1 Samuel 1:8

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?
• New International Version (NIV)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?”
• 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 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

6And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7So 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. 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?” 9So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. 10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.

1 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 therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
• 2 Kings 8:12And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you will dash their children, and rip open their women with child.”
• Job 6:14“To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
• John 20:13Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
• Ruth 4:15And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.”
• Psalms 43:4Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.
• Isaiah 54:1“Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman,” 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

• Barrenness
• Elkanah
• Hannah
• Samuel
• Satire
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Hannah
• Bitterness
• Elkanah
• Sorrowful
• Temple
• Ark of the Covenant
• Deuteronomy
• Exodus, the Book of
• Ezekiel
• Genesis

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