The Meaning of 1 Samuel 2:5 Explained

1 Samuel 2:5

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.

YLT: The satiated for bread hired themselves, And the hungry have ceased. While the barren hath borne seven, And she abounding with sons hath languished.

Darby: They that were full have hired themselves out for bread; and the hungry are so no more: Even the barren beareth seven, and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

ASV: They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; And they that were hungry have ceased to hunger : Yea, the barren hath borne seven; And she that hath many children languisheth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[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. 

What does 1 Samuel 2:5 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 2:1-11 - The God Of The Lowly
Hannah's song was to inspire David, the Virgin-Mother, and countless others to sing hymns of praise. So the song of a bird will set the whole woodland ringing with the minstrelsy of a feathered chorus. We, too, shall sing someday! God will turn the waters of our tears, which fill the jars to their brim, into the wine of joy. You, also, my friend, shall someday take your harp from the willows and get from it music which will go through the world to stir men's sad hearts.
How full of the Lord the song is! The overflowing heart ascribes its rapture to the Rock of Ages. He saves; He is holy; He knows; He weighs; He kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and up; He will vindicate our trust. We do not prevail by strength, but by yielding ourselves into His hands. God answers our prayers thoroughly. The gifts that come from above are good and perfect. Bereaved mother, your little child is yours still, though hidden from your eyes! Try to think of your beloved one as ministering to the Lord in the eternal temple! [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 2

1  Hannah's song in thankfulness
12  The sin of Eli's sons
18  Samuel's ministry
20  by Eli's blessing Hannah is more fruitful
22  Eli reproves his sons
27  A prophecy against Eli's house

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 2:5 mean?

[Those who were] full for bread have hired themselves out and the hungry have ceased [to hunger] Even the barren has borne seven and she who has many children has become feeble
שְׂבֵעִ֤ים בַּלֶּ֙חֶם֙ נִשְׂכָּ֔רוּ וּרְעֵבִ֖ים חָדֵ֑לּוּ עַד־ עֲקָרָה֙ יָלְדָ֣ה שִׁבְעָ֔ה וְרַבַּ֥ת בָּנִ֖ים אֻמְלָֽלָה

שְׂבֵעִ֤ים  [Those  who  were]  full 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: שָׂבֵעַ  
Sense: sated, satisfied, surfeited.
בַּלֶּ֙חֶם֙  for  bread 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.
נִשְׂכָּ֔רוּ  have  hired  themselves  out 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: סָכַר  
Sense: to hire.
וּרְעֵבִ֖ים  and  the  hungry 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָעָב  
Sense: hungry.
חָדֵ֑לּוּ  have  ceased  [to  hunger] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: חָדַל 
Sense: to stop, cease, desist, forego, cease to be, leave undone, forbear.
עַד־  Even 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
עֲקָרָה֙  the  barren 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: עָקָר  
Sense: barren, sterile.
יָלְדָ֣ה  has  borne 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
שִׁבְעָ֔ה  seven 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
וְרַבַּ֥ת  and  she  who  has  many 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, feminine singular construct
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
בָּנִ֖ים  children 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֻמְלָֽלָה  has  become  feeble 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָמַל 
Sense: to be weak, to droop, to languish, to be exhausted.