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 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?”

Context of 1 Samuel 1:8

6So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children. 7Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat. “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?” 9Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. 10Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord.

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 begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground.
• 2 Kings 8:12“What’s the matter, my lord?” Hazael asked him. Elisha replied, “I know the terrible things you will do to the people of Israel. You will burn their fortified cities, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women!”
• Job 6:14“One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty.
• John 20:13“Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:14Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
• Ruth 4:15May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!”
• Psalms 43:4There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!
• Isaiah 54:1“Sing, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem, you who have never been in labor. For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her 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

• 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