The Meaning of 1 Samuel 1:8 Explained

1 Samuel 1:8

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?

YLT: And Elkanah her husband saith to her, 'Hannah, why weepest thou? and why dost thou not eat? and why is thy heart afflicted? am I not better to thee than ten sons?'

Darby: And Elkanah her husband said 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?

ASV: And Elkanah her husband said unto 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?

Discover 1 Samuel 1:8

CONTEXT: What is the Context of 1 Samuel 1:8?

MEANING: What does 1 Samuel 1:8 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 1:8 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in 1 Samuel 1:8?

What is the context of 1 Samuel 1:8?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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?

What does 1 Samuel 1:8 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 1:1-11 - Hannah's Prayer And Vow

Elkanah was evidently a kind husband to Hannah; but marriage had suffered from the general relaxation of morals, and the bitter effects of polygamy are illustrated here. Because Hannah was specially loved, Peninnah hated her.

The grief of the childless wife drove Hannah to God. There she found her only resource. When the heart is nigh to breaking, what else can we do than pour out our complaint before the One who is ever ready to hear our cry? We may trust God with our secrets; He will keep sacred our confidence. Elkanah's love may go a long way, but we have for the most part to tread the wine-press alone. After we have eaten and drunk before our friends, "anointing our head and washing our face," that they may not guess what is happening within, we must have a spot where we can unbend and open the sluice-gates of grief. And what place is so good as the Mercy-Seat? We need not vow our vows to bribe God to help us. The gifts of His love are more blessed for Him to give than for us to receive. But out of love we can vow what we will. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 1

¹ Elkanah, a Levite, having two wives, worships yearly at Shiloh
⁴ He cherishes Hannah, though barren, and provoked by Peninnah
⁹ Hannah in grief prays for a child
¹² Eli first rebuking her, afterwards blesses her
¹⁹ Hannah, having born Samuel, stays at home till he is weaned
²⁴ She presents him, according to her vow, to the Lord

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 1:8 mean?

And said to her Elkanah her husband Hannah why do you weep and why not do you eat and why is grieved your heart [am] not I better to you than ten sons

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָ֜הּ אֶלְקָנָ֣ה אִישָׁ֗הּ חַנָּה֙ לָ֣מֶה תִבְכִּ֗י וְלָ֙מֶה֙ ؟ לֹ֣א תֹֽאכְלִ֔י וְלָ֖מֶה יֵרַ֣ע לְבָבֵ֑ךְ הֲל֤וֹא אָֽנֹכִי֙ ט֣וֹב לָ֔ךְ מֵעֲשָׂרָ֖ה ؟ בָּנִֽים

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	And said
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לָ֜הּ	to her
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
אֶלְקָנָ֣ה	Elkanah
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: אֶלְקָנָה Sense: Samuel’s father.
אִישָׁ֗הּ	her husband
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular Root: אִישׁ Sense: man.
חַנָּה֙	Hannah
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular Root: חַנָּה Sense: the mother of Samuel, one of the wives of Elkanah.
לָ֣מֶה	why
Parse: Interrogative Root: לָמָּה Sense: what, how, of what kind.
תִבְכִּ֗י	do you weep
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person feminine singular Root: בָּכָה Sense: to weep, bewail, cry, shed tears.
וְלָ֙מֶה֙	and why
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative Root: לָמָּה Sense: what, how, of what kind.
תֹֽאכְלִ֔י	do you eat
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person feminine singular Root: אָכַל Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
וְלָ֖מֶה	and why
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative Root: לָמָּה Sense: what, how, of what kind.
יֵרַ֣ע	is grieved
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: יָרַע Sense: (Qal) to tremble, quiver.
לְבָבֵ֑ךְ	your heart
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person feminine singular Root: לֵבָב Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
הֲל֤וֹא	[am] not
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle Root: הֲלֹא Sense: not, no.
ט֣וֹב	better
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular Root: טָבַב Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
לָ֔ךְ	to you
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
מֵעֲשָׂרָ֖ה	than ten
Parse: Preposition-m, Number, masculine singular Root: עֶשֶׂר Sense: ten.
؟ בָּנִֽים	sons
Parse: Noun, masculine plural Root: בֵּן Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.

What are the major concepts related to 1 Samuel 1:8?

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Similar Scriptures for 1 Samuel 1:8

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