weepH1058
- thou? and why eatestאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- thou not? and why is thy heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
- grievedיָרַעyâra‛ · quiverH3415
- not I betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- to thee than tenעֶשֶׂר‛eώer ‛ăώârâh · tenH6235
- sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 1:8
- 2 Samuel 12:16David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground.
- 2 Kings 8:12“Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the harm you will do to the Israelites,” he answered. “You will set fire to their fortified places, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women.”
- Job 6:14“Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
- John 20:13They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
- Ruth 4:15He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”
- Psalms 43:4Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.
- Isaiah 54:1“Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 1:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Am not I better to thee than ten sons? - Ten, a certain for an uncertain number. Is not my especial affection to thee better than all the comfort thou couldst gain, even from a numerous family?Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-8Commentary by Robert Jamieson 1Sa 1:1-8. Of Elkanah and His Two Wives. 1-2. a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim--The first word being in the dual number, signifies the double city--the old and new town of Ramah (1Sa 1:19). There were five cities of this name, all on high ground. This city had the addition of Zophim attached to it, because it was founded by Zuph, "an Ephrathite," that is a native of Ephratha. Beth-lehem, and the expression "of…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 1:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 1
- 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
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